The ISU Athletic Department is operating by the NCAA rules, according to members of a steering committee that conducted an in-depth study of the department.

The committee presented its report at an open forum Tuesday.

“There were no major concerns, but there are some recommendations,” said Dick Horton, co-chair of the steering committee.

“There is always room for improvement.”

The forum was held by the committee as an effort to get public input about the Athletic Department, said Barb Licklider, steering committee co-chair.

“Our purpose here is to seek comments and input from folks outside our steering committee,” said Licklider, associate professor of education student services.

A total of nine people outside of the committee showed up to the forum. Only a few questions for clarification were asked and no negative comments about the findings were made.

The committee and its subcommittees have been working on the self study of the athletic program for the last year and a half, Licklider said, and it will submit the final draft to the NCAA by the third week in January.

The report is part of an NCAA certification process, conducted by the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification.

To be certified means the program cares for the welfare of student-athletes, promotes sportsmanship, follows NCAA rules and provides equal opportunities to men, women and minorities, according to the ISU Web site, www.iastate.edu/ncaa.

After the NCAA receives the report, a three- to five-member external review team will visit the campus from April 15-18.

The peer-review team will make a recommendation regarding the certification status and, based on both the self study and the external review, the NCAA committee will make a certification decision.

Horton, professor of electrical and computer engineering, said he is happy with the results so far.

“They have put in a significant amount of work, and it’s been quality work,” he said.

“I think we’re in great shape. We have a great athletic program.”

The self study will be made available at locations to be decided by the committee, Licklider said, which will probably include the library and the Athletic Department.

It is also available at www.iastate.edu/ncaa, along with information on the certification process, the committees involved and e-mail addresses for questions.

“Even if you don’t think of something now, you can ask something later,” Licklider said. “You can offer input [at the site], e-mail us or call us.”