Spring Break
NCAA sets the standards for URI athletic programs
Jessie Siregar
Issue date: 10/5/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
10/05/04 - The NCAA has been making improvements to the University of Rhode Island athletics program.
Since February of 2004, URI's 600 athletes can find improvements, upgrades and added staff on the court, field and in the gym. This is because the NCAA has been conducting a comprehensive self-study that is setting new standards to the university's athletic department. Thomas Dougan, URI vice president of student affairs, spoke in a public forum in the Memorial Union to explain the process that hopes to result in re-certification by June of 2005.
"The purpose is to make sure we're doing this study with equity and accuracy," Dougan said.
Physical improvements to the athletic program include the construction of the Ryan Center, upgrades in Keaney Gymnasium and the addition of varsity women's crew, he said. These improvements have helped the URI athletic program continue to be an equal opportunity program, he said, and remain up to date with technology.
However, Dougan said this study has nothing to do with the problems the Ryan Center has been facing in the past few weeks or the rumors of increases in tuition because of lower than expected revenues.
Three committees have been studying the subjects of equity and student-athlete welfare, academic integrity and rules compliance. Their purpose is to research their applicable topic area, identify problems and determine corrective actions. Specifically, the Academic Integrity committee will evaluate athlete's academic performance and monitor missed class time. Equity and Student-Athlete Welfare focuses on areas of gender and race/ethnic issues. Each committee will evaluate how well the athletics program is conforming to the standards set by the NCAA.
The Steering Committee reviews the subcommittees' research and offers suggestions. This committee is comprised of President Robert Carothers, faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Division I collegiate sports are being reviewed under these standards and those sports will have the benefit of not having to address these issues in the future. Club and intramural sports will not be under review throughout this process.
"Club sports are not being looked at because they are not collegiate D-I sports but they have been mentioned in Steering Committee discussions," said Dougan.
The re-certification process can take 12-24 months and must happen every 10 years. This certification will place URI into Division I athletics programs and give the 600 URI athletes standard operating principles set by the NCAA.
Since February of 2004, URI's 600 athletes can find improvements, upgrades and added staff on the court, field and in the gym. This is because the NCAA has been conducting a comprehensive self-study that is setting new standards to the university's athletic department. Thomas Dougan, URI vice president of student affairs, spoke in a public forum in the Memorial Union to explain the process that hopes to result in re-certification by June of 2005.
"The purpose is to make sure we're doing this study with equity and accuracy," Dougan said.
Physical improvements to the athletic program include the construction of the Ryan Center, upgrades in Keaney Gymnasium and the addition of varsity women's crew, he said. These improvements have helped the URI athletic program continue to be an equal opportunity program, he said, and remain up to date with technology.
However, Dougan said this study has nothing to do with the problems the Ryan Center has been facing in the past few weeks or the rumors of increases in tuition because of lower than expected revenues.
Three committees have been studying the subjects of equity and student-athlete welfare, academic integrity and rules compliance. Their purpose is to research their applicable topic area, identify problems and determine corrective actions. Specifically, the Academic Integrity committee will evaluate athlete's academic performance and monitor missed class time. Equity and Student-Athlete Welfare focuses on areas of gender and race/ethnic issues. Each committee will evaluate how well the athletics program is conforming to the standards set by the NCAA.
The Steering Committee reviews the subcommittees' research and offers suggestions. This committee is comprised of President Robert Carothers, faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Division I collegiate sports are being reviewed under these standards and those sports will have the benefit of not having to address these issues in the future. Club and intramural sports will not be under review throughout this process.
"Club sports are not being looked at because they are not collegiate D-I sports but they have been mentioned in Steering Committee discussions," said Dougan.
The re-certification process can take 12-24 months and must happen every 10 years. This certification will place URI into Division I athletics programs and give the 600 URI athletes standard operating principles set by the NCAA.
