LONG BEACH - This fall Cal State Long Beach begins a year-long study of its athletic programs as part of its NCAA Division I third-cycle certification.The certification process begins with the university's self-study, which involves examination and evaluation of the athletics program focusing on governance and the university's commitment to NCAA rules compliance, academic integrity, gender and diversity, and student-athlete well-being. Participants in this process include members from across the university, including students, faculty, staff and administrators, as well as members of the community. "In 1996, Cal State Long Beach was one of the first universities in the United States to receive full certification of its athletics program from the NCAA," CSULB President F. King Alexander said. "A second full certification was awarded in 2003. We are fully confident as we enter the process to secure a third certification." Following several months of work by the campus' NCAA Certification steering committee and subcommittees, the self-study draft will be posted on the university's NCAA athletics certification website in March 2011 so that members of the university and community can review it and make comments. Open forums will also be held to solicit input on the report. A peer-review team will visit the university between September and November 2011, and will report to the president its findings. The NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification will issue a decision on CSULB's certification in spring 2012.

********** Published: September 30, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 24