Holy Cross Granted NCAA Certification

WORCESTER, Mass. – The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced this week that the College of the Holy Cross has been granted athletics certification status.

The purpose of athletics certification is to ensure integrity in the institution’s athletics program and to assist institutions in improving their athletics departments. Legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted in 1993.

The certification process, which involves a self-study process led by a school’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. 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.

"Naturally, we’re delighted with the certification," said Richard M. Regan, Jr., director of athletics. "Our self-study clearly showed that the Holy Cross athletics program meets or exceeds NCAA standards. The official affirmation is testimony to the ongoing work of our student-athletes and coaches, as well as to the faculty and administrators who participated in the steering committee."

Rev. Anthony J. Kuzniewski, S.J., professor of history, who served as chair of the self-study steering committee, said: "Because close to 25 percent of our Holy Cross students participate in varsity athletics, maintaining the full and authentic ideal of the student/athlete is an institutional priority, consistent with the Jesuit mission in American higher education. We have appreciated the opportunity offered by this re-certification process to examine our record in expressing this goal, and to explore ways of further strengthening our athletic program within the context of an outstanding academic environment."

In addition to Regan and Father Kuzniewski, members of the Holy Cross NCAA self-study steering committee included: Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., president; John F. Axelson, professor of psychology; Christina B. Chen, director of academic services and learning resources; Esther L. Levine, assistant dean; Rosemary A. Shea, associate director of athletics and compliance officer; and Ann M. Zelesky, associate director of athletics.

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.

The certification process is separate from the NCAA’s enforcement program, which investigates allegations of rules violations by NCAA member institutions. A decision of certified does not exempt an institution from concurrent or subsequent enforcement proceedings.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions may ask the Committee on Athletics Certification to review an institution’s certification status as a result of the completed infractions case.

The members of the Committee on Athletics Certification are: McKinley Boston, New Mexico State University; Shonna Brown, Mid-American Conference; Rita Hartung Cheng, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Rich Ensor, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference; Kevin Hatcher, Colgate University; Pat Howey, University of North Carolina, Wilmington; Gerald M. Lage, Oklahoma State University; Leo Lambert (chair), Elon University; Fred Mims, University of Iowa; Gloria Nevarez, West Coast Conference; Frank Pergolizzi, Southeastern Louisiana University; Mary Ann Rohleder, Indiana University, Bloomington; Greg Sankey, Southeastern Conference; and John Steinbrecher, Ohio Valley Conference.