Alcorn releases NCAA Infractions Report
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Committee notified Alcorn State University on infractions that the University failed to monitor its progress-toward-degree certification process when it improperly certified several ineligible student athletes for competition.
The NCAA discovered the incorrect certifications during an NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program audit. It was discovered that the panel found the University did not provide adequate rules education to its academic advisors, which resulted in the school failing to monitor its certification process.
The NCAA imposed a two-year probation period, a vacation of records for games in which ineligible student athletes competed and a $5,000 fine.
The case involved unintentional violations of the NCAA’s progress-toward-degree certification legislation that resulted in 26 ineligible student athletes being allowed to compete in athletic contests from 2011-12 through 2014-15 academic years.
The violations occurred in 11 sports –men’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, baseball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s track and field and women’s volleyball.
Alcorn will vacate wins that ineligible student athletes competed in as follows: The baseball team will vacate wins from the 2012-13, 13-14 and 14-15 academic years; Men’s Basketball will vacate wins from the 2011-12, 12-13 and 13-14 years; Women’s Cross Country will vacate wins from the 2012 and 2013 years; Women’s Outdoor Track will vacate wins from the 2012-13 year; Men’s Cross Country will vacate wins from 2014; Men’s Outdoor Track will vacate wins from 2014; Football will vacate wins from the 2012-13 and 13-14 academic years; Volleyball will vacate wins from the 2013-14 and 14-15 years; Women’s Tennis will vacate wins from the 2012-13 year; Softball will vacate wins from the 2013-14 year; and Women’s Soccer will vacate wins from the 2012 and 2013 year.
It was determined that the infraction was a result of an unintentional administrative error and not any form of improper behavior.
President Alfred Rankins Jr. said, "In November 2014, Alcorn established the Office of Athletic Compliance and Academic Services to strengthen its policies and restructure student athlete support services."
At the heart of Alcorn Athletics’ core focus areas, under the new vision and administration, are academic excellence and strong compliance systems, policies and personnel.
Alcorn and its leaders are cognizant of the complexity of the problems associated with past practices and structures. In taking full responsibility for these problems and complete ownership of and pride in our program, much has been done to rectify the matter; strategic, focused decisions will continue to be made to strengthen and solidify the operations and practices of the department and all associated University constituents.
We are highly focused on ensuring institutional control and shared responsibility for compliance. The Compliance office now reports directly to the president and has employed additional employees to meet its goals and improve the certification process.
