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Unc Case Study

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offered over 200 "no-show" lecture classes from 1993 to 2011 in the Department of African, African American and Diaspora Studies where students did not have to attend class but only submit a final research paper. A high number of the students enrolled in these classes were student-athletes. An investigation revealed that 47.6% of students in the no-show classes were athletes and athletic advisors were aware of and encouraged the classes. In the aftermath, UNC's reputation was damaged but it committed to transparency, conducting audits, stabilizing the department, and implementing reforms to prevent future academic fraud.

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334 views2 pages

Unc Case Study

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offered over 200 "no-show" lecture classes from 1993 to 2011 in the Department of African, African American and Diaspora Studies where students did not have to attend class but only submit a final research paper. A high number of the students enrolled in these classes were student-athletes. An investigation revealed that 47.6% of students in the no-show classes were athletes and athletic advisors were aware of and encouraged the classes. In the aftermath, UNC's reputation was damaged but it committed to transparency, conducting audits, stabilizing the department, and implementing reforms to prevent future academic fraud.

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Case Study: UNC-CH Academic Fraud Scandal

BACKGROUND
From 1993 to 2011, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offered more than
200 lecture courses in the Department of African, African American and Diaspora Studies,
where students and student-athletes were not required to attend class. The only requirement was
a research paper due at the end of the semester. These classes were over-seen by administrator
Deborah Crowder and department chairman Julius Nyang'oro. Students were given high grades
on work that was subpar, with more than 500 grade changes and forged signatures.
Ex-UNC learning specialist Mary Willingham knew of these "paper classes" and had
been feeding Raleighs News & Observer with information since 2011. Willingham said that the
classes were used to help keep athletes eligible. Rather than educating its recruited athletes,
UNC was playing a shell game to keep them from needing to study at all, said Willingham in an
interview with Businessweek. She also confessed that she had steered some athletes towards
these no-show classes because they had very low reading levels. Former men's basketball player
Rashad McCants came out with a statement that said he took several no-show classes in the
department and that coach Roy Williams was aware of them, which Williams denies. He also
said tutors wrote research papers for him and other students. Willingham, along with Nyang'oro
and Crowder, either felt obligated to help struggling students, or pressured by the athletic
department to keep these student-athletes eligible for moneys sake. After all, UNC spent $83
million on athletics alone last year.
Former U.S. Justice Department official Kenneth Wainstein just released his
investigation on the issue of UNCs academic fraud. What he uncovered was that 47.6% of the
no-show classes were student-athletes and that athletic advisors for many sports were aware of
the classes and even urged Nyang'oro to continue offering the classes after Crowder retired.

OBJECTIVE
In respect to the academic fraud case, UNC knows that they will never completely erase
the scandal from their reputation, but they hope to at least alleviate concerns about academic
integrity within the university, especially when it comes to the accountability of faculty and
student-athletes. They also want to make sure that something like this does not happen again at
their institution and that they are providing their students with the quality education they have
been known for.

STRATEGY
After first learning about the academic fraud in 2011, UNC was quick to admit
wrongdoings and to launch investigations into the AFAM department. According to UNCs
website, they have initiated a number of internal and external reviews and investigations to
discover the facts about past academic irregularities and have implemented numerous reforms,
changes and practices that have already been instituted with more to come. The university
administration has been surprisingly methodical and transparent in its approach to the issue.
University officials are also making sure to communicate the many reforms that are being put
into place, including cracking down on independent studies courses and performing spot checks
on classes to ensure that they are meeting as planned.

SOLUTIONS
In their latest report speaking out about the investigation completed by Wainstein, UNC
has publicly announced ways in which they are going to right their wrongs. Such tactics include
a public records website to help with accountability, conducting an institution-wide policy and
procedure audit, and a plan to stabilize the Department of African, African American and
Diaspora Studies, which was the core of the issue at hand. Regular classroom visits will also
take place to confirm that classes are being held as scheduled.

RESULTS
As a result of many years of fraud investigation, UNCs reputation has been tarnished
locally and nationally. Students and alumni feel that their education has been undermined and
threatened by the actions of certain people. Not only is the universitys academia questioned, but
their athletics are also highly under fire for the academic fraud case, since so many of the
students involved were student-athletes. The NCAA is also being investigated for their
involvement in the issue and how they are going to hold athletic programs accountable for
student success in the classroom.

SOURCES
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-27/in-fake-classes-scandal-unc-fails-its-athleteswhistle-blower
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/ncaa-unc-investigation_n_5546031.html
http://3qh929iorux3fdpl532k03kg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/UNCFINAL-REPORT.pdf
http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/updates/press-release-regarding-2014-independent-inquirypress-conference/
http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/faqs/#faq1

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