NCAA renews certification for Grizzly Athletics
8/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | General
Aug. 22, 2011
Grizzly Athletics at The University of Montana received a big stamp of approval Aug. 18 when the NCAA announced it has renewed certification of UM's intercollegiate athletic programs.
Certification means the University operates its athletic programs in compliance with operating principles adopted by the NCAA Division I membership.
"This is a big deal for us and the culmination of months of hard work by many people on campus," UM Athletic Director Jim O'Day said. "It means Grizzly Athletics is in good standing with the NCAA and that we offer healthy, competitive programs."
The certification process started last summer with a self-study focused on governance, commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity, gender diversity and student-athlete well-being.
The committee responsible for the study included President Royce Engstrom, UM administrators Teresa Branch and Bill Muse, University employees, students, athletics department personnel and the community at large.
The NCAA requires UM to complete a self-study at least once every seven years. UM completed its first certification self-study in 1996. Its second certification self-study was done in 2003.
Twenty-seven NCAA member institutions nationally were certified on Aug. 18. Montana State University and Appalachian State University were among those to earn renewed certification at this time.
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 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.
