NU AWAITS REVIEW TO COMPLETE NCAA CERTIFICATION PROCESS

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. (Jan. 24, 2004)--Niagara University has completed a year-long study of its athletics program and is awaiting a visit by a peer- review team to complete the NCAA Division I athletics certification process.

A four-member team composed of representatives of other colleges, universities, or conference offices will visit the NU campus Feb. 10-12 to meet with administrators, staff and student-athletes.  Afterwards, Niagara's self-study, along with a report from the review team, will be sent to the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification for review. The self-study covered academic integrity, governance and rules compliance, commitment to equity, and student-athlete welfare.

Niagara’s self study, which was completed in November, was conducted by a 17-member steering committee headed by Sheila L. Hausrath, vice president for student life. It included representatives of the university faculty, staff and student body, as well as athletics department personnel, board members and community representatives. In all, more than 50 persons worked directly on the project as members of the steering committee or one of the four subcommittees.

While academic accreditation is common for colleges and universities, the NCAA certification focuses solely on athletics programs.  The Division I NCAA membership overwhelmingly supported the program and its standards at the 1993 NCAA Convention.  Niagara University completed its first self study in 1996 and was unconditionally certified in 1997.

Hausrath said the certification program's purpose is to help ensure integrity in the institution's athletics operations by opening them up to the rest of the Niagara University community and the public. Institutions benefit by increasing campus-wide awareness and knowledge of the athletics program, confirming its strengths and developing plans to improve areas of concern, she said.

In addition to Hausrath, NU’s 17-member steering committee included the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., president; the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, executive vice president; Bernadette Brennen, assistant to the vice president for academic affairs; Michael Gentile, an assistant professor in the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management; Michael Hermann, athletics director; Barbara Green, associate athletics director; students Megan Guerra and Jessica Kemp; Dr. Donna Thompson, professor of psychology; Jeannine Brown Miller, director of human resources; Catherine Serianni, director of institutional research; Donald Smith, controller; Dr. John B. Stranges, university professor; trustee Marsha Joy Sullivan; Robert Minicucci, a member of the board of advisers; and Stephanie Cowart, executive director of the Niagara Falls Housing Authority.