NCAA Verdict: North Carolina Central University failed to monitor its certification process

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- North Carolina Central did not monitor its certification process when it improperly certified 22 student-athletes in seven sports as eligible for competition, according to a Division I Committee on Infractions panel.

This case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort where the involved parties collectively submit the case to the Committee on Infractions in written form. The NCAA enforcement staff, university and participating individuals must agree to the facts and overall level of the case to use this process instead of a formal hearing. The panel held an expedited penalty hearing because the university did not agree with some of the panel’s proposed penalties.

Download the May 2018 North Carolina Central University Public Infratcion Decision

The improper certifications came from a single, but repeated, error of counting foundational courses toward student-athletes’ percentage-of-degree completion. Outdated degree auditing and academic advising systems were another factor that contributed to the violations. Additionally, the academic support and certification groups did not have enough staff to oversee the certification process.

Because of the improper certifications, 22 student-athletes competed while ineligible. The university also did not withhold six of the student-athletes from competition before they were reinstated.

The panel noted eligibility certification is a fundamental responsibility with touchpoints throughout the university and it is a basic requirement for college competition.

The panel used the Division I membership-approved infractions penalty guidelines to prescribe the following measures:

• Two years of probation from May 30, 2018, through May 29, 2020.
• A vacation of records in which student-athletes competed while ineligible (men's track & field, men's cross country, women's cross country, women's track and field, baseball, men's basketball and football) for period 2012 through 2017 academic years. 
• Completion of an internal academic audit by the end of the 2017-18 academic year (self-imposed by the university).
• A $5,000 fine (self-imposed by the university).

Members of the Committee on Infractions are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the panel who reviewed this case are Michael F. Adams, chancellor at Pepperdine; Thomas Hill, chief hearing officer for this panel and senior vice president emeritus at Iowa State; and Joel Maturi, former Minnesota athletics director.

Download the May 2018 North Carolina Central University Public Infratcion Decision

By Emily James
NCAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS