Alabama A&M University received the final decision of the NCAA Committee on Infractions on September 11, 2018, regarding the NCAA Academic Performance Plan data review and violations related to the certification of 101 student-athletes in 14 sports from 2011-12 through 2015-16.
The violations were discovered during a NCAA Academic Performance Program (APP) data review initiated in the fall of 2015.
The case was resolved through the NCAA Summary Disposition process, a collaborative effort in which the University and NCAA enforcement staff conducted a joint investigation of the issues and submitted agreed upon findings to the NCAA Committee on Infractions. The investigation confirmed the miscertifications were unintentional and the NCAA Committee concurred with that finding. The University acknowledged that errors were made in the certification process. Since the beginning of the data review, the University implemented new processes and hired additional personnel in the areas of compliance, academics and registrar’s office to prevent future miscertifications.
The penalties imposed by the NCAA Committee on Infractions in this case include:
– Five years of probation from Sept. 11, 2018, through Sept. 10, 2023.
– A vacation of records in which student-athletes competed while ineligible.
– A 2018-19 postseason ban for the baseball, men’s basketball, football and men’s golf teams.
– Scholarship reductions for the baseball, men’s basketball, football and men’s golf teams.
– Recruiting restrictions for the 2018-19 academic year, including:
A 13-week ban on unofficial visits and recruiting communications with prospects in all programs in which the violations occurred.
– A 25 percent reduction in official paid visits in all programs in which the violations occurred.
– A 13-week ban on all off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations in programs in which the violations occurred except for men’s and women’s basketball, football, men’s golf and women’s volleyball.
– A 25 percent reduction in recruiting or evaluation days for men’s and women’s basketball, football, men’s golf and women’s volleyball.
The University may not recruit two-year college transfers who would enroll during the 2019-20 academic year (self-imposed by the university).
– A $5,000 fine (self-imposed by the University), plus 1 percent of the annual budgets of the baseball, men’s basketball, football and men’s golf programs.
In response to the data review by the NCAA, AAMU has implemented a centralized integrated process for reviewing and validating a student’s eligibility to compete. AAMU has established a cross-functional team that is responsible for the certification of student-athletes four times a year, improved communication with weekly eligibility meetings between the academic and compliance business functions, as it relates to both initial and continuing academic eligibility certifications and hired professionals with demonstrated academic and/or compliance experience in a sanctioned university athletic program.
