Feb. 26, 2002

Moraga, CA - The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced decisions on February 21, 2001 concerning the certification status of 12 Division I member institutions that have undergone the Association's second cycle of athletics certification. Saint Mary's College of California was among the list of 10 institutions that were certified without conditions.

A designation of certified means that an institution operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership. The second round of athletics certification is being completed on a 10-year cycle rather than the five-year cycle utilized during the initial certification process. All 321 Division I members that are active division members participate in the certification process.

The purpose of the athletics certification is to ensure integrity in the institution's athletics program and to assist institutions in improving their athletics departments. Legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted in 1993. The certification process, which involved a self-study process led by Saint Mary's President, Brother Craig J. Franz, F.S.C., Ph.D., included a review of these primary components: governance and commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity, fiscal integrity and commitment to equity.