The NCAA Committee on Infractions Has Spoken: Savannah State University

The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions (“COI” or “Committee”) is an independent administrative body of the NCAA comprised of individuals from the Division I membership and the public. The COI is charged with deciding infractions cases involving member institutions and their staffs. This case involved agreed-upon improper eligibility certification violations at Savannah State University (“SSU”). Those violations provided the underlying support for a failure to monitor violation.

The Committee concluded SSU committed the following violations of NCAA rules:

Violations of NCAA Division I Manual Bylaws 14.9.1 and 14.10.1 (2013-14); 14.3.2.1.1 (2013-14 and 2015-16); 14.4.3.3 (2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17); 14.4.3.1.7-(b) (2013-14, 2014-15 and 2017-18); 12.1.1.1.3, 14.01.1, 14.3.1, 14.4.3.1-(b), 14.4.3.1-(c), 14.4.3.1.7, 14.4.3.2, and 16.8.1 (2013-14 through 2017-18); 12.8 and 12.8.1 (2014-15 and 2016-17); 12.11.1 (2014-15 through 2017-18); 14.4.3.1-(a) (2015-16); 12.10.1 (2015-16 and 2017-18); 14.2.1, 14.2.2 and 14.4.3.1.6 (2016-17); and 14.4.3.1.4.2 (2017-18) (Level II)

SSU and the enforcement staff agreed that during at least the 2013-14 through 2017-18 academic years, the institution improperly certified at least 43 student-athletes in 10 sports as eligible for competition, resulting in 58 violations of academic and amateurism certification and progress-toward-degree legislation. As a result, 43 student-athletes competed and received actual and necessary expenses while ineligible or not certified. Additionally, the institution failed to withhold 41 student-athletes from competition during subsequent academic years before their eligibility was reinstated. Specifically:

a. During the 2013-14 through the 2017-18 academic years, the institution improperly certified progress-toward-degree requirements of 25 student-athletes in nine sports. Specifically:

(1) During the 2013-14 and 2015-16 through 2017-18 academic years, three student-athletes in three sport programs competed without final academic eligibility certification.

(2) During the 2013-14 through 2017-18 academic years, five student-athletes in three sport programs competed without satisfactory completion of at least 18 semester-hours of degree credit toward the students' designated degree program since the beginning of the certifying institution's preceding regular two semesters.

(3) During the 2013-14 through 2017-18 academic years, nine student-athletes in five sport programs competed without satisfactory completion of six semester-hours of academic credit or degree credit toward the students' designated degree program during the preceding regular academic term.

(4) During the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2017-18 academic years, four student-athletes in four sport programs, who were in their third year of enrollment, competed without designating or enrolling in a program of studies or earned credit toward a specific baccalaureate degree program.

(5) During the 2013-14 through 2017-18 academic years, eight student-athletes in six sport programs competed without successfully completing their percentage-of-degree requirements.

(6) During the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17 academic years, three student-athletes in two sports programs competed without meeting the necessary minimum grade-point average (GPA) requirements.

(7) During the 2015-16 academic year, a student-athlete competed without satisfactory completion of 24 semester-hours prior to the start of the student-athlete's second year of collegiate enrollment.

(8) During the 2016-17 academic year, a student-athlete practiced and competed while enrolled less than full time at the institution.

(9) During the 2016-17 academic year, one football student-athlete competed without satisfactory completion of nine semester-hours of degree credit toward the student's designated degree program during the preceding regular academic term.

b. During the 2013-14 through 2017-18 academic years, 19 student-athletes in eight sport programs practiced and competed prior to having their amateurism certified. NCAA Bylaw 12.1.1.1.3 (2013-14 through 2017-18).

c. During the 2013-14 and 2015-16 academic years, two student-athletes practiced and competed while certified as nonqualifiers. NCAA Bylaw 14.3.2.1.1 (2013-14 and 2015-16).

d. During the 2014-15 and 2015-16 academic years, two student-athletes in two sports competed after exhausting all seasons of competition. NCAA Bylaws 12.8 and 12.8.1 (2014-15 and 2015-16).

Violations of NCAA Division I Manual Constitution 2.8.1 (2013-14 through 2017-18) (Level II)

SSU and the enforcement staff agreed that the scope and nature of the violations set forth in violation above that during at least the 2013-14 through 2017-18 academic years, the institution violated the NCAA principle of rules compliance when it failed to adequately monitor student-athlete eligibility certification to ensure compliance with NCAA legislation. Specifically Savannah State: (1) failed to monitor adequately the athletics eligibility and amateurism certification process pursuant to its written policy; (2) failed to apply properly academic certification legislation; (3) did not involve or communicate sufficiently with institutional staff members from departments outside of athletics in the certification process; (4) failed to provide adequate rules education to institutional staff members responsible for athletics certification; and (5) failed to withhold ineligible student-athletes from team travel and competition.

Aggravating and Mitigating Factors in accordance with NCAA Bylaws 19.9.3 and 19.9.4.

Aggravating Factors for the Institution

19.9.3-(b): A history of Level I, Level II or major violations.

19.9.3-(g): Multiple Level II violations.

Mitigating Factors for the Institution

None.

The Committee penalized SSU as follows:

1. Public reprimand and censure.

2. Two years of probation from June 20, 2019, through June 19, 2021.

3. Financial Penalty: SSU shall pay to the NCAA a fine of $5,000.

4. SSU acknowledged that ineligible participation occurred as a result of the violations in this case. Therefore, pursuant to Bylaws 19.9.7-(g) and 31.2.2.3, SSU shall vacate all regular season and conference tournament records and participation in which ineligible student-athletes detailed in this case competed from the time they became ineligible through the time they were reinstated as eligible for competition.

5. At least on one occasion during the two-year probationary period, each staff member responsible for the certification of student-athletes shall be required to attend an NCAA Regional Rules Seminar.