The NCAA Committee on Infractions Has Spoken: Norfolk State University

The NCAA Committee on Infractions (“Committee” or “Panel”) recently issued its findings and found that Norfolk State University (“NSU” or “Institution”) committed violations of NCAA legislation. The institution failed to correctly apply NCAA progress-toward-degree legislation over four academic years. As a result, the institution allowed 48 student-athletes in multiple sports to compete and receive travel expenses related to competition while ineligible. The Panel considered this case through the cooperative summary disposition process in which all parties agreed to the primary facts and violations, as fully set forth in the summary disposition report (SDR).

 The agreed-upon violations centered on the institution incorrectly certifying student-athletes as eligible to compete and receive expenses related to competition from the 2008-09 academic year through 2011-12. Specifically, the institution allowed a student-athlete to compete and receive expenses related to competition even though he had not satisfactorily completed 24 semester hours of academic credit prior to the start of his second year of enrollment. Further, the institution allowed four student-athletes to compete and receive travel expenses even though they had not satisfactorily completed 18 semester hours of academic credit since the beginning of the previous fall term or preceding two semesters. The institution also allowed 46 student-athletes entering into their third, fourth or fifth year of collegiate enrollment to compete even though they had not successfully completed the necessary percentage of course requirements in their academic majors. Further, the institution agreed that its incorrect application of NCAA progress-toward-degree legislation demonstrated a failure to monitor the eligibility certification process. The parties agreed and the panel concludes that the violations are Level II.

The Committee found that NSU committed the following violations of NCAA legislation:

Violations of NCAA Division I Manual Bylaws 14.01.1, 14.4.3.1-(a), 14.4.3.1-(b), 14.4.3.2, 14.10.1, 14.11.1, 15.01.5 and 16.8.1.2 (2008-09 through 2011-12)

The NCAA enforcement staff and institution agree that during the 2008-09 through the 2010-11 academic years, 48 student-athletes were permitted to compete while ineligible and received impermissible travel expenses.

Regarding fulfillment of credit-hour requirements, the institution failed to ensure that five student-athletes satisfactorily completed 24 semester hours of academic credit prior to the start of the student-athlete’s second year of enrollment (one student-athlete) and 18 semester hours of academic credit since the beginning of the previous fall term or preceding two semesters (four student-athletes). As a result, during the 2009-10 academic year through the 2011 fall semester, the student-athletes competed while ineligible and received impermissible travel expenses. NCAA Bylaws 14.01.1, 14.4.3.1-(a), 14.4.3.1-(b), 14.4.3.2, 14.10.1, 14.11.1, 15.01.5 and 16.8.1.2 (2008-09 through 2011-12).

Regarding fulfillment of percentage-of-degree requirements, the institution failed to adequately verify available information to determine whether 46 student-athletes entering their third, fourth or fifth year of collegiate enrollment had successfully completed 40, 60 or 80 percent, respectively, of the course requirements in the students’ specific degree programs. As a result, during the 2008-09 academic year through the 2011 fall semester, the student-athletes competed while ineligible. NCAA Bylaws 14.4.3.2, 14. 10.1, 14.11.1, 15.01.5 and 16.8.1.2 (2008-09 through 2011-12).

Violations of NCAA Division I Manual Constitution 2.8.1 (2008-09 through 2011-12)

The NCAA enforcement staff and institution agree that from the 2008-09 through 2011-12 academic years, the nature of the violations detailed above demonstrate that the institution failed to monitor the conduct and the administration of its athletics program in that the institution failed to establish proper systems and safeguards for ensuring that student-athletes’ eligibility was certified according to NCAA eligibility standards. As a result, 48 student-athletes were permitted to participate in competition while ineligible and received travel expenses.

Aggravating and Mitigating Factors in accordance with NCAA Bylaws 19.9.3 and 19.9.4.

Aggravating Factors for the Institution

19.9.3-(g): Multiple Level II violations by the institution.

Mitigating Factors for the Institution

19.9.4-(b): Prompt acknowledgement and acceptance of responsibility and imposition of meaningful corrective measures and/or penalties.

As a result of the foregoing, the Committee penalized NSU as follows:

1. Public reprimand and censure.

2. Two years of probation from June 16, 2016, to June 15, 2018, or completion of the final penalty, whichever is later.

3. The institution will reduce scholarships during the 2014-15 academic year (or the first opportunity to reduce based on academic demographics of the team) as follows: 1) Football: reduce by 3.0; 2) Men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis and women’s basketball: reduce each by 1.0; and 3) Men’s track, women’s track, softball, bowling, men’s tennis and baseball: reduce each by .50 equivalencies.

4. NSU shall vacate all regular season and conference tournament records and participation in which the ineligible student-athlete above competed.

5. The institution shall pay a $5,000.00 financial penalty.

For any questions, feel free to contact Christian Dennie at cdennie@bgsfirm.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .