LORETTO, Pa. (April 21, 2010) – Saint Francis University President Father Gabriel Zeis, T.O.R. announced on Wednesday that an 18-month, campus-wide effort to study its 22-sport intercollegiate athletics program has resulted in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I's highest classification of “certified.”

Saint Francis was participating in the NCAA's certification program, which is used to ensure integrity in the institution's athletics program and to assist institutions in improving their athletics departments. NCAA legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted in 1993. This is the third time Saint Francis has successfully gone through the organization's certification process, although SFU received a classification of “certified with conditions” in the last review process in 2000.

Currently, there are 342 Division I Institutions with seven additional institutions seeking reclassification to Division I, including current Northeast Conference member Bryant. SFU is in the first class of cycle three of the certifications process. All Division I institutions will now follow the process used to certify Saint Francis University.

An institution that has been certified is considered to be operating its athletics program in substantial conformity with all of the operating principles set forth by the NCAA. The certification process, which involves a self-study led by an institution's president, includes a review of these primary components: governance and commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity, fiscal integrity, and equity, welfare and sportsmanship.

“The Saint Francis University is very proud and appreciative of our athletic department under the leadership of Mr. Bob Krimmel,” said Father Gabriel Zeis. “Their success in attaining Division I NCAA certification is outstanding, a truly impressive achievement. It states clearly that the athletic program at Saint Francis University is truly one of excellence and competency. It shows that the University puts the well-being of our student-athletes as one of its significant priorities. This accomplishment signifies the continuance of a great athletic tradition at Saint Francis University.”

Saint Francis began the certification process in September 2008 as a committee composed of faculty, administrative staff, students and athletics administrators performed an extensive self-study of SFU athletics, which was then submitted to the NCAA Certification Committee. In the self-study, Saint Francis examined the department's adherence to the operating principles over the last 10 years.

In October 2009, a peer review team composed of a president and athletics professionals from other NCAA schools, spent three days on the Saint Francis campus meeting with faculty, staff, coaches, student-athletes, administrators, donors and others, including university President Father Gabriel Zeis, T.O.R. and Director of Athletics Bob Krimmel. The peer review team presented its report, along with SFU's self-study and response to the peer-review team report, to the Committee on Athletics Certification, which informed President Fr. Gabriel Zeis of Saint Francis' “certified” classification last week.

“This is an exciting day for the Red Flash athletic program,” said Bob Krimmel, Saint Francis' Director of Athletics. “I am extremely thankful for Father Gabe's vision for athletics at Saint Francis, as well as his commitment to meeting the expectations of the NCAA through a comprehensive review of our athletic program.

“In addition, the leadership provided by Dr. Pat Serotkin, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, played a paramount role in the final outcome for Saint Francis through this extensive evaluation of athletics at Saint Francis University. Dr. Serotkin's experience and commitment to the process enabled us to move through certification with efficiency and effectiveness, while meeting the stringent guidelines established by the NCAA. This was a university effort and our student-athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators are appreciative of all the time and energy that the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty and staff devoted to the certification process and positive outcome for Saint Francis University. Certification without conditions will provide Saint Francis with continued opportunities for success in the Northeast Conference and the NCAA within the mission of the university.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to the four operating principles studied during certification, Saint Francis will continuously monitor its standards and progress on the plans for improvement submitted during the process.

Some improvements have already taken place through the NCAA certification process. Saint Francis reaffirmed its commitment to Division I athletics, and made several staffing, funding and internal changes that have affected the daily operation for more than 400 student-athletes. Many of these changes have been made possible through the fund-raising efforts of “Red Flash Futures,” a new fund-raising arm of the Stokes Club.

Most of these changes have been focused on improving the overall welfare of Saint Francis University's student-athletes.

The integration of Saint Francis' sports medicine department to fall under the leadership of the Dean of Health Sciences and the new, state-of-the-art DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness has made an immediate impact across campus. Director of Sports Medicine Terry Bennett and his staff are now able to provide SFU's student-athletes the best possible care in injury prevention and treatment.

The addition of DiSepio has provided the university and the surrounding community with premier physical therapy, health and wellness and human performance lab facilities that are unprecedented in central Pennsylvania. The effects of DiSepio are already being felt in the region, but more specifically among Saint Francis' student-athletes, in less than a full year of operation.

The addition of a new weight room at the DeGol Field House and new strength & conditioning coach Jesse Webber has perhaps been the most visible sign of Saint Francis' renewed commitment to improving student-athlete welfare. Webber was introduced as the university's first-ever strength & conditioning coach on April 21, 2009 and began his duties on June 1. He provides all 400-plus student-athletes with specialized workout programs that focus on enhancement of physical abilities and the prevention of injury. Webber spends most of his time working out of the brand new DeGol Field House weight room, which opened in August of 2009.

Other student-athlete welfare issues that have been addressed included increased staffing, facility improvements and travel.

In the past year, several of Saint Francis' graduate assistant coaching positions have been elevated to full-time positions, which is a process that will continue through the coming years. A restructuring of Saint Francis' athletics department administration has also played a key role in providing improved academic and athletic support services for its student-athletes. A new position, Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance and Facilities, has been filled by Lacey George, has helped Saint Francis in its goal of expanding rules education and continuing to comply with NCAA bylaws.

University Provost Dr. Wayne Powel served as the Chair of Academic Integrity Committee, which evaluated the academic performance of student-athletes as well as the support services available to students at Saint Francis. Red Flash athletics programs have produced 34 all-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans, the most among all Northeast Conference schools. Additionally, Saint Francis won the Northeast Conference Institutional Academic Award for the 2008-09 academic year. With a combined grade point average of 3.234 in 19 sports, the Red Flash was honored by the Northeast Conference as the school with the highest overall grade point average for student-athletes competing in NEC sponsored sports. Saint Francis' academic success should continue with an outstanding faculty committed to the highest standards in the classroom.

“The NCAA recertification process has been a very stimulating, informative, and fulfilling effort that was accomplished through extensive engagement of the Saint Francis University community, involving students, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, and alumni,” said Dr. Pat Serotkin, Saint Francis University's Vice President for Strategic Initiatives. “We can all be proud of an accomplishment that was achieved with integrity and dedication. But the next step is the future, not the past, as we strive to continually improve the athletics program at SFU.”

NCAA Division I Institutions are currently certified once every 10 years. A link to the NCAA's certification announcement is available at www.ncaa.org. A link can be found HERE