GU Receives Full NCAA Division I Certification

Gonzaga News Service 

SPOKANE, Wash. — The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced Gonzaga University is one of 12 institutions to be fully certified as part of the NCAA's regularly scheduled, ongoing athletics certification process.

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 certification process, which involves a self-study led by an institution's president or chancellor, includes a review of these primary components: governance and commitment to rules compliance; academic integrity; gender/diversity issues and student-athlete well-being.

The designation of "certified" means Gonzaga operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the NCAA Division I membership.

"Obviously, this is great news for the university and for our athletics program," Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth said. "University President Thayne McCulloh and his designated representatives are to be commended for the role they played and the outstanding job they did in the certification process. I want to especially thank our Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women's Administrator Heather Gores for heading up our certification efforts internally and to Joan Allbery, Interim Vice President for Administration and Planning, for chairing Gonzaga's certification committee. I also want to thank everyone who contributed to the certification process by serving on Joan's committee."

McCulloh, who went through his first athletics certification since taking over as President nearly a year ago, was also pleased with the announcement.

"I want to commend all who played such a vital role in this process. I am very proud of the efforts Heather, Joan and the committee put forth that presented Gonzaga in general, and Bulldog athletics in particular, in such a positive light," McCulloh said. "I think the certification process is also a learning experience for all of those outside the athletic department who served on the certification committee to get better insight into what intercollegiate athletics entails. Receiving certification also demonstrates our athletic fortunes are in good hands with Mike Roth, his staff, coaches and our student-athletes."

Gonzaga began the certification process in October, 2008; submitted its initial report to the NCAA Certification Committee in May, 2009, which reviewed it and identified areas for clarification. In November of last year the NCAA Certification Committee sent a peer-review team to the Gonzaga campus. That team filed a report with the Certification Committee, which announced the final certification decision.

In addition to the 12 institutions receiving full certification, two other universities were certified "with conditions" meaning the institution is considered to be operating its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the NCAA's Division I membership. However, problems identified during the course of the institution's self-study and the peer-review team's evaluation were considered serious enough by the Committee on Athletics Certification to cause it to withhold full certification until those problems have been corrected. The NCAA does not divulge specific information related to an institution's self-study or peer-review visit or specific information concerning the conditions set forth for certification.

The members of the Committee on Athletics Certification are: Anthony Archbald, Princeton University; John Balog, Jacksonville University; Robert Bernardi, Nicholls State University; Ann Carr, Mississippi State University; Casey Comoroski, Missouri State University; Beatrice Crane Banford, Marshall University; Beth DeBauche, Ohio Valley Conference; Tom Douple, The Summit League; Amy Folan, University of Texas at Austin; Joanne Glasser, Bradley University; Nathan Hatch (chair), Wake Forest University; Brian Linnane, Loyola College (Maryland); Barbara Luebke, University of Rhode Island; M. Dianne Murphy, Columbia University-Barnard College; Sheila Patterson, Cleveland State University; Donald Pope-Davis, University of Notre Dame; Allison Rich, California State University, Fullerton; Judy Van Horn, University of Michigan; and Sarah Wilhelmi, West Coast Conference.