Astate Facing Major Violations

Arkansas State and the NCAA Enforcement staff have submitted their joint summary disposition report to the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

ASU initially discovered possible NCAA violations and immediately notified proper NCAA personnel of the misunderstanding on August 25, 2008.

The investigation revealed that 31 student-athletes from six sports competed in an NCAA-sanctioned event while ineligible over multiple years.

Under NCAA Bylaws, an institution is subject to a secondary violation when a student-athlete competes in an NCAA event while ineligible. In Astates situation, the infractions were elevated to a major violation because a large number of student-athletes competed under these circumstances.


The investigation also brought to light academic fraud regarding one faculty member and one student-athlete who would have been eligible regardless of the grade change.

Here are some of the self-imposed penalty ideas:

a) Arkansas State is self-imposing a two-year probationary period beginning with the submission of a summary disposition report on November 18, 2010. During this period of probation, the institution will continue to develop and implement educational programs regarding academic fraud and submit annual reports to the Committee on Infractions outlining the steps it has taken to improve and monitor the certification of eligibility process. The reports will also include documentation of the institution's compliance with the penalties adopted and imposed by the Committee on Infractions.

b) The institution will reduce the amount of athletically related financial aid in the sports of football and men's basketball as follows: football (2011-12) one full grant-in-aid, men's basketball (2011-12) one full grant-in-aid, football (2012-13) one full grant-in-aid and men's basketball (2012-13) one full grant-in-aid.

c) The institution will vacate the victories for participation by ineligible student-athletes as follows: football (2006) six wins, (2005) four wins; men's basketball (2006-07) 15 wins, (2005-06) 12 wins; baseball (2006-07) three wins; women's soccer (2005-06) five wins.

d) In January 2009, the institution paid a fine in the amount of $43,500, which represents the maximum fine for the ineligible competition in secondary violations of the student-athletes identified in the institution's January 29, 2009, self-report.

"We have unfortunately encountered a major violation and fully acknowledge the serious nature of this matter, but also recognize that these violations, when committed on an individual basis, are secondary violations. The fact that these secondary violations were committed in a large number is what has elevated it to a major violation." – Dr. Dean Lee, ASU Director of Athletics