The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has recertified Cornell as a Division I athletics program.

Cornell was first certified in 1999; the recertification, which is required every 10 years, finalized a year of self-study and peer review. The NCAA found no issues of concern after examining the university's governance, commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity and its programs promoting equity and student-athlete welfare.

Mary George Opperman, vice president for human resources, and Vice Provost John Siliciano served as co-chairs of Cornell's Recertification Committee; committee members Kristin Walker, manager of academic support in Institutional Research and Planning, and outside consultant Amy Cronin gathered the data.

"We would want to applaud the Athletics department coaches and staff, who manage a very complex set of NCAA compliance standards," said Opperman. "We also celebrate Cornell's remarkable group of student athletes. It's really all about them: 1,100 talented students who find the time to compete in one or more of our 36 sports, all the while still achieving high academic standards. They are really impressive."

Said Siliciano: "This process was thorough, rigorous and comprehensive. The Athletics staff is very attentive to NCAA requirements, and we confirmed that there were no problems or surprises."

The Department of Athletics and Physical Education "works diligently throughout the year to administer a competitive program within the parameters set by the NCAA and the Ivy League," added Andrew Noel, director of athletics.

In 1989, former NCAA executive director and Cornell athletic director Richard D. Schultz first introduced the athletics certification concept, and a two-year pilot program of 34 Division I institutions began in 1990. The certification program was adopted in 1993 as a key part of the association's reform agenda. The purpose of the program is to ensure integrity in the institutions' athletics operations and to assist athletics departments in improving their programs.

Cornell is one of 35 Division I institutions that have undergone the NCAA's second cycle of athletics certification.