North Carolina releases contents of notice of 5 allegations from NCAA

After its review of the extensive document, the University of North Carolina has released the contents of the notice of allegations it received from the NCAA on May 22.

According to the 59-page report, which can be read in its entirety here, the NCAA has brought five allegations involving lack of institutional control and extra benefits against the school:

1. UNC provided impermissible extra benefits in an academic context over nine years to student-athletes.
2. Jan Boxill, then philosophy instructor, director of the Parr Center for Ethics, women's basketball athletic academic counselor in the Academic Support Program for Student Athletes and chair of the faculty, knowingly provided extra benefits to women's basketball student-athletes in the form of impermissible academic assistance and special arrangements.
3. Deborah Crowder, former student services manager in the African and Afro-American Studies department, violated the NCAA principles of ethical conduct by failing to provide information relevant to the NCAA's investigation when requested to do so, and refused to participate in an interview despite three requests. This violation could rise to a Level I violation for severe breach of conduct.
4. Dr. Julius Nyang'oro, former professor and chair of the African and Afro-American Studies department, violated the NCAA principles of ethical conduct when he failed to provide information relevant to the NCAA's investigation and refused to participate in an interview despite five requests. This violation could rise to a Level I violation for severe breach of conduct.
5. The scope of allegations No. 1 and 2 demonstrate that UNC has violated NCAA principles of institutional control and rules of compliance when it failed to monitor the activities of Boxill. Further, the institution exhibited a lack of institutional control in regard to the special arrangements constituting impermissible benefits athletics academic counselors and staff within African and Afro-American Studies (AFRI/AFAM) department provided to student-athletes.

The NCAA's latest investigation into North Carolina stems from a separate NCAA investigation of the North Carolina football program in 2011, during which time it was discovered that approximately 1,500 student-athletes had been enrolled in bogus classes in the African and Afro-American Studies department over an 18-year period.

That investigation was reopened last June when the NCAA's enforcement arm determined that additional people with information that had previously been uncooperative might be willing to speak with investigators.

North Carolina has 90 days from May 22 to respond to the notice of allegations, and will then face a hearing with the NCAA Committee on Infractions. The committee will then decide what penalties will be imposed.

Chancellor Carol L. Folt and director of athletics Bubba Cunningham released a statement regarding the NCAA's allegations:

We take the allegations the NCAA made about past conduct very seriously. This is the next step in a defined process, and we are a long way from reaching a conclusion. We will respond to the notice using facts and evidence to present a full picture of our case. Although we may identify some instances in the NCAA's notice where we agree and others where we do not, we are committed to continue pursuing a fair and just outcome for Carolina.

We believe the University has done everything possible to address the academic irregularities that ended in 2011 and prevent them from recurring. We have implemented more than 70 reforms and initiatives to ensure and enhance academic integrity. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of those measures and, wherever needed, put additional safeguards in place.

Head basketball coach said in a statement that he was "truly saddened" by the allegations.

Football coach Larry Fedora echoed the same sentiments.

The university's response to the allegations will be made public on the Carolina Commitment website.

Possible penalties for the alleged violations include fines, postseason bans, scholarship reductions, and vacating victories.