April 16, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) received notice today that it has been recertified by the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification.

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 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.

As part of the process, UAB conducted its year-long, campus-wide self-study in 2008. The university's first self-study was in 1999.

"I want to thank everyone for their hard work and dedicated efforts in completing the process that led to our second NCAA certification," said UAB President Carol Garrison. "We had outstanding leadership and teamwork from individuals campuswide. Special thanks go to Dean Harold Jones (UAB School of Health Professions) for his dedication and diligence as chair of the self-study."

UAB Athletics Director Brian Mackin thanked Garrison for her support. "Her leadership in putting together the right team across campus was what helped to make this successful," Mackin said. "This certification provides evidence that we are committed to doing things the right way at UAB, and at the same time, it also gives us valuable feedback so that we can continue to improve and grow as a department."

A designation of certified means that an institution operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership. 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 preliminarily reviews 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.  An institution's failure to satisfactorily respond to the committee may negatively impact certification status.

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