July 14, 1998
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University has completed its NCAA athletics certification self-study and finds that Intercollegiate Athletics meets requirements with every NCAA operating principle.
The athletics certification self-study is a process each NCAA institution must complete once every 10 years and this has been Purdue's year for the self-study.
At Purdue, more than 60 members of the faculty, administrative staff, coaching staff and student body have participated in this year-long self-study, covering the subjects of Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance, Academic Integrity, Fiscal Integrity and Commitment to Equity. Seventeen operating principles were examined by four separate sub-committees, with each sub-committee preparing a chapter of the report on its assigned subject.
The 17 operating principles include topics such as institutional control, rules-compliance accountability and evaluation, admissions and graduation rate data, academic support, financial controls and procedures, gender and minority issues and student-athlete welfare.
Each subcommittee prepared a written draft evaluating whether the activities of the athletics program are in substantial conformity with each of the operating principles, whether the activities of the athletics program are consistent with the mission and purpose of the university, and In the case of deficiencies, what specific recommendations the subcommittee wishes to make about potential plans for improvement. The committees were also asked to help identify continuous improvement recommendations as part of their work.
"I am very pleased with the results and conclusions of this self-study," says Dr. Richard Grace, the Certification Steering Committee Chairman. "Our committee members put a great deal of work into the effort and I feel our entire University has benefited from this process."
The self-study report, which contains 158 pages plus 343 pages of attachments and supportive material, has been approved by University President Dr. Steven C. Beering and forwarded to the NCAA for distribution to the Athletics Certification Peer-Review Team.
The committees found Intercollegiate Athletics met all the operating principles and offered seven continuous improvement recommendations:
* From Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance: Ensure that commitment to rules compliance is more clearly spelled out in the performance evaluation process.
* From Academic Integrity: Expand accessibility to personal computers for student-athletes.
* From Fiscal Integrity: (1) Review and enhance as necessary fiscal operating procedures and organizational structure of the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex; and (2) Establish a standard contractual structure for all full-time coaches.
* From Commitment to Equity: (1) Ensure that commitment to equity is demonstrated throughout Athletic Department facilities in wall hangings, trophy cases, and other displays; (2) Determine strategies for optimal delivery of medical services in order to provide high quality and equitable services in the 21st century; and (3) Ensure that all entering student-athletes are provided the general University information regarding academic support services available to all students at Purdue.
The Athletic Department has various timetables in 1998-99 to accomplish those results.
Printed copies of the complete report are on reserve at the Hicks Undergraduate Library and the Athletic Public Relations Office.
There will be a public meeting on July 24, 1998, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the Conference Room of Mackey Arena where Purdue's Athletic Director, Morgan Burke, will join Dr. Grace and the subcommittee chairs to discuss the report and answer questions.
The Peer-Review Team will be made up of experienced educational and athletic personnel from other NCAA institutions. They will review the report and then travel to West Lafayette in late September to verify the completeness and accuracy of the self-study activities. The NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification will render its decision about athletics certification in approximately six months.