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The �������Ƶ is among the 35 NCAA Division I members that received certification status today.

The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced decisions for member institutions that have undergone the Association’s second cycle of athletics certification including a self-study.

The purpose of athletics certification is to ensure integrity in the institution’s athletics program and to assist institutions in improving their athletics departments. NCAA legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted in 1993.

“ The NCAA Certification Self-Study focuses on all aspects of the athletics program outside of actual competition,” said Dr. Carolyn Bruder, associate vice president for Academic Affairs and certification committee chair at UL Lafayette. “The certification process improves your program and your services to your student-athletes. It forces you to step back from your daily work and examine the broad issues of collegiate athletics: program integrity, governance and control, and student-athlete academic support, safety, and well-being.

“Here at UL Lafayette, we were able to compare our current operations and practices to those of ten years ago, when we last went through the certification process,” she continued. “The process reaffirmed our accomplishments and positioned us to improve further during the next ten year cycle.”

A designation of certified means that an institution operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership.

The second round of athletics certifications is being completed on a 10-year cycle rather than the five-year cycle used during the initial certification process. All 326 active Division I members participate in the certification process.

“ This was a long process, but it was a great opportunity to take an objective look at athletics and the needs of our student-athletes,” said David Walker, UL Lafayette athletic director. “We are pleased with the outcome of the review and our certification status.”

The Division I Committee on Athletics Certification preliminarily reviews an institution’s certification materials and provides a list of issues identified during the evaluation. The university then hosts a visit by peer reviewers who file a report regarding the institution’s resolution of those issues before a final certification decision is rendered. An institution’s failure to satisfactorily respond to the committee may negatively impact certification status.