Elizabeth Liddy, Syracuse University’s interim provost, sent a letter to the faculty on Tuesday expressing disappointment in sanctions detailed in the NCAA’s report that was released on Friday, as well as highlighting the school’s efforts to help better connect academics and athletics.

The report stated that several student-athletes — none of whom are currently enrolled at the university — received impermissible assistance from tutors and mentors.

Liddy said the school was delivered a copy of the 94-page report just two hours before it was made public, and although the school did not agree with the some of the findings, it still takes seriously the issue of academic integrity.

She reiterated that in 2009, the university restructured the student-athlete academic support office so that it reported directly to Academic Affairs. In 2013, she said, the position of Assistant Provost for Student-Athlete Development was created. Last semester, 10 teams had team GPAs of 3.0 or higher along with 134 student athletes that had at least a 3.5 GPA.

She also highlighted other initiatives the university has taken to “integrate the athletics and academic experiences,” which are listed in the letter as follows:

• Doubled the number of full-time academic support staff for our student-athletes
• Established an Athletics Committee of the University’s Board of Trustees to oversee the athletics department and receive reports of athletics issues, including compliance matters
• Created an Athletics Compliance Oversight Committee that includes the University’s Faculty Athletics Representative Rick Burton and a representative from Academic Affairs
• Implemented a new and wide-ranging enhanced compliance training program for all student-athletes and coaches focused on NCAA, ACC, and University rules and policies
• Redesigned the University’s voluntary Drug Education and Deterrence Program for student-athletes, consistent with best practices and peer institutions
• Assigned oversight of the Office of Athletics Compliance to the University General Counsel
• Separated employment with two former athletics staff members found to have been involved in academic misconduct                               • Disassociated non-SU affiliated persons responsible for, or involved in, violations

On Monday she, along with Chancellor Kent Syverud will meet with deans, department chairs and other key members of faculty leadership to answer questions about the report and academic integrity. In the next week or so, they will decide whether or not to appeal certain aspects of the report.

“…the Office of the Provost and Chancellor Syverud are fully committed to keeping Syracuse University a place where academic integrity is respected and honored,” Liddy said in the letter, “where students can experience the best possible education, and where faculty can teach and pursue their scholarship with pride.”

Published on March 11, 2015 at 6:23 pm

Contact Sam: sblum@syr.edu | @SamBlum3