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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University was added Thursday to list of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I universities to be fully certified.

The announcement was made by the NCAA's Committee on Athletics Certification, which announced decisions concerning 18 member institutions.

Full certification means a university has demonstrated that it operates its athletic program in conformity with the NCAA's operating principles on rules compliance, academic and fiscal integrity, and commitment to equity.

"We are extremely pleased by the NCAA's certification of Oregon State," said OSU President Paul Risser. "The recognition acknowledges the tremendous effort made by our athletic administrators, coaches, staff and student athletes to build a program of comprehensive quality.

"In a recent study of academic performance among all universities in the nation, OSU ranked fourth in the graduation rate of its scholarship athletes with a 95 percent graduation rate. That achievement speaks highly of the students and their coaches. We're proud of that success and of our athletic programs."

Thursday's announcements bring to 86 the number of the NCAA's 302 Division I members which have now completed the certification process.

The process involves extensive self-study and review. The study requires institutions to prepare documentation on athletic department operations and academic progress. A review team, composed of peer administrators from other NCAA member universities, visits the campus to examine the documentation and meet with campus officials. The review team then reports to the NCAA Committee of Athletic Certification, which renders a final decision.

OSU's review team, headed by President John Welty of California State University, Fresno, visited the campus in 1995.