NCAA certifies SJSU Athletics

Interim President Joe Crowley was pleased with the NCAA's certification announcement.

Indianapolis, Ind.-----San Jose State University is one of 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I members to receive the designation, "certified," according to an announcement made today by the association’s NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification.

"Certified" is the highest possible certification level according to the committee’s standards and means an institution operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with the principles adopted by the Division I membership.

The NCAA certification process is a year-long, self-study led by an institution’s chief executive officer. The institution conducts a review of governance and commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity, fiscal integrity, equity, welfare and sportsmanship.

"The NCAA’s certification announcement reinforces my belief that San Jose State University has an opportunity to enhance intercollegiate athletics, generally, and strengthen, rather than diminish, its football program," said Dr. Joseph N. Crowley, San Jose State University’s interim president. "The Campus Village project, which will eventually place 6,000 students in residence on campus, is key to building student attendance at games. Improvements in university-wide marketing and private fundraising, which are now underway, can make athletics a significant beneficiary. Any action that would substantially change our participation in intercollegiate athletics would keep the university from taking advantage of this opportunity. The university will not undertake such action."


The purpose of the certifying an intercollegiate athletics program is to ensure department integrity and to assist institutions in improving its athletics department. The NCAA began its athletics certification program in 1993. San Jose State University was first certified in 1996. All 325 Division I members are expected to complete a self-study by 2009.

"Today’s announcement is a statement that San Jose State University has a sound and responsible NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics program. Our student-athletes, coaches and staff members deserve credit for the way in which we participate academically and athletically as a member of the Western Athletic Conference and the NCAA," said Chuck Bell, director of athletics at San Jose State University. "I also want to publicly thank President Crowley; executive assistant to the president, Irene Miura; Gerry Selter, the Dean of the College of Science, who served as the chair of the San Jose State University’s self-study; and the self-study committee members for contributing their time and energies."

The other nine NCAA Division I universities to receive "certified" status in today’s announcement are:

Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn., Atlantic Sun Conference
Coastal Carolina University, Conway, S.C., Big South Conference
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., Big-12 Conference
Long Island University-Brooklyn, Brooklyn, N.Y., Northeast Conference
Manhattan College, Riverdale, N.Y., Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Mercer University, Macon, Ga., Atlantic Sun Conference
Niagara University, Niagara Falls, N.Y., Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.
University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C., Southeastern Conference

Four schools were "certified with conditions"

University of Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y.
Chicago State University, Chicago, Ill.
University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Greensboro, N.C.
Rider University, Lawrenceville, N.J.

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