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For Immediate Release

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Contact(s)

Stacey Osburn
Associate Director of Public and Media Relations
317/917-6117

INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions has found Fontbonne University committed major violations in its athletics program regarding its financial aid process. Penalties in this case include two years of probation. Under the conditions of this probation, the university must notify all prospective student-athletes of the penalty and provide initial and annual compliance reports to the Committee on Infractions, among others.

This case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort where the involved parties submit the case to the Committee on Infractions in written form. When the NCAA enforcement staff, the school and involved individuals agree to the facts of the case and the school-proposed penalties, they may use this process instead of having a formal hearing.

The violations in this case occurred when administrators considered high school athletics participation along with other leadership criteria when awarding merit based scholarships.  Because of  the consideration of high school athletics in awarding aid, more than $48,000 was awarded to 23 student-athletes who would not have been eligible for the aid had the high school sports not been considered. NCAA rules state that Division III schools cannot consider athletics participation or performance when determining financial aid.

Further violations occurred when the former head women's basketball coach and head men's lacrosse coach participated on a university committee that recommended financial aid for incoming freshmen.  NCAA rules state that Division III athletics staff members cannot serve on financial aid committees and must not be involve with the review of scholarships a university offers to student-athletes.

While the violations were unintentional, they are considered major due to amount of impermissible aid involved.

The penalties in this case include:

• Public reprimand and censure
• Two years of probation from April 12, 2011 to April 11, 2013.

The members of the Committee on Infractions who reviewed this case include Keith Jacques, attorney and committee chair; David Cecil, director of financial aid at Transylvania University; and Mary Jo Gunning, athletic director at Marywood University; Amy Elizabeth Hackett, athletic director at University of Puget Sound; and Stuart Robinson, athletic director at State University College at New Paltz.