Institutional Information

University at Albany, State University of New York

1. Type of institution: Public

2. Year institution was founded: 1844

3. Special affiliation (e.g., religious, military)? No

4. Coeducational? Yes

5. Total student enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined) [using a full-time-equivalency (FTE) basis]: 13,961

6. Number of faculty [using a full-time-equivalency (FTE) basis]: 558 full-time; about 250 part-time instructors per semester

7. Highest level of academic degree offered: Ph.D.

8. Institution's governing entity (e.g., board of trustees): Board of Trustees, State University of New York

9. a. Regional accreditation agency: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

   b. Date of most recent regional accreditation self study: 2000

   c. Current accreditation status: Accredited through 2010

Athletics Information

1. Subdivision status of athletics program: I-AA

2. Conference affiliation(s) or independent status: Northeast Conference-football; America East-all other

3. Athletics program structure (check all that apply): One combined athletics department

4. Date of NCAA major infractions case(s) (if any) since previous certification self-study and impact (if any) on the areas of the certification program: None

5. Other significant events (with dates) in the history of intercollegiate athletics program: In 1909, the State Normal School in Albany formed an Athletic Association for both men and women. Men's basketball soon became the School's first intercollegiate athletics team. Since its establishment as a comprehensive research university within the State University of New York system in 1967, the University at Albany has forged an impressive record in providing opportunities for scholar-athletes. In 1968, women's tennis, softball, field hockey, basketball, and swimming emerged as prominent sports for the first time. Football became a varsity sport in 1973 after several years at the club level. Over the next two decades, various sports teams at the University, such as men's basketball and football, experienced considerable success in intercollegiate athletic competition

Previous Certification Self-Study

This is the first such self-study.

Certification Self-Study Information

1. Steering committee chair (name and title): Frank J. Thompson, Dean,
   Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy

2. Chief report writer/editor of self-study report (name and title): Ellen B. Blake, Special Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs

3. Describe the extent of broad-based participation of campus constituencies in the self-study. (Also, attach a copy of the institution's written plan for conducting the self-study.) Specifically, report on the opportunities that actually were provided to various individuals or groups in the broad-campus community to: (a) offer input into the self-study report before its findings and plans for improvement were formulated, and (b) review the self-study report after it was drafted.

   Input Prior To The Completion Of The Self-Study Draft. A broad cross- section of the campus community had the opportunity to become involved in the drafting of the self-study. The composition of the Steering Committee and the four Subcommittees responsible for formulating sections of the report in itself helped assure broad representation of perspectives. The Steering Committee included the following members:

   Stephen Beditz, Department of Human Resources
   Gail Cummings-Danson, Athletics and Recreation
   Joyce DeWitt-Parker, Counseling Center
   Sue Faerman, Dean of Undergraduate Studies
   Deborah Fiore, Athletics and Recreation
   Robert Fortune, Alumnus
   Richard Hall, Department of Sociology
   Karen Hitchcock, President
   Shirley Jones, School of Social Welfare
   Sheila Mahan, Admissions Office
   Anthony Marinello, Team Physician
   Maritza Martinez, Educational Opportunities Program
   Lee McElroy, Athletics and Recreation
   Judith Mysliborski, Alumna (Physician)
   Leo Neveu, Controllers Office
   Joshua Peltz, Undergraduate Student
   Carlos Santiago, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
   Leonard Slade, Africana Studies
   Frank Thompson, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
   Roberto Vives, Athletics and Recreation
   J. Frank Wiley, University Police Department.

   These individuals as well as several other staff and students participated on the four subcommittees: Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance (Steve Beditz, Chair), Academic Integrity (Sue Faerman, Chair), Fiscal Integrity (Leo Neveu, Chair) and Equity, Welfare and Sportsmanship (Sheila Mahan, Chair). Consistent with NCAA guidelines, these subcommittees gathered information to respond to a range of items. They formed initial judgments on the degree to which the University met NCAA requirements. In pursuing these tasks, these subcommittees sought information from diverse campus sources.

   Subsequently, the Steering Committee convened to hear and discuss the various subcommittee reports. The Steering Committee also met to approve the work plan for the certification process that the University submitted to the NCAA in March 2001. A copy of this plan appears in Appendix XXX. During this period of assembling information and writing the initial draft of the self-study, the Chair of the Steering Committee sent an e-mail to the entire campus community alerting it to the work of the Steering Committee and inviting comments from faculty and staff.

Input After Completion Of The Draft Self-Study.

REMAINDER OF THIS SECTION TO BE WRITTEN AFTER CAMPUS HEARINGS AND OTHER EFFORTS TO SOLICIT COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT SELF-STUDY.