While the punishments inflicted on Syracuse are not all clear-cut, one of the murkier provisions is the five-year probation that will stretch from Friday to March 5, 2020.

In short, Syracuse will have to regularly report to the NCAA during the five-year probation period to ensure that the university is following NCAA rules. There are specific facets of probation that are detailed in the NCAA’s full report and they paraphrased, from pages 67–69 in the report, below.

1. Educating coaches, staff

During the five-year probation period, Syracuse has to “develop and implement a comprehensive educational program” that will teach coaches, faculty athletic representatives, all athletic department personnel and all university staff responsible for the certification of student-athletes, the finer points of the NCAA’s eligibility rules for admission, financial aid, practices and games.

The NCAA is requiring Syracuse to submit a preliminary report to the NCAA Office of the Committees on Infractions by May 1, 2015, to detail how the university plans to implement this educational program in relation to the released violations. Furthermore, Syracuse is required to submit compliance reports that detail the progress of this education program to the committee by Nov. 1 in each year of the probation period.

As for what these compliance reports should contain, the NCAA specified: “Particular emphasis should be placed on policies and procedures relating to student-athlete academic support and student-athletes’ interactions with community organizations. Additional emphasis should be placed on the institution’s monitoring efforts. The reports must also include documentation of the institution’s compliance with the penalties adopted and prescribed by the committee.”

2. Educating student-athletes

The NCAA is also requiring SU to explain to prospective athletes that the university will be on probation for five years. The report details that information regarding the NCAA violations and punishments needs to be sent to a student-athlete prior to an official paid visit to campus, and before a student-athlete signs a letter of intent to attend Syracuse.

3. Publicizing infractions

Moving forward, probation requires Syracuse to release a statement that details the violations and the programs affected within the athletic department. It also requires SU to have a direct link to the public infractions decision released by the NCAA to appear on the athletic department’s website, which is Cuse.com.

Probation also requires Syracuse to include all of this information in its media guides and alumni publications. The NCAA states in the report that the university’s statements should include clear descriptions of the infractions, the length of the probationary period connected to the infractions and give the public a general a “clear indication” of what happened in the case “to allow the public to make informed, knowledgeable opinions.” The NCAA reiterates that that last clause is especially important for prospective student-athletes and their families.

4. In five years… 

When the probationary period is over, Syracuse’s chancellor — whether that be Kent Syverud or anyone else — needs to send a letter to the NCAA that the institution’s current athletic “policies and practices conform to all requirements of NCAA regulations.”

5. Violation of probation

The NCAA closes the section of probation by advising Syracuse to closely follow all of the requirements of the five-year probationary period. It says that it will closely follow the university during this time, and that violations of probation — or any additional violations — could result in the extension of the probationary period or additional, “more severe penalties.”

Published on March 6, 2015 at 2:34 pm

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse