Eastern Michigan athletics department receives NCAA certification
Eastern Michigan athletics received its highest cumulative GPA in school history for the fall semester.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo
Eastern Michigan University’s athletic department has been certified as in compliance in with the principles of the NCAA, the school announced Thursday.
NCAA Division I institutions must be certified every 10 years. The certification follows a year-long self-study that involved more than 50 people and focused on five areas: governance and commitment to rules and compliance, academic integrity, gender equity, diversity and student athlete well-being.
“We are gratified and proud to receive this certification from the NCAA,” said Eastern Michigan president Susan Martin. “The process was extremely rigorous, and spotlighted the many strengths of Eastern's athletics program, including our attention to rules compliance, academics and the well-being of our athletes.”
The university also announced that its 21 varsity teams had a cumulative grade point average of 3.201 during the fall 2012 semester, the highest in school history.
Eastern’s certification process was the final one initiated before the NCAA placed a moratorium on the certification process.
The certification process is separate from the NCAA enforcement process. The EMU women’s basketball program is currently on NCAA probation for four major violations.
EMU recently highlighted one of its new compliance initiatives: having interns observe practices and games to help maintain compliance.
Kyle Austin covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kyleaustin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2535. Follow him on Twitter @KAustin_AA.
Comments
Ralph
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 8:51 p.m.
The NCAA makes it easy to meet attendance requirements. It does not count butts in the seats, only paid attendance.
a2miguy
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 4:36 p.m.
Would be nice to know what happens if the certification is declined.
Ryan Munson
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 4:26 p.m.
Does this certification also require minimum attendance levels at sporting events or is this a part of another licensing and/or certification?
Ralph
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 3:38 p.m.
Five areas covered in certification: Governance and commitment to rules compliance; Academic integrity; Gender equity; Diversity; Student-athlete well-being.
Kyle Austin
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 4:51 p.m.
I don't believe the minimum attendance is incorporated in this. We've written before about how EMU uses its Pepsi contract to remain NCAA compliant in that regard. http://www.annarbor.com/sports/budget-shortfalls-put-more-pressure-on-eastern-michigan-athletic-department/
Geoff Larcom
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 3:41 p.m.
This is very fine news that culminates an extensive effort and self study by Eastern Michigan. It is noteworthy that Eastern and Buffalo are, coincidentally, the last universities to undergo this very rigorous process before the NCAA called a timeout to study what is required and the burden this places on institutions. The operative question: Is there a better way?