The University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department has received notice that it has been fully certified by the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification, the next step in becoming a full Division I program.
The certification process is carried out to ensure the integrity of an institution’s athletic department and to assist institutions in improving their athletic departments. Self studies are required in the areas of governance and commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity, gender equity and diversity and student-athlete well-being.
The certification process was mandated by the NCAA in 1993, with each of the 335 Division I institutions undergoing the self-study once every 10 years.”We are very pleased we have been unconditionally certified by the NCAA for Division I,” said Dr. Allen C. Meadors, UCA President. “The athletics program utilized many individuals on our campus to assist in this process. This collaboration indicates a integration of our athletics program into the true mission of this University. We are pleased to be recognized as having a solid athletics program.”
UCA is updating its final strategic plan and annual report which will be turned in to the NCAA in June. The results of that part of the process will be released in June and complete Division I standing would follow.
“We were required to go through this certification process because of our reclassification to Division I,” said Dr. Brad Teague, UCA athletic director. “It’s required in the fifth year for all transitional schools. And although we have passed the certification process, we are still not a fully classified Division I member until we receive notification this summer.”
“We are proud that we were fully certified, without conditions, and we feel having that designation will certainly help us in the remainder of the process,” he added.
Teague said the full certification could have not come about without the help of many on the UCA campus.
“We had outstanding assistance from across the entire UCA community, from staff to faculty to administration,” Teague said. “Everyone involved went above and beyond to help us with this process.”
UCA, a member of the Southland Conference, is in its final year of transition from NCAA Division II to Division I.
– Steve East
