Category | News

Self-study propels KSU toward DI athletics

Published on March 25, 2008 by The Sentinel

    President Dan Papp, along with committee chairs, presented the
findings of the NCAA Division I certification self-study to faculty,
staff and administrators on March 17.

    According to committee chair and Vice President for
Student Success and Enrollment Services Dr. Nancy S. King, the
committee found only minor infractions and those violations are to be
expected.  “We are in good shape overall and things we have done
have positioned us to be able to rapidly improve,” she said.

    King and Papp encouraged faculty and staff to read
over the 133-page draft of the self-study and to offer feedback.

    “Do not be concerned if you see secondary
violations,” said Papp.  “If no violations had been reported, then
we would know that someone hadn’t done their job.”

    The review, in accordance with the NCAA Division I
athletics certification program, is required as part of KSU’s
transition from Division II into Division I.  The campus-wide
self-study examined three basic areas: governance and commitment to
rules compliance, academic integrity, equity and student-athlete well
being.  Papp appointed a steering committee which conducted an
internal review and that committee reported some of its findings to the
KSU Senates last Monday. 

    Dr. Tom Keene, professor of history and chair of the
Academic Integrity subcommittee, said that his committee sought to
“ensure that student-athletes are being treated like everyone else,”
and encouraged faculty to read the new missed class policy posted on
the KSU Web site.  “My impression is that people are really doing
a tremendous job in seeing that athletes choose the right major, are
going to classes, and giving good old uncle advice,” said Keene.

    Keene did not offer any insight as to what, if any, infractions his committee found.

    Dr. Cheryl Wayne, Director of Diversity Programs and
chair of the Equity and Student Well-Being committee, said that her
committee looked into whether or not KSU was being fair regarding
gender and minority issues.  Wayne pointed out that for
institutions that fail to become Division I certified this is the area
in which they often fall short.

    “We’ve already begun to make significant changes
that will help us,” said Wayne. “But we need to do a better job in
hiring minorities, especially in women’s sports.”

    The subcommittee’s report also noted that the female
athletic participation rate lags behind the general female
representation on campus by 12 percent and that the Athletic Department
has not satisfied the proportionality test for demonstrating compliance
with Title IX.  The study also points out that adding men’s tennis
in 2009 and men’s soccer or football in future years could continue to
decrease the percentage in the women’s participation rate.

    According to Papp, a final draft of the report will
be submitted to the NCAA on April 25, and on Oct. 29-31 an NCAA
peer-review team will be visiting campus to verify that KSU has met the
standard operating principles and that the study was accurate and
complete.  The team will then report to the NCAA Division I
Committee on Athletics Certification which will determine whether KSU
becomes either certified, certified with conditions or not
certified.  Those results are expected to be announced next spring.