University statement on NCAA role in review of academic issues
In light of continuing speculation about the role of the NCAA in the
review of academic issues in the Department of African and
Afro-American Studies, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
is providing the following information:
“The University first notified the NCAA that it had identified
potential academic issues involving student-athletes in African and
Afro-American Studies courses on August 24, 2011. We asked the NCAA
to join us in our investigation of these issues, and they agreed to do
that. A member of the NCAA enforcement staff traveled to Chapel Hill
several times in the fall of 2011 and participated throughout the
investigation.
With the NCAA enforcement staff, our internal working group of
University Counsel Leslie Strohm, Senior Associate Dean Jonathan
Hartlyn, and former faculty athletics representative Jack Evans
interviewed faculty and staff in the Department of African and
Afro-American Studies, academic support counselors, and
student-athletes who had taken multiple courses in the department.
Based on the joint review, UNC and the NCAA staff concluded there were
no violations of current NCAA rules or student-athlete eligibility
issues related to courses in African and Afro-American Studies. As a
result, the NCAA did not add any allegations or include this issue
during the University’s appearance in October 2011 before the
Committee on Infractions.
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Karen Gil subsequently commissioned
a review of courses in African and Afro-American Studies. In May, the
University publicly issued that report and provided it to the NCAA.
On Aug. 23, 2012, University Counsel Leslie Strohm and Senior
Associate Dean Jonathan Hartlyn provided an update to the enforcement
staff. The NCAA staff reaffirmed to University officials that no NCAA
rules appeared to have been broken.
University officials will continue to keep the NCAA informed as
developments warrant.”