Prairie View A&M University Begins Year-Long Athletics Self-Study

Prairie View A&M University has begun a year-long, campus-wide study of its athletics program as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletics certification program.  The entire process of the self-study provides the institution and its athletic program the opportunity to formally assess commitment to academic integrity, governance and rule compliance, and equity and student-athlete welfare. 

Initiated by the NCAA in 1993, the athletics certification program is designed to help ensure integrity in institutional athletics programs.  PVAMU was first certified through the process in 1998.

"Introspection is looking inside one's motives, purposes, and performances," said Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.  "An institution, like an individual, is made better for critically evaluating self."

As chairperson, Dr. Thomas-Smith has appointed a steering committee of faculty, staff, students, and community members to conduct the self-study.  Led by both Dr. Thomas-Smith and Dr. Clinnon Harvey, co-chairperson of the steering committee and Faculty Athletics Representative, the committee will gather research, data, and recommendations through subcommittees' reports on academic integrity, governance and rule compliance, and equity and student-athlete welfare.

"The very best part of it all is that the self-study process engages a broad cross-section of students, alumni, faculty, administrators, and external supporters in ensuring a really well-managed, highly compliant athletics program," continued Dr. Thomas-Smith.  "I am honored to be on such a fine team."

Over the course of the year, the team of subcommittees will work closely with offices across the campus to evaluate the areas of academic integrity, governance and rule compliance, and equity and student-athlete welfare.  The NCAA has established a set of operating principles by which each subcommittee's area is measured; on Wednesday, October 25, 2006, the steering committee and subcommittees met with an NCAA representative for a full-day orientation on the principles and procedures for the self-study.

A web site has been established, www.pvamu.edu/ncaacert, which includes lists of steering committee and subcommittee members; regularly updated information about the self-study; and opportunities for students, university employees, alumni, and persons in the community to provide input.

The completed report will be submitted to the NCAA May 1, 2007, and a team of NCAA reviewers from other colleges, universities, or conference offices will then conduct a four-day evaluation visit on campus in August of 2007.

The external team's report will be forwarded to the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification, which will determine the institution's certification status.  The three options of certification status are certified, certified with conditions, and not certified.  While universities and colleges have an opportunity to address and/or correct areas of deficiency, those that do not may be ruled ineligible for NCAA membership.

About Prairie View A&M University:

Founded in 1876, Prairie View A&M University is the second oldest public institution of higher education in Texas. With an established reputation for producing engineers, nurses and educators, PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools. A member of the Texas A&M University System, the university is dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research and service. During the university’s 130-year history, nearly 48,000 academic degrees have been awarded. For more information regarding PVAMU, visit www.pvamu.edu.