Fordham University incorrectly awarded scholarships to incoming student-athletes and failed to monitor its scholarship program, according to a decision announced today by the Division I Committee on Infractions. During the summer sessions from 2008 through 2011, the university provided scholarships to 87 incoming student-athletes enrolled in less than six hours of academic course work, contrary to NCAA rules.
Penalties in this case, the majority of which were self-imposed by the university, include a two-year probation period, a comprehensive compliance review and NCAA rules education requirements.
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 involved individuals must agree to use the summary disposition process instead of having a formal hearing.
A breakdown in communication resulted in a mistaken belief that NCAA rules allowed incoming student-athletes to receive scholarships when only enrolled in three credit hours during summer sessions. Although a proposal was considered to lessen the requirement to three hours, it was defeated and NCAA rules still required student-athletes to enroll in six credit hours. The academic advising office did not verify the minimum hour requirement after the proposal was defeated, resulting in incoming student-athletes enrolling in only three credit hours, instead of the required six. A further breakdown in communication led the compliance office to believe that the academic advising office had implemented a policy that permitted incoming student-athletes to enroll in six credit hours and immediately drop down to three, a practice permitted under NCAA rules. However, this did not occur.
Fordham failed to monitor its summer scholarship program when it did not verify the number of required credit hours. The university did not implement proper policies to ensure the program was administered properly. Additionally, the university did not sufficiently monitor the work of the athletics academic advisors.
Penalties and measures, including those self-imposed by the university, include:
- Public reprimand and censure.
- Two years of probation from November 26, 2013 through November 25, 2015 (proposed by the university and adopted by the committee).
- A fine of $20,000 (self-imposed by the university).
- Academic advisors, compliance staff and others responsible for administering summer financial aid must attend a 2013 NCAA regional rules seminar (self-imposed by the university).
- Within the next six months, the university’s athletics department must undergo a comprehensive compliance review by an outside agency. The public report contains further details.
The members of the Division I Committee on Infractions who reviewed this case include Britton Banowsky, chair of the Committee on Infractions and commissioner of Conference USA; John Black, attorney; Greg Christopher, athletics director at Xavier University; Melissa Conboy, deputy director of athletics at the University of Notre Dame; Christopher Griffin, coordinator of appeals and attorney; Roscoe Howard Jr., attorney; James O’Fallon, law professor and faculty athletics representative at the University of Oregon; and Greg Sankey executive associate commissioner and chief operating officer for the Southeastern Conference.