Officials meet with NCAA

University officials appeared before the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Infractions Committee Aug. 11 in Jackson Hole, Wyo. in what could be one of the final steps in an extra-benefits case involving student-athletes.

In April, the university completed a comprehensive investigation and self-report to the NCAA and a Chancellor John D. Wiley issued self-imposed institutional penalties.

NCAA officials say a decision on the case is expected in six to eight weeks.

Wiley delivered an opening statement to the committee as part of the meeting.

UW–Madison officials earlier imposed significant penalties, disciplined Athletics Department staff and changed internal procedures to ensure future compliance with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulation of student athletes.

The measures announced Friday, April 20, by Wiley resulted from a comprehensive investigation of the Athletics Department that concludes the department may have inadvertently violated NCAA rules prohibiting extra benefits to student-athletes. The benefits involve discounts and credit on shoes obtained from a retailer in Black Earth, Wis.

“UW-Madison makes compliance with NCAA rules a top priority,” Wiley said at the time. “We cannot allow the Athletic Department’s record of accomplishments to be tarnished by our failure to comply with NCAA regulations.”