The National Collegiate Athletics Association is in the process of determining whether the University of Denver will achieve its first NCAA certification since returning its intercollegiate athletics program to Division I in 1998.

The purpose of the NCAA certification program is to ensure truth and honor in the institution’s athletics programs, encourage awareness and support of athletics, and ensure that the duty of the University is reflected in its athletics operations.

All Division I institutions have completed the process after the NCAA membership supported the program and its standards at the 1993 NCAA Convention.

Every institution must be certified every 10 years and is required to provide a five-year interim status report.

For the past four days, Denver has hosted the peer review team comprised of athletes from institutions across the country.

During the stay, the members toured the campus and conducted interviews with many of the faculty who served on the NCAA Certification Steering Committee and Subcommittees. Other university and athletic personnel were interviewed as well.

The team will report its findings to the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification, and then that committee will determine the DU’s certification status and announce the decision publicly.

The three categories of certification status are certified, certified with conditions, or not certified.

DU will have an opportunity to correct areas needing work.

If an institution decides not take any action, it may be ruled ineligible for NCAA Championships.