Athletic self study nears completion

By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor

The university is in the final stages of a year-long, campus-wide effort to study its athletics program as part of the NCAA certification program.

The project's Steering Committee and four subcommittees are evaluating responses, reviewing feedback and preparing plans for improvement prior to the preparation of a draft of the self-study report and an executive summary, said Barbara Ricotta, dean of students and chair of the Steering Committee that is shepherding the certification process on campus.

Once the draft report and summary are completed, they will be presented to the campus community in June for further input via campus meetings, focus groups, the campus media and the Athletics Web site at www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/certification, said Laura Barnum, director of business operations for the Division of Athletics and project manager.

A final self-study report will go to the NCAA in late August, with a peer review team from the NCAA expected to come to campus in November. UB should receive a decision about its certification status—either certified, certified with conditions or not certified—in early 2003.

The purpose of the certification program, which began at UB on Oct. 1, is to help ensure the integrity of the institution's athletics operations. Institutions must show every 10 years that they meet certain standards set by the NCAA. Specific areas covered in the institution's self-study—the NCAA's "operating principles" that place a "measuring stick" by which all Division I members are measured—are academic and fiscal integrity, governance and rules compliance and equity, student-athlete welfare and sportsmanship.

"The self-study process is intended to benefit the institution and athletics program by increasing awareness campus-wide, affirming positive aspects of the athletics program and resolving any problems that may be identified," said Ricotta.

Bob Arkeilpane, director of athletics, echoed Ricotta's thoughts. "One of the goals of the self-study process is to find out what we're not doing so well so we can improve. We also can find out what we're doing well, so we can pat ourselves on the back," he said.

Arkeilpane pointed out that NCAA is adamant that the self-study process—which is based on providing responses to specific questions posed by the NCAA—be open to the entire campus community and not be completed solely by the Division of Athletics. The Steering Committee and the subcommittees addressing the operating principles feature a broad representation of the community, including faculty, students and staff, as well as athletics. Moreover, the NCAA requires that someone who is not involved in the athletics chair the Steering Committee.