The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Committee on Athletics Certification has approved Cornell's athletic programs for certification in Division I.

The certification, announced Dec. 2, came after a yearlong self-study and report that covered the areas of academic and financial integrity, rules compliance and a commitment to equity. After the self-study report was presented, a peer-review team visited the campus in April 1999.

"Cornell has long been committed to running a first-rate athletics program, and this certification by the NCAA has confirmed that commitment, both to us and to our peer institutions," said Cornell President Hunter Rawlings.

Cornell is one of 15 Division I institutions certified last week. Two hundred eighty-four of the 310 Division I institutions have now been certified, and the remaining will undergo the process by Sept. 1, 2000.

The certification program was adopted in 1993 as a key part of the association's reform agenda. The purpose of the program is to ensure integrity in the institution's athletics operations and to assist athletics departments in improving their programs.

In announcing Cornell's self-study in April 1998, Rawlings said the process offered the opportunity to increase awareness and knowledge of the athletics program campuswide, while confirming its strengths and developing plans to improve in areas of concern.

"A lot of people worked diligently to complete the process that led to our NCAA certification," said John A. Noel Jr., Cornell director of athletics. "The examination of our department as a whole was tremendously productive, and, as a result of the information gathered and feedback received, we are making a number of positive changes. For example, our self-study supports continued and intensified efforts to attract women and minorities to our coaching and administrative staffs so we can provide our student-athletes with a more diverse group of role models and mentors to emulate. We are working on that."

The committee responsible for the self-study included Rawlings; Ronald G. Ehrenberg, committee chair and the Irving M. Ives Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations and Economics;

various members of the faculty, students, staff and alumni, as well as athletics department personnel.

"Cornell took the NCAA certification process very seriously and numerous faculty, students, staff and alumni worked very hard on preparing our self-study," Ehrenberg said. "I am delighted that their labors have helped the university receive its certification."

The NCAA is a membership organization of colleges and universities that participate in intercollegiate athletics. The primary purpose of the association is to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational program and the athlete as an integral part of the student body. Activities of the NCAA membership include formulating rules of play for NCAA sports, conducting national championships, adopting and enforcing standards of eligibility and studying all phases of intercollegiate athletics.

The certification, announced Dec. 2, came after a yearlong self-study and report that covered the areas of academic and financial integrity, rules compliance and a commitment to equity. After the self-study report was presented, a peer-review team visited the campus in April 1999.