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Tech earns NCAA certificationAmelia Gambino Institute Communications and Public Affairs Following a yearlong self-study that examined financial integrity, academic integrity, governance and rules compliance, and commitment to equity, Georgia Tech has received certification by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Committee on Athletics Certification. The announcement came from the NCAA on May 10 after the action was approved in the organization’s April board meeting. The NCAA requires all member institutions to undergo the certification process once every 10 years and submit a 5-year interim status report. Tech began its self-study in the fall of 1998. A steering committee, chaired by Mark J.T. Smith, executive assistant to the president, oversaw the work of four subcommittees composed of members of the faculty, staff and student body. The four subcommittee chairs were Bob Thompson, senior vice president for Administration and Finance (Fiscal Integrity); Deborah Smith, director of Undergraduate Admission (Academic Integrity); George Nemhauser, professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering (Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance); and Patricia McDougall, associate professor, Management (Commitment to Equity). The subcommittees completed a self-study instrument prepared by the NCAA designed to collect data and to elicit an evaluation of the Athletic Association and plans for improvement where necessary. During its April meeting, the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification reviewed written materials related to the self-study and the campus evaluation visit conducted by a peer-review team in January 1999. Based upon the information submitted, the Committee determined that Georgia Tech should be certified. “I gained a new appreciation for the staff and administration in the [Georgia Tech Athletic Association], which under the present leadership of Dave Braine and the former leadership of Homer Rice provided us with a first-class program to showcase,” said Smith. Certification means that Tech is considered to be operating its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the NCAA Division I membership. It also means that any problems identified during the course of the self-study and peer-review team’s evaluation were not considered serious enough to affect the Institute’s certification status.
As a normal part of the review process and evaluation, recommended strategies for
improvement are provided. “In my mind,” said Smith, “the most outstanding outcome
of the certification process is a strengthening of our academic support structure
for student athletes. Now an academic standing committee of the GTAA Board is
engaged in helping to further enhance support services.”
Approved by the Office of External Affairs on 09/24/97
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