Lipscomb University NCAA self-study report now available

 | 11/17/2004

The final report resulting from a campus-wide self-study of the Lipscomb University athletics program is now available for public review, President Steve Flatt announced.

The report has been compiled as part of a required NCAA Division I athletics certification program, and analyzes the university's academic integrity, commitment to governance and rules compliance, and equity and welfare of student-athletes, Flatt said.

This summer university officials encouraged public comment on the drafts of these reports. Public responses to the drafts were considered in compiling the final report to be submitted to the NCAA, Flatt said. The final report may be downloaded here . (The report appendix may be downloaded here.)

The NCAA athletics certification program is similar to academic accreditation processes that are common to universities, but focuses solely on certification of athletics programs, Flatt said.

The purpose of the program is to help ensure integrity in the institution's athletics operations by opening athletics to the rest of the university community and to the public. Institutions benefit by increasing campus-wide awareness and knowledge of the athletics program, confirming its strengths and developing plans to improve in areas of concern, according to an NCAA press release.

Within each area studied by the committee, the NCAA has established standards, or  "operating principles," by which all Division I members are evaluated. The committee responsible for the study includes Flatt, athletics director Steve Potts, general counsel and certification steering committee chair Phil Ellenburg, members of the university faculty and staff, and athletics department personnel.

Now that the university has concluded its study,  an external team of reviewers from other NCAA Division I institutions will conduct a evaluation visit on campus. The site visit is scheduled for Feb. 20-22, 2005. The committee will determine the institution's certification status and announce the decision publicly.

Lipscomb recently completed its first year of full membership in NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Lady Bisons basketball team became the first in NCAA history to win its conference tournament and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament in its first year of competition.

The NCAA is a membership organization of colleges and universities that participate in intercollegiate athletics. The primary purpose of the association is to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational program and the athlete as an integral part of the student body. Activities of NCAA membership include formulating rules of play for NCAA sports, conducting national championships, adopting and enforcing standards of eligibility, and studying all phases of intercollegiate athletics.