UW-Madison provides self-report to NCAA

A comprehensive self-review of the UW–Madison Athletic Department booster and support organization accounts has concluded that a number of reimbursements and payments to department staff may have inadvertently violated National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules.

The review, conducted by university counsel, found that the most prevalent problem was the reimbursement for legitimate travel and other business expenses that exceeded what the state is permitted to pay or for items the state cannot cover. Except in four minor instances – two purchases of flowers and two picnics – none of the compliance issues identified resulted in extra benefits to student-athletes.

Athletic booster club funds can be used to reimburse individuals for most of the expenditures described in the review, but these reimbursements require institutional approval, in advance, under NCAA bylaws governing outside income. In most cases described in the review, this approval either was not obtained or not obtained in a timely fashion. As such, the review characterizes these as reportable secondary violations.

“Full compliance with NCAA regulations has been and continues to be one of our major strategic objectives,” said UW Athletic Director Pat Richter. “As director of the department, I take full responsibility for the violations we are now reporting and am pleased that the necessary steps have been taken to prevent them from reoccurring.”

As a result of the compliance issues raised in the self-report, particularly those issues regarding advance institutional approval, the athletic department established new payment and reimbursement procedures in October 1997.

Journalism Professor James Hoyt, chair of the university’s Athletic Board, said he was pleased with the thoroughness of the review. “I am sure the NCAA compliance staff will appreciate the comprehensiveness of this review,” Hoyt said. “As a result of this self-report, we have implemented a set of appropriate corrective actions to address the issues that have been identified.”

In addition, other corrective actions included: a letter of reprimand from Chancellor David Ward to Richter; letters of admonition to 11 coaches and staff; and notices of infraction letters to 42 other Athletic Department personnel.

“UW-Madison must set an example in establishing a culture in which compliance (with NCAA rules) is a high priority,” said Ward. “We cannot allow the Athletic Department’s record of accomplishments to be tarnished by our failure to comply with NCAA regulations,” he said.

Melany Newby, vice chancellor for legal and executive affairs, began the review to confirm that certain policies and procedures, which were set in place following a 1994 infractions case, were being followed and to assess whether additional changes in those policies and procedures were warranted after three years of use.

The review was forwarded to the NCAA on April 23.