Presenting Circumstances

Note:  The intent of the NCAA certification process is to have institutional personnel generate the substance of the self-study report.  SMR is committed to following the letter and spirit of this requirement.  SMR services are intended to help institutional personnel prepare for the self-study and to address identified deficiencies following the self-study, not to produce the self-study report.  Institutions should note that the involvement of outside consultants in the certification process requires the written approval of the NCAA.

• Desire of an NCAA Division I athletics director to maximize athletic department readiness for future certification peer review process; and/or
• Athletics department is confronting any of the following challenges:
  • Pending or previous NCAA Division I certification program deficiencies
  • Assisting a new athletics director to review critical systems related to NCAA certification
  • Absence of institutional history/experience with previous NCAA certification review due to retirements and/or staff turnover

Overview of Consultant Deliverables

• For NCAA Division I institutions, guide athletics personnel through a preliminary NCAA Division I certification self-evaluation including:
  • Review of previous cycle deficiencies if any
  • Review progress of institutional plans
  • Lead staff through a comprehensive reassessment of compliance with all operating principles including governance and rules compliance, academic integrity, gender and minority equity issues and student-athlete well-being
• Development of a planning document that would guide the establishment of institution-wide and internal committees required by the certification progress, including the production of a timeline from the beginning to the end of the certification process
• Based on the certification standards and the completed self-evaluation, recommendations will be developed for:
  • policy and/or procedure revisions
  • staff reorganization and/or additions
  • programmatic and/or operating system changes
  • educational interventions 
• Formal presentation, upon request, of results to athletics staff, faculty oversight body and/or executive officers of institution