|
WMU Home > About WMU > WMU News
WMU begins NCAA recertification processOct. 6, 2006 KALAMAZOO--A team of faculty, staff and students from across the campus has been appointed by Western Michigan University Interim President Diether H. Haenicke to guide the University through the recertification of its athletic programs through the National Collegiate Athletic Association. An 18-person steering committee led by Vice Provost Eileen Evans met for the first time Sept. 14 to chart a work plan for the recertification process, which will include a self-study done during the current academic year and a site visit by peer evaluators tentatively scheduled for November 2007. NCAA certification began with a pilot project in which WMU participated in 1990 and was approved for all Division I members at the NCAA's 1993 convention. WMU was fully certified in 1999 and, like all Division I members, is on a ten-year recertification cycle. In addition to the steering committee, three subcommittees are being formed to focus on the NCAA's three major areas of focus: governance and commitment to rules compliance; academic integrity; and equity and student-athlete well-being. "Quite simply, the certification process is designed to ensure our commitment to integrity in collegiate athletics," says Steering Committee Chair Evans. "The subcommittees will be looking closely at the three areas the NCAA uses to define integrity." The process, Evans says, is an opportunity for the University to study its progress since its last certification effort and to examine strategies for improving the quality of its athletic programs in the areas of focus. During the certification process, members of the campus community will be able to follow the committees' progress, offer input and read draft committee reports by visiting the Web at www.wmich.edu/poapa/NCAAcertification. In addition, open meetings will be convened by each of the subcommittees to solicit University community input. Steering Committee Members Dr. Diether H. Haenicke, interim president of Western Michigan University Dr. Eileen B. Evans, vice provost and chair of the steering committee Kathy Beauregard, director of intercollegiate athletics Dave Corstange, senior associate athletic director Carrick Craig, WMU associate general counsel Paul DeVries, assistant athletic director of compliance Randy Ford, head coach of the baseball team Dr. James Gilchrist, vice provost for academic operations Dr. Keith Hearit, associate dean of the Lee Honors College Dr. Mary Lagerwey, associate professor of nursing and president of the Faculty Senate Angela Peoples, a student majoring in political science Dr. Cindee Quake-Rapp, professor and chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy Joe Reitz, a member of the basketball team and a business major Cheryl Roland, interim associate vice president for university relations Jeff Stone, associate athletic director Fred Sikins, professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering and member of the WMU Athletic Board Arnold Taylor, director of customer success for the Office of Information Technology Brad Wachler, director of compliance for the Mid-American Conference Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu WMU News |
