Cornell is conducting a campuswide study of its athletics program -- including rules compliance, academic integrity, equity and student-athlete well-being, among other topics -- as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletics recertification program, President David Skorton announced Nov. 16.

"Cornell's student-athletes excel in their sports and in academics, engage in meaningful community activities and build enthusiasm for the university among our alumni and the wider community," Skorton said. "A decade after our last self-study, it is time to look again at whether we are supporting them appropriately and doing all we can to ensure academic integrity and compliance with NCAA regulations."

The steering committee responsible for the self-study includes Skorton and is co-chaired by Mary Opperman, vice president for human resources, and Vice Provost John Siliciano. The committee is supported by three subcommittees: governance and commitment to rules compliance, chaired by Nelson Roth; academic integrity, chaired by Rosemary Avery; and equity and student-athlete well-being, chaired by Dale Grossman. In addition, various members of the faculty, as well as students, staff, alumni and athletics department personnel, are included on the steering committee and its subcommittees.

To engage the Cornell and Ithaca communities in the self-study, the university will hold an open forum Thursday, Nov. 29, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Room of Schoellkopf Memorial Hall. Co-chairs Opperman and Siliciano and other members of the steering committee will host the event.

The public can comment on the draft and subcommittee reports at http://www.cornell.edu/NCAA. In addition, all meetings of the steering committee are open to the public.