CSULB
discusses NCAA 2003 bid status
By Karl Peterson
On-line Forty-Niner
The
Cal State Long Beach National Collegiate
Athletic Association certification steering
committee held a meeting Tuesday to discuss
the current status of CSULB’s bid to remain
a NCAA certified Division I program.
Every 10 years, all Division I schools must
prove adherence to certain guidelines set
by the NCAA and 2003 will mark the second
bid for CSULB athletics to be re-certified.
“It is meant to ensure that the NCAA’s fundamental
commitment to integrity in intercollegiate
athletics is maintained by athletic institutions,”
said Doug Robinson, vice-president of Student
Services and chairman of the NCAA certification
steering committee.
Several members of the steering committee
attended the meeting, which was intended
to alert individuals to any changes needed
for the athletics program. The committee
invited students and community members to
voice their opinions. Only two students
were present at the meeting. Members of
the community did not attend.
There are three levels of certification,
that CSULB can attain, the first certified
without conditions, the second involves
certification with conditions, and third
being no certification at all. The meeting,
which was not required by the NCAA, was
intended to show effort by the university
to maintain athletic integrity, and Robinson
said he hopes to retain CSULB’s classification
as certified without conditions.
The meeting included a question and answer
session directed by Robinson, in which members
of the CSULB crew team asked how they could
become a varsity sport in the eyes of the
NCAA. This will not be possible until it
is fiscally feasible for the athletics department.
Also discussed were the graduation rates
of CSULB student athletes, which has risen
from 16 percent 10 years ago to 50 percent
one year ago and is currently 40 percent,
according to Director of Athletics, Bill
Shumard. The graduation rate is comparable
with most other CSU campuses and publicly-funded
schools, especially Cal State Fullerton
Shumard said.
Among other things, CSULB must make an effort
to comply with recommendations of the NCAA
which includes: increasing the amount of
CSULB personnel that are knowledgeable regarding
NCAA and conference rules, providing written
documents of booster club activities, increasing
booster club awareness of NCAA rules, setting
goals to increase the graduation rates of
student athletes, minimizing conflicts between
academic participation and athletic participation,
assuring appropriate control of all athletics
generated income, and establishing budget
procedures that account for all athletics
revenue.
CSULB is currently addressing all of the
recommendations set forth by the NCAA to
ensure re-certification when the NCAA committee
visits in April. The certification steering
committee will hold similar meetings that
will be open to students, faculty and community
members on Nov. 2 from 6 to 6:45 p.m. at
the Ukleja room inside The Pyramid and another
on Nov. 21 from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the
Alamitos Bay Room in the Student Union.
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