Aug. 26, 2010
Press Conference Audio (mp3)
CHAPEL HILL --- The NCAA and the University of North Carolina have been conducting a joint review related to possible agent violations. During the course of that review, the University learned of possible academic misconduct involving a former undergraduate tutor and student-athletes on the football team. The NCAA has allowed us to acknowledge the nature of this aspect of the review.
"Academic achievement and fairness are at the heart of the University of North Carolina and the Department of Athletics," says UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp. "We are treating this issue with the seriousness that you would expect. It's a privilege to put on the North Carolina uniform and to represent this University, and it's our job to make sure that the people who do so have earned that privilege."
"We share the concern our students, faculty, staff, alumni and fans will have about this issue and recognize the desire for more information," says Director of Athletics Dick Baddour. "We have to work with the NCAA to determine all the facts before we can provide more information.
"There is nothing more sacred than academic integrity at the University of North Carolina. I have believed in that for the nearly 50 years I've been a part of this great University," says Baddour. "We will find out what happened and deal with it seriously and through whatever measures are deemed appropriate by the NCAA and University."
Professor Jack Evans and Professor Lissa Broome, former and current Faculty Athletics Representatives, are leading the academic component of the investigation from the University's side. John Blanchard, senior associate AD for student affairs, Lance Markos, director of compliance, and the UNC legal counsel's office are also part of the team.
The Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes, which operates within the College of Arts and Sciences, employs students to tutor and mentor student-athletes.
Tutors are trained to know what actions are acceptable when working with student-athletes. They are given specific instruction that once they work with student-athletes, they remain classified as representatives of the department of athletics, even when they are no longer employed by the University.
"As much as we'd like to finalize both the reviews of possible agent violations and academic issues before the first game, there is no definitive timetable," Baddour says. "It is likely the review will extend beyond the start of the season."
