UALR’s Department of Athletics was one of 35 Division I institutions certified by the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification on Thursday. The certified classification means UALR conducts its athletic program in “substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Association’s Division I membership.”

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; equity; and student-athlete well-being.

“I’d like to thank our university family for all their support and assistance through the re-certification process,” said UALR Director of Athletics Chris Peterson. “Special recognition should be given to Dr. David Belcher and Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance Richard Turner, as well as all the sub-committee members who put a lot of time and effort in throughout the entire 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 self-study process has underscored our understanding of the important role athletics plays in campus life,” said Belcher, UALR provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs who chaired the NCAA certification self-study process. “This recertification by the NCAA affirms what we have known all along, namely that our student-athletes are exceptional both on the playing field and in the classroom, and that the leadership of our athletics program is strong.”

UALR assembled a steering committee in advance of the NCAA certification to conduct a self-study. The committee also included UALR Chancellor Joel Anderson, David Briscoe, Chris Peterson, and Andrea Nunez.  The three subcommittees were led by UALR Chief Information Officer Jeannie Winston (Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance), Charles Goldner, former dean of the William H. Bowen School of Law (Academic Integrity), and Thomas Lynch, associate dean of the College of Science and Mathematics (Equity and Student-Athlete Well-Being).

The 35 Division I member institutions have each undergone the association’s second cycle of certification. 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.

The Division I Committee on Athletics Certification conducts a preliminary review of 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.

In addition to UALR, the other institutions to receive a certified classification were Boston College, Brigham Young, Cornell, Fresno State, George Washington, Hampton, Illinois, Indiana State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri-Kansas City, Morehead State, Murray State, New Mexico State, Norfolk State, Northern Arizona, Ohio, Prairie View A&M, Princeton, Providence, Rice, Sam Houston State, Stanford, Temple, Tennessee State, Texas State, Texas Tech, Weber State, U.S. Military Academy, University of Alabama-Birmingham, University of California-Santa Barbara, and Wisconsin. In addition, Grambling State and Howard were certified with conditions.

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