Kansas State University

K-State athletics receives NCAA third-cycle certification

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

President Kirk Schulz announced today that Kansas State University's intercollegiate athletics department has received full certification from the Division I Committee on Athletics Certification, following a formal announcement by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

Schulz made public the NCAA's decision, which followed a thorough and comprehensive self-study conducted by the university and a final response to the NCAA that was submitted for review by the certification committee.

"I would like to thank the many individuals who served in various roles throughout this important process," Schulz said. "NCAA Third-Cycle Certification is an integral part of our goal in becoming a top 50 public research institution, and I appreciate the time and outstanding work of Dr. Ruth Dyer and Jill Shields, just to name a few, as we examined our processes, celebrated our successes and identified areas for improvement."

The yearlong self-study process was headed by Dyer, senior vice provost, and included more than 100 Kansas State faculty and staff members, students and representatives from the athletics department, including Shields, associate athletics director and senior woman administrator. The certification procedure, which began at K-State in August 2010, ensures the integrity of the athletics operations at NCAA member institutions.

"I want to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Dyer, Jill Shields, members of the self-study committee and the entire university community for their dedication to the welfare of all our 465 student-athletes," said John Currie, director of athletics. "We could not be more pleased with the outcome of this process. Receiving certification is a confirmation of our goal of becoming a model intercollegiate athletics program and acknowledges that we are conducting our internal processes in accordance with the NCAA's principles of operation."

Certification is meant to ensure integrity in the university's athletics program and to assist the institution in improving its athletics department. Legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted by a vote of all NCAA Division I members at the 1993 NCAA Convention. Certification, according to the NCAA, indicates that an institution is considered to be operating its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the association's Division I membership.

Kansas State, which last received certification during the 2003-2004 academic year, is coming off a 2010-2011 season that saw a record nine teams advanced to postseason play. K-State was one of only three schools in the nation to have its football team in a bowl game, both basketball teams in the NCAA tournament, its baseball team advance to NCAA regional play and both track teams finish in the top 20 this past season.

In addition to the continued success on the field, K-State has also maintained its tradition of academic excellence as evidenced by its No. 1 all-sports graduation rate in the Big 12, a distinction Wildcat student-athletes have claimed in each of the past four years.

Financially, the K-State athletics department has operated under a budget surplus in each of the last two fiscal years, and according to a recent report by USA Today, K-State was one of 22 Division I public institutions to operate at a surplus during the 2009-2010 year and one of five schools to reduce spending from the previous fiscal year.