IS Problems-WI,Syracuse,AZ, TX, MN

[DKW 86 7,424]

Taken from Rivals board, not my work.

Independent Studies Problems-Wisconsin,Syracuse,Ariz,Tenn,Minnesota Reply

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Perhaps the New York Times should have written an article about these problems at major athletic institutions and not singled out Auburn.

Wisconsin IS classes...

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Copyright 2004 Madison Newspapers, Inc.

Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI)

May 15, 2004 Saturday, ALL Editions

SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. B1

LENGTH: 591 words

HEADLINE: SOME INDEPENDENT STUDY ARRANGEMENTS CALLED 'FISHY';

FOUR OR FIVE PROFESSORS AT UW TEACH AS MANY AS 18 OR 19 STUDENT-ATHLETES EACH.

BYLINE: Andy Baggot Wisconsin State Journal

BODY:

A small cluster of professors, each overseeing sizeable numbers of University of Wisconsin student-athletes in independent study courses, has raised eyebrows from UW Athletic Department officials and members of the Athletic Board.

A recent routine audit showed four or five professors in independent study arrangements with as many as 18 or 19 student-athletes apiece.

Independent, or directed, study courses are available to all UW students. They involve a contract between a student and a professor regarding specific subject matter. The professor is responsible for determining the workload and the number of credits the student will receive.

No wrongdoing was implied during the presentation of data to the UW Athletic Board, but Annie Trimberger, one of two student-athlete representatives to the athletic board, said the ratio of professors to student-athletes in the independent study program sounded "fishy" to her.

There are a host of legitimate reasons why a student-athlete may pursue an independent study arrangement, but they have been known as a safety net for those who are in danger of flunking a traditional course. They drop the troublesome class and seek out a favorable independent study set-up that will allow them to recoup the lost credits and keep them at or above the 12-credit threshold to remain eligible.

"Everyone knows you can do it," Trimberger, a senior, told the board.

The minutes from a May 5 meeting of the UW Athletic Board's academic affairs committee state the "committee noted a concern with several of the same professors supervising many directed study projects for student-athletes."

Academic affairs committee chairman Dr. Jim Starling and David Harris, the director of academic services for the UW Athletic Department, were tabbed to oversee the drafting of a letter "to department chairs, with college deans copied on the letter, that states athletic department policy regarding directed study and the procedure by which the department monitors student-athletes and directed study courses."

Harris could not provide a variety of specifics -- the number of professors and student-athletes, the sports involved, the male-female breakdown -- because he said he did not have the information at hand. But Harris acknowledged the data caught his eye.

"I don't know if I would call it a red flag, but it was certainly something I wanted (UW officials) to be aware of," Harris said. "It was something that I felt like, as a department, we look at and we want to make sure that we're doing things the right way.

"I felt it was at least worthy of some discussion to make sure that everybody knew that this was occurring, and whether or not we wanted to investigate some things ... to make sure that faculty and others are aware of our policy of the things we try to do and some of the options that students have."

UW senior associate athletic director Cheryl Bailey, who oversees academic services, said student-athlete involvement in independent study courses are audited every semester. Copies of all written work by the student-athlete in the class must be forwarded to the UW academic services office and examined by a faculty representative.

"Professors have a lot of independent authority," Bailey said. "Our student-athletes are operating in that world."

Harris, who has been on the job since August 2002, said he can understand the suspicious sentiment expressed by Trimberger. "It's an opinion others may share," he said.

/ Contact Andy Baggot at abaggot@madison.com or 252-6175.

Arizona:

Copyright 2006 Arizona Daily Wildcat via U-Wire

University Wire

April 25, 2006 Tuesday

LENGTH: 602 words

HEADLINE: U. Arizona finds no cause for NCAA violations

BYLINE: By Roman Veytsman, Arizona Daily Wildcat; SOURCE: U. Arizona

DATELINE: TUCSON, Ariz.

BODY:

The University of Arizona found no evidence of NCAA violations in an academic fraud investigation involving the former head of the classics department, Alexander Nava, and men's basketball senior guard Chris Rodgers.

Arizona Athletics launched the investigation after Nava was accused April 10 of giving Rodgers preferential treatment in an independent-study class.

"Although there may not be evidence that time was put in (for the class), that is not a violation because we might just simply conclude that the professor under the circumstances would have given a failing grade to this particular student," said Provost George Davis.

But Bill Morgan, the associate athletic director for compliance, and Doug Woodard, the faculty athletics representative, have launched an investigation to examine whether other student athletes are receiving preferential academic treatment as compared to the rest of the UA student body.

The investigation may result in "policy changes," according to Davis.

Davis said he was concerned about the "pattern of independent studies in the classics department and religious studies."

Nava had 27 independent-study students -- a "high number" according to Davis -- 12 of whom were student-athletes.

"It strikes me as unusual," Davis said of the raw number of independent-study students Nava had.

Davis said he has one independent-study student and "it would be hard to imagine multiplying that by 27."

"Whether he will be a focus of the next investigation is not clear to me," Davis added.

Davis said Jerry Hogle, the vice provost of instruction, will further investigate the academic integrity standards being applied to independent-study courses because they have a large impact on "quite a number of student-athletes."

Davis said he hopes the investigation will conclude in mid-May, before faculty leaves for the summer.

Hogle did not return phone calls by press time.

Davis said the administrative investigation will find out "how (professors) are approaching the supervision of independent studies," and determine "what the fundamental arrangements are at the beginning of the semester in an independent study to determine the basis for the grades that are given."

Nava was accused of arranging a six-credit classics 599 independent-study course without appropriate authority and allowing Rodgers in without prerequisites.

The investigation found that no such prerequisites existed and that although Nava never filled out the independent study form for Rodgers, an oral agreement was sufficient.

Davis said not filling out the form did not meet guidelines but was not unusual. Independent study courses at the UA do not require prerequisites.

Nava was also accused of "imploring" classics 554's instructor, adjunct professor of classics Jeffrey Spier, to not administratively drop or fail Rodgers, who allegedly did not have prerequisites for the course either.

The investigation found that no prerequisites were needed for the course and that Spier and Nava did have a conversation but Spier agreed that there was no "attempt to pressure" him to drop Rodgers. Spier stated that "he never had any intention to drop or fail" Rodgers and that "it is the student's responsibility to drop the class."

Nava and Rodgers did not return phone calls by press time.

Nava resigned as the interim head of the classics department and was replaced by David Soren, a regents professor of classics and one of the people interviewed in the investigation.

The Pacific 10 Conference and the NCAA can still investigate the matter if they are not satisfied with the UA's investigation.

© 2006 Arizona Daily Wildcat via U-WIRE

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Tennessee:

Copyright 2002 Chattanooga Publishing Company

Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)

May 24, 2002 Friday

SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. D1

LENGTH: 781 words

HEADLINE: Cleared by SEC officials

UT hopes fraud allegations stop

BYLINE: Andy Staples Staff Writer

BODY:

KNOXVILLE -- University of Tennessee officials said Thursday they hoped getting cleared by the Southeastern Conference would end continued allegations of academic fraud in the athletic department.

They also said Tennessee has improved and updated its grading policy and academic tracking system since UT English professor Linda Bensel-Meyers released transcripts for 37 football players and two non-football athletes during an NCAA investigation in April 2000.

Tennessee Provost Loren Crabtree, the university's ranking academic officer, released a letter from SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer saying Tennessee officials conducted a thorough review. Kramer's letter also indicated the conference office would file a report with the NCAA, which cleared Tennessee of grade tampering and plagiarism last year.

"Based on the review by the office of the provost, the office of faculty representative and the university's legal council (sic), the University has complied with this required process," Kramer wrote in a letter to vice provost and NCAA faculty representative Anne Mayhew. "Thank you for your thorough review and cooperation in reviewing this information."

Crabtree and Mayhew said the transcripts -- released to SEC investigator Bill Sievers last week by Maryville sportswriter last week -- were authentic and identical to the ones the NCAA saw two years ago. Mayhew did not defend the transcripts, which she said reminded her of some of the ones she saw as a professor of economics when students whose grades were too low to major in business applied to major in economics.

Those transcripts showed 105 grade changes for 29 athletes from 1995-99. They also showed two independent study classes in which every athlete (of the 39) who enrolled received an A or an incomplete.

Bensel-Meyers said Thursday that SEC and NCAA investigators each claimed they weren't qualified to review transcripts. She said she was disappointed by the internal investigation and Kramer's ruling, but not surprised.

"They really had no choice but to rubber-stamp their investigation," said Bensel-Meyers, who is writing a book about what she claims is institution-wide academic fraud to keep Tennessee athletes eligible.

Crabtree and Mayhew said the university has made several changes in the past two years to cut down on some of the problems reflected in the transcripts.

To keep players from getting grades of incomplete to circumvent NCAA continuing eligibility requirements, the school now requires a signature from each course's instructor and that instructor's department head plus an evaluation of the grade change by the provost's office.

Crabtree also said the school has spent about $5 million to update UT's "lumbering" academic tracking system. Crabtree said the old system could lag by as many as two semesters behind in recording when students declared majors. Bensel-Meyers had claimed athletes violated NCAA rules by not declaring majors.

"The system includes the registration of students. It includes the monitoring of students as a group and maintains up-to-date records on students," Crabtree said.

Mayhew said the school would not typically question the grading policies of instructors of independent study classes. She said independent study grades were up to the discretion of the instructor, and she said imposing rules on a university-wide basis would harm a "valuable tutoring resource."

Crabtree and Mayhew also defended physical education courses like Walking, which showed up on several athletes' transcripts. Crabtree said thousands of students enrolled in the normally one-credit classes, and Crabtree pointed to a player who had failed Walking as an example of the course's fairness.

Mayhew thought back to her college days, when physical education courses were graded mainly on attendance.

"That's how I almost failed archery," Mayhew joked.

Collins gone

Tennessee wide receiver Michael Collins announced Thursday that he will transfer. Collins, a 6-foot-6 freshman from Nicholson, Ga., redshirted last season.

Furman is a possible destination for Collins, who may also try to resume his basketball career.

Vandy shift

Tennessee will play two games at Nashville's Adelphia Coliseum after Vanderbilt athletic director announced Thursday that the Commodores would move their Nov. 23 game against the Vols from Vanderbilt Stadium to the Tennessee Titans' home field.

The Vols open the season Aug. 31 against Wyoming at Adelphia. That game originally was scheduled for Laramie, Wyo. Tennessee and Vandy played at Adelphia in 2000, as 68,360 watched a 28-26 Vols win.

E-mail Andy Staples at astaples@timesfreepress.com

Minnesota:

opyright 1999 Associated Press

All Rights Reserved

The Associated Press State & Local Wire

May 16, 1999, Sunday, PM cycle

SECTION: State and Regional

LENGTH: 658 words

HEADLINE: Reports: Star guard needed maneuvering to stay eligible

DATELINE: MINNEAPOLIS

BODY:

Former University of Minnesota basketball star Bobby Jackson gained his eligibility to play at the university only after a counselor and tutor worked out a plan, according to published reports.

Jackson also was allowed to change his major to remain eligible even though the move made it impossible for him to graduate after five years, according to the reports Saturday in the Star Tribune and Saint Paul Pioneer Press.

"There probably isn't a better example of how a basketball player could play but never really get close to a degree," said Elayne Donahue, former academic counseling director. "It is sad."

Jackson - now a guard for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves - transferred to the university from Western Nebraska Community College in 1995. He was the Big Ten Player of the Year during his senior year in 1996-97, the season the Golden Gophers made it to the NCAA Final Four.

When he arrived, Jackson had 110.4 credits from community college, enough to satisfy NCAA requirements but short of the 117 credits needed to compete in the fall under Big Ten Conference guidelines, the Pioneer Press said.

Jackson was immediately put into independent study classes, and the university gave him credits for a course earlier than school rules allow so he would be eligible to compete that upcoming season, both newspapers reported. Former office manager Jan Gangelhoff claims she wrote papers for Jackson to help him get the summer-school credits.

Jackson denies that Gangelhoff ever wrote papers for him.

Gangelhoff told investigators that she and academic counselor Alonzo Newby "came up with a scheme to make Bobby Jackson eligible," according to Jim Lord, Gangelhoff's attorney.

At least 20 current and former basketball players' coursework is being investigated to determine whether papers, take-home exams and other material was done for them by Gangelhoff.

The newspapers also reported that:

-Academic advisers allowed Jackson to take so many elective courses that he remains about 76 credits short of a degree despite earning 184.4 credits - just 1.6 short of the minimum to graduate.

-Jackson never took required math and foreign language classes that all students must take to graduate.

-An instructor gave Jackson an "A" in a directed-study course in which the only assignment was to type the word "basketball" into a university database and list the articles that appeared.

Jackson said Friday that he believes he did have eligibility problems before the fall quarter of his first year at the university. But he denied that Gangelhoff did course work for him, saying she tutored him and that he remembers working with her in 1995.

"Like I said earlier, nobody wrote papers for me," he told the Star Tribune. "Jan was my tutor. ... I also thought she was a friend. This is all a shock for me, for her to come up with these accusations."

It is unclear whether Jackson's admission to the university and its College of Education and Human Development was also contingent on the completion of the summer-school classes.

One admissions office document dated June 15, 1995, says Jackson was admitted as a recreation major with missing information - his high school transcript. But according to the office of the registrar, Jackson was not admitted to the university until Nov. 9, more than halfway through his first quarter as a member of the Gophers team.

Although Jackson was close to the minimum credits needed to graduate, in order for him to earn a diploma he would have to tackle mathematics. He also needed to take three quarters of a second language to meet graduation requirements but never tried to take a language class.

"Sometimes with an athlete, you will wait until later in their career to enroll them in a math or language course because then they would be mature enough to handle it," Donahue said. "But you obviously can't use that excuse with Bobby; he was going into his fifth year of college."

LOAD-DATE: May 17, 1999

Syracuse:

Copyright 1993 Post-Standard, All Rights Reserved.

The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)

December 9, 1993 Thursday Metro Edition

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A1

LENGTH: 1386 words

HEADLINE: SU SAYS DELORENZO EARNED HIS DISPUTED 'A' THE SCHOOL ADMITS TO BOTCHED PAPERWORK, BUT CONCLUDES THAT THE LACROSSE GOALIE DESERVED THE GRADE. <

BYLINE: ROBERT L. SMITH The Post-Standard

BODY:

Syracuse University officials say they took a long, hard look at one of the most disturbing charges arising from the lacrosse investigation: that a professor manufactured a grade so an athlete could play.

In the end, they determined, no such breach of academic ethics occurred.

University sleuths say a veteran sociology professor awarded an "A" to former lacrosse goalie Jerry DeLorenzo because DeLorenzo deserved it.

The grade should have come later in the course, SU officials concede. It was filed incorrectly and for the wrong semester. But the professor stands guilty of nothing more than "procedural irregularities" and will not be punished.

"We found no impropriety" and no violations of NCAA rules, said SU spokesman Robert Hill.

The grade inquiry mushroomed into a broad look into the sociology department and its treatment of student-athletes over the years. Investigators said they found no evidence of athletes enjoying special favors.

"To me, that's pretty significant," said SU Chancellor Kenneth Shaw.

He said the investigation vindicates the lacrosse program as it points up the university's academic ideals.

In essence, DeLorenzo's grade amounted to an isolated case of poor record-keeping, the in-house investigation concluded.

But Wednesday, SU officials had no answers on some discrepancies.

DeLorenzo, a former starting goalie for the lacrosse team, charged that Professor Gunter Remmling awarded him an "A" grade for an independent study course in February 1990, before he did any work. He told The Post-Standard he needed the grade to retain an academic scholarship and compete that semester.

Remmling denied "emphatically" gifting a grade, according to a summary of SU's in-house investigation. The professor said he awarded a grade for work DeLorenzo completed the semester before.

An independent study course typically begins with the professor filing a student's "proposal" with his or her dean's office. Later, after agreed-upon work is completed, the professor files a grade.

"Normally, there's a great distance between the time the two occur," with months between the beginning of a course and the granting of a grade, Hill said.

But Remmling filed both forms on the same day, Feb. 8, 1990. They were signed by the professor, his department chair and the college dean.

Remmling also sought to have the grade credited to the previous semester. "We don't know why," Hill said.

DeLorenzo said it was so he could retain his academic scholarship for the spring semester and stay at SU playing lacrosse.

The university registrar noticed the incorrect filing and had it corrected, according to the summary report. The report to the NCAA also noted that students sometimes complete their independent study work before professors file their proposals.

"Although the professor could not specifically recall when he signed DeLorenzo's forms, he stated emphatically that he would not award a grade for work not performed, and that he was certain he did not do so for DeLorenzo," the report says.

In August, Remmling's fall classes were abruptly canceled. Shaw said Wednesday the 63-year-old professor opted for the university's early retirement plan.

Remmling could not be reached.

DeLorenzo stuck by his guns.

"I've told you the story 150 times," he said Wednesday. "It's the same story. I got an 'A' before I did any work."

In addition to the in-house investigation, Vice Chancellor Gershon Vincow instructed the Faculty Oversight Committee - an athletic watchdog created in the wake of the basketball team's troubles with the NCAA - to conduct its own inquiry.

Professor David Bennett, the committee chairman, said the faculty group believes Remmling told the truth. "We have no evidence that he (DeLorenzo) didn't do the work," Bennett said.

SU's findings at a glance

Syracuse University's investigation of its lacrosse program found that the program broke five NCAA rules:

Co-signing a loan.

The finding: Nancy Simmons, wife of head coach Roy Simmons Jr., co-signed a $9,015.50 car loan for lacrosse player Paul Gait in 1989.

The violation: People with ties to athletic programs, such as boosters and coaches' spouses, may not co-sign a loan for a player.

Status before NCAA: Pending.

Room service.

The finding: SU paid a $13.89 room service charge for two lacrosse players staying at a hotel for an away game in 1991.

The violation: Athletes must pay their own hotel room service charges.

Status before NCAA: Pending

Paid recruiting trip.

The finding: A Syracuse lacrosse player received an extra paid recruiting trip to SU that included his airfare in 1988.

The violation: High school recruits can have only one paid recruiting visit. They must pay for any additional visits themselves.

Status before NCAA: Resolved. Player repaid airfare.

Spouse's travel.

The finding: Nancy Simmons traveled with her husband as he recruited a high school lacrosse player downstate.

The violation: Only coaches may be involved in recruiting off campus.

Status before NCAA: Resolved. Player was reinstated.

Pocket money.

The finding: A lacrosse player was given $40 to entertain a high school player during an official recruiting trip to SU. The recruit could not make the visit, however, and the lacrosse player kept the money.

The violation: Universities may give athletes some expense money to host visiting recruits, but the athlete may not keep the money.

Status before NCAA: The violation occurred more than four years ago, outside the NCAA's statute of limitations.

The university cleared itself of any wrongdoing in other possible NCAA rules violations involving its lacrosse program. The allegations and the findings:

Coverups: Former goalie Jerry DeLorenzo tried to tell high-ranking SU officials that the lacrosse program cheated, but they brushed him off.

The finding: Those officials said they diligently tried to get DeLorenzo to talk and give them specifics but he refused.

A manufactured grade: A sociology professor gave DeLorenzo an "A" before he had done any course work.

The finding: The professor said the course work was completed.

Money problems: Assistant lacrosse coach John Desko cleared up a problem with an overdue college bill so DeLorenzo could register for classes in the spring of 1991. Desko's memo stated the lacrosse program would cover the unpaid bill.

The finding: SU did not pay the bill, so there was no violation.

Cash: Head coach Roy Simmons Jr. gave $40 cash to DeLorenzo.

The finding: Simmons said the $40 was permitted meal money.

Improper aid: Coaches promised DeLorenzo that all his college expenses not covered by athletic scholarships would be paid.

The finding: SU officials said he got legitimate aid.

Beer money: DeLorenzo said coaches gave team captains money to buy beer on the bus trip back to SU after away games.

The finding: The coaches and several team captains denied money was provided to buy beer, although players may have drank on the bus.

Free tickets: Assistant coach Desko provided free admission to SU football and basketball games for DeLorenzo's friends by listing the friends as recruits.

The finding: Desko was unable to recall arranging for tickets.

Bailing out: Coach Simmons bought DeLorenzo a bagel and coffee, and gave him a ride home after DeLorenzo had been arrested for minor charges and released in 1991.

The finding: Simmons did not use any influence to get DeLorenzo released from jail, the bagel and coffee were incidental to the coach giving one of his players advice, and the ride home at 3 a.m. was for DeLorenzo's own safety.

Raiding the bar: DeLorenzo and his roommate took items from a locked service bar in their hotel room.

The finding: DeLorenzo, his roommate and seven former team captains knew anything about the accusation.

Free meals: Lacrosse superstars Paul and Gary Gait ate a pre-Christmas dinner at Coach Simmons' home.

The finding: An occasional meal in a coach's home is permitted.

Extra room: Lacrosse players were given special hotel accommodations at away games.

The finding: Players and several former team captains denied it.

Jeep sale: Assistant coach Desko sold a beat-up 1979 Jeep to Paul Gait in 1988.

The finding: Given the Jeep's conditon, SU officials said it was not an extra benefit.

LOAD-DATE: February 7, 2003

[swensks 0]

Good post...that took a while no doubt.

[jwise0022 1]

you should forward your work on to the author of the AU piece in the NYT. Maybe mention that he should do a little more research before writing his articles. Would it really have been too difficult for him to say "Allegations exist at other schools, as this appears to be standard operating procedure, and no school has ever been punished by the NCAA for something of this nature." Come to think of it, this article looks less and less newsworthy everyday, and it was crap from the beginning.

[Ranger12 46]

*gasp!* You mean other schools actually do this? I just don't believe it! Your information has to be wrong or unreliable David. I am sure the NYT would have researched this so thoroughly that if what you said is true, they would have not ignored it.

[DKW 86 7,424]

Not my work guys,. read the top. The NYT likely has 100 copies of it so far....