NCAA Division I Certification: FAQ

Answered by the UC Davis Certification Committee

Q: Why is UC Davis moving to Division I in the NCAA?

A: Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef: 

Perhaps the most encompassing reason is that UC Davis just does not fit in Division II anymore.  We are six times bigger than the average Division II university, and  Division-II colleges and universities have much smaller programs and do not match up well with us as conference teams.

In our new all-California  conference, the Big West, we play against other UC teams and some of the best of the CSUs, and the academic requirements are more demanding.  We're in a better place.

Q: Can I participate in the Certification Self-Study?

A: Vice Chancellor Stan Nosek (chair of the NCAA Certification Steering Committee):

Yes, we particularly welcome participation by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the UC Davis community.  It is important that UC Davis reach out to all corners of the campus community and pay close attention to whatever it is those interested voices have to say about UC Davis Athletics.  I encourage you to check our NCAA Certification website and submit comments to ncaacert@ucdavis.edu.  Your comments will be reviewed and will help to make our athletics program stronger.  We will also publicize upcoming public forums.

Q: Who is directly involved in the self-study?

A: Greg Warzecka (UC Davis athletic director):

The chancellor assembled an impressive steering committee that I believe is broadly representative of our campus constituents, with Stan Nosek, vice chancellor of administration, serving as chair and Pam Gill-Fisher, senior associate athletic director, serving as our liaison to the NCAA.  The steering committee includes Kim Elsbach (faculty athletic representative); Dan Simmons (chair of the Academic Senate); Judy Sakaki, vice chancellor of student affairs; Cathy VandeVoort, chair of the Academic Federation; Dennis Shimek, campus Title IX officer; Rahim Reed, minority affairs officer; alumna Pam Schmeiser; Stephen Sampson, a non-athlete student; Jackie Turpin, a student-athlete; and Bill Kidder, our report writer. 

The chancellor also appointed four subcommittees, all chaired by Academic Senate faculty: (1) governance and commitment to rule compliance, (2) academic integrity, (3) equity and (4) student-athlete welfare.  The chairs of these four subcommittees, Ted DeJong, Debbie Niemeier, Angela Onwuachi-Willig and John Gates, respectively, also serve on the steering committee.

Q: What is the purpose of the certification self-study?

A: Pam Gill-Fisher (senior associate athletic director and the campus liaison for NCAA certification): 

The purpose of NCAA certification is to ensure a commitment to integrity in intercollegiate athletics.  Completing the self-study contributes to this purpose in three ways: (1) It opens the affairs of athletics to the UC Davis campus community; (2) it sets clear standards, called operating principles, for Division I athletics programs; and (3) it is a strong incentive for vigorous evaluation, as there are tough sanctions for institutions that fail to conduct a comprehensive self-study or correct problems over a reasonable period of time.

Q: What are some of the key issues that will be looked at?

A: Professor Kim Elsbach (faculty athletic representative, chair of the Athletic Administrative Advisory Committee):

When UC Davis decided to move to Division I, we committed ourselves to certain inviolate principles.  As a faculty member, I believe the certification process is a golden opportunity to evaluate how well we are putting these principles into practice. 

In this light, a key issue is whether UC Davis has maintained its focus on the academic integrity of student-athletes as it transitions to Division I.  Secondly, do UC Davis student-athletes meet the same UC eligibility requirements in admissions and are student-athletes’ graduation rates on par with other students?  Third, how is our campus progressing in terms in terms of Title IX gender-equity issues?

Q: Do UC Davis students and student-athletes support the move to Division I?

A: Rachel Keener (student-athlete on the volleyball team; Student-Athlete Advisory Committee officer):

In the November 2002 referendum, which had a record turnout, a 54% majority of UC Davis undergraduates voted in favor of raising student fees to support grants-in-aid if the campus moved to Division I.  Of course, concerns about student fees levels remain, but I believe that most students think Division I is a good thing for UC Davis.  Regarding student-athletes, by a vote of 38 to 1, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee supported going to Division I.

Q: Do other universities go through this?  What is the likely outcome? 

A: Bill Kidder (certification report writer, senior policy analyst): Yes, all NCAA Division I institutions must periodically undergo the certification process that has been in effect since 1999. 

There are three possible outcomes based on the NCAA’s assessment of our self-study report and their evaluation visit:

• (1) UC Davis becomes “certified” based on a finding that we are in substantial conformity with the NCAA’s operating principles;
• (2) we are designated “certified with conditions,” which still indicates substantial conformity with the operating principles, but reflects a finding of one or more serious problems; or
• (3) we are designated “not certified,” which reflects very serious or pervasive problems. 

Certainly, we are working hard to become fully certified.