NCAA Probration ends for Florida A&M University

The NCAA announced last week that Florida A&M University Athletics four-year probation has ended.

President James H. Ammons was notified by letter from James A. Elworth, the NCAA Assistant Director of the Committee on Infractions, that the Florida A&M University Athletic Department probationary’s period ended on January 31, 2010.

“This has been a difficult time for us in some respects. Although we have achieve success in our athletic programs during this probationary period, but we now have this behind us. I fully expect as we go forward, that we will remain committed to compliance with the NCAA,” said Ammons.

FAMU was placed on NCAA probation on February 1, 2006 for the following infractions:

· Sixty-seven student athletes competed even though they did not complete the required 24 credit hours in a given year.
· Thirty-four student-athletes competed despite not meeting NCAA progress-toward-degree requirements.
· More than 100 student athletes practiced and competed before completing required NCAA paperwork.
· Twenty-two practiced and competed before their high school transcripts were reviewed and before they received certification of their academic eligibility.
· One student athlete was allowed to compete despite not choosing a major before her third year of enrollment.
· One student athlete competed without meeting minimum grade point average requirements.
· The committee also found that during the 2004-2005 season, the football team exceeded the 20-hour weekly limit on athletically related activities. However, due to poor record keeping, the exact dates and amounts of excessive practice were not available.
· The committee did not find an allegation against the former head football coach. The committee determined that there was insufficient evidence presented at the hearing to support a finding. With regard to an allegation made against the former director of compliance, the committee concluded that his conduct did not constitute a violation.
· In assigning penalties, the committee considered the institution’s corrective actions, including enhancements made to its compliance and educational programs. It also considered conference imposed penalties, including the return of $175,000 in revenue sharing and vacation of contests and conference championships when ineligible student athletes competed. The institution’s self-imposed penalties also were considered.

The NCAA enforced the following penalties:

Four years of probation, which concluded on January 31, 2010.

· A reduction in grants-in-aid in all 15 sports on the following schedule: baseball grants are reduced by three in 2005-2006; grants in men’s and women’s basketball, women’s bowling, softball and women’s volleyball are reduced by one in 2005-2006; football grants will be reduced by six in 2005-2006, two in 2006-2007, three in 2007-2008 and three in 2008-2009; men’s and women’s swimming each reduced grants by two in 2005-2006; grants in men’s tennis are reduced by 1.5 in 2005-2006; men’s track is losing one grant in both 2005-2006 and 2006-2007; and women’s track is losing two grants in 2005-06 and one in 2006-2007.
· Football practice time was reduced by 20 hours in 2005-2006.
· All contests and records involving ineligible student-athletes in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s bowling, softball, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and cross country, and women’s volleyball between the 1998-1999 and 2004-2005 academic years shall be vacated. The institution must continue to develop a comprehensive educational and testing session on NCAA rules, and arrange for an NCAA compliance review within one year.

Ammons concluded, “I want to congratulate our athletic staff for their commitment to abiding by the rules and regulations of the NCAA so that FAMU can again enjoy the full membership without any sanctions.”

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