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MIAMI, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2002) -- A five-person external
peer review team appointed by the NCAA concluded its review of
FIU athletics programs on Wednesday, making a brief oral report
to the university's NCAA Certification Committee as its final
act of business in Miami.
In keeping with NCAA regulations, neither the review
team's work while at FIU nor its oral report were open to the
public. But key university leaders who took part in both described
themselves as pleased by the informal presentation and have positive
expectations for the written report, a draft of which is expected
to be sent back to FIU within three weeks.
"It was very apparent that the hard work that
FIU's NCAA Certification Committee did in preparing for this visit,
especially the comprehensive self-study, was appreciated by the
review team," said Vice President for Student Affairs &
Human Resources / Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Patricia Telles-Irvin,
who chaired the committee. "The team's review was broad-based
and accurate, and we all appreciated their perspective on our
athletics program. Having heard their observations, we look forward
with enthusiasm to reading their report."
Once the review team's report is received by the
university, FIU has a chance to respond. The review team may then
modify its report and give FIU a second opportunity to respond.
The final report then goes to the NCAA's national certification
committee, probably in July. That committee has three options:
1) recertify FIU's athletics program, 2) certify it conditionally
and point out items that must be corrected, or 3) refuse to certify.
The review -- which is a standard, recurring part
of the NCAA certification process -- comes at a time when FIU
is preparing for its first football season and the creation of
women's swimming team.
"This was a very healthy process for us to
go through as our athletics program prepares to grow significantly
larger and more complex," said Rick Mello, FIU director of
Intercollegiate Athletics. "It's great to know that people
feel good about your programs, but it's tremendously helpful when
those same people are peers with thoughtful advice on how you
might improve. Like Dr. Telles-Irvin, I'm very pleased with the
site visit and am looking forward to reading the report next month."
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