Update 9/25/2016: since I published this article, UNC has added 10 additional reforms, bringing the total to 80. For no.s 71-80, click here.
University of Carolina at Chapel Hill spokespersons and media releases have
often touted the "70 reforms and initiatives" implemented since 2011. But though Chancellor Folt and others have regularly responded to challenges like the Wainstein Report or the SACSOC inquiry citing the nearly 70 reforms and initiatives, it was rarely clear exactly what these 70 items were.
Apparently, they are listed on the Carolina Commitment Web page at
http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/actions-and-initiatives/actions-and-initiatives/
There are, in fact, 70 bullet items on this page, some of which were explicitly articulated as examples of such reforms by Chancellor Folt, AD Director Bubba Cunningham and Information Director Joel Curran.
The Carolina Commitment page lists these by category, but I thought a ready reference listed chronologically would be nice to have handy. So here are the 70, some slightly reworded for tense. Some of these are of dubious quality as counting as reforms or initiatives, describing activities or actions that might lead (or not lead) to enacted changes, some of which were directed by external activities, others of which seem to bear little connection or motive related to the academic issues raised.
Summer 2009
1. During the Summer of 2009, UNC began an initial, partial launch of ConnectCarolina, a multi-phased campus-wide initiative to replace aging software systems that manage student information, human resources, payroll and finance. One component, Campus Solutions, creates a centralized student record and tracking database that corrects inconsistent student records and grade forms procedures across the campus.
Spring 2010
2. In the Spring of 2010, the Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions approved a written charge and procedures for the Athletics Subcommittee (now the Committee on Special Talent). (see
http://faccoun.unc.edu/committees-2/appointed-committees/undergraduate-admissions-committee/committee-on-special-talent
Fall 2010
3. In Fall 2010, ConnectCarolina implements online class and grade roster management system as part of a new student records system, making it easier to track possible irregularities.
Spring 2011
4. In the Spring of 2011, the College of Arts and Sciences put a new process in place to monitor faculty course workloads and teaching assignments.
Fall 2011
5. In Fall 2011, the Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions approved written guidelines for standardized testing in admissions.
6. Also that Fall, the University instituted a new policy requiring a dean to sign all change of grade forms.
7. Another reform effected at this time: UNC hired a new Director of Athletic, a new head football coach and coaching staff.
8. Additionally, ASPSA stops using undergraduate students as tutors except when specific content knowledge is required.
Spring 2012
9. Spring 2012: The Department of Athletics hired a consulting firm to conduct an assessment of compliance systems and culture.
10. The Department of Athletics also completed a comprehensive analysis during this Spring term that was to result in the strategic plan, “Carolina Leads.” Later announced in January 2013, "Carolina Leads" mission is to educate and inspire through athletics with key strategic emphasis on University Alignment, Academic Achievement, Athletic Achievement and Administrative Engagement. “Carolina Leads” calls for additional resources and staffing to ensure greater support for student-athlete academic and athletic success. (Refer to
http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205865095.)
11. As part of “Carolina Leads,” goals are required for each unit and sports program in the Department of Athletics. Each unit is required to provide goals in the following six areas:
student-athlete experience, academics, competition, compliance, finances and service. These goals enhance record-keeping and progress.
12. Meanwhile, the AFAM Department (AAAD) reorganized and adopted new administrative and governance structure that incorporated the philosophy of shared governance. It also revised the roles and responsibilities of the chair and other department-level administrators, as well as committees such as Academic Affairs, Intellectual Dialogues and Institutional Linkages, Planning and Faculty, Chair’s Liaison and Executive Committee.
13. Also, the Summer School enacted new policies, practices and strategies to monitor summer teaching assignments. Changes included limiting independent study sections to two students, capping the number of independent study courses a faculty member can direct during a summer session at one time, and requiring separate sections to be created for each faculty member supervising independent studies, internships, mentored research, directed readings, or similar courses.
14. The University also began at this time to work with ITS to build additional and custom audit tables for ConnectCarolina to further enhance the school's ability to monitor and audit transactions related to student records, particularly those involving grade entries and grade changes.
15. That same Spring term, the University strengthened its security measures to limit when schedulers could update class information.
16. Finally, ASPSA revived its faculty advisory committee to review policies, programs and services.
Summer 2012
17. Summer 2012, the Department of Athletics designated a senior associate athletics director as a liaison with the ASPSA and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to provide contextual information related to compliance with the clear understanding that academic functions are independent of athletics.
18. Also, ASPSA hired a full-time tutor coordinator to recruit, hire, train, supervise and evaluate tutors. The tutor coordinator was charged with gathering written confirmation of compliance with NCAA regulations and surveys student-athletes on their experience to help improve academic support.
19. ASPSA also eliminated its student mentoring program during the Summer session.
20. During this period, the Department of Athletics reorganized personnel to provide sport programs and student-athletes additional administrative support and oversight. With the reorganization, sport oversight increases from two people for 28 teams to 18 people with specific roles and responsibilities. The department was further strengthened with the hiring of two additional staff members: a senior associate athletics director tasked with overseeing the compliance staff and serving as the liaison to ASPSA with the clear understanding that academic functions are independent of athletics; and an associate athletics director with a legal background for risk management to lead Academic Progress
Rate improvement plans and risk analysis. In addition, an associate athletics director for compliance was added to the staff in 2013 to lead an evaluation of compliance systems.
Fall 2012
21. Many so-called reforms were claimed in Fall 2012. One was that the College of Arts and Sciences adopting a new independent study policies and procedures, effective spring 2013. Changes included faculty supervision limited to two students per term, required learning contracts, and monitoring course syllabi, faculty absences and grading procedures.
22. Also, the Faculty Council adopted guidelines for course syllabi content and collection, effective spring 2013. Syllabi must be retained for four years.
23. Also, all classes with student-athlete enrollments greater than 20 percent of total class enrollment (25 percent for Summer School) are now flagged by the Registrar, Faculty Athletics Representative, Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education or Faculty Athletics Committee designee, with follow-up by designated academic officer.
24. As a result of these new guidelines, the University notified faculty about new course syllabi guidelines and launched a related audit process.
25. Fall of 2012 also saw the University change standard course numbering system to more accurately reflect course type, improving the ability to distinguish independent study courses from lecture courses.
26. Still in Fall 2012, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions strengthened academic assessment tools used to consider the ability of prospective student-athletes to earn a degree. University revised its process for admitting student-athletes. Beyond meeting all requirements established by the University of North Carolina system, student-athletes must demonstrate that they are likely to exceed UNC-Chapel Hill’s own standards for satisfactory academic progress, which apply to all undergraduates during their first year. Any applicant who does not meet the system requirements or UNC-Chapel Hill’s higher expectations can be offered admission only after being reviewed in detail and approved by a faculty committee.
27. That same semester, after analyzing the academic performance of previously enrolled student-athletes, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions developed a predicted first-year grade-point average which was later to be used to help make admissions decisions.
28. Also during the Fall of 2012, the College of Arts and Sciences required that a senior associate dean conduct an annual review of academic unit chairs based on a curriculum vitae, annual reports, teaching assignments and evaluations.
29. Also, the College of Arts and Sciences instituted the requirement that a senior associate dean conduct a review of any academic unit chair’s reappointment every five years. Such a review is to be based on materials including teaching assignments and administrative accomplishments, as well as face-to-face meetings with the chair and consultation with unit faculty.
30. Again, in the Fall of 2012, the Chancellor removed a previous dotted-line reporting relationship between ASPSA and the Department of Athletics.
31. That semester, the University created an Academic Review website to keep the campus community, constituents and the public informed about efforts to investigate and address academic irregularities first discovered in 2011 (since replaced by
http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/ in spring 2014).
Note: At some point the Title of the Carolina Commitment Web page changed from "Our Commitment: Transparency. Accountability. Results." to "Our Commitment: Taking Action and Moving Forward Together"
32. Meanwhile, Department of Athletics implemented a stronger and more comprehensive agent
and advising program.
33. Also, facility use policies were created and implemented for all athletic facilities in Department of Athletics.
34. Another: the Faculty Athletics Committee implemented a plan to ensure consistent, sustainable outcomes and practices as part of a fact-based approach to evaluating the alignment of the University’s academic mission with athletics. Each committee member was assigned a topic area for review and monitoring (such as advising, admissions or student-athlete experience) and was assigned a sports teams to evaluate the culture and issues that affect student-athlete academic success. (Refer to
http://faccoun.unc.edu/committees-2/elected-committees/athletics-committee/.)
35. Lastly, ASPSA and Academic Advising (which guides undergraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences and General College) clarified and coordinated their distinctive and complementary roles and responsibilities.
Spring 2013
36. The Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions revised the charge and procedures for
the Committee on Special Talent that include new thresholds for student-athletes requiring faculty review based on predicted first-year grade-point averages. (See #27)
37. The Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions, in conjunction with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Department of Athletics, appoints a working group to develop guidelines for reporting on athletics admissions.
38. Department of Athletics implements “Up and Out” incident reporting guidelines to ensure
compliance with federal and state reporting requirements.
39. As part of a campus-wide mandate, the Department of Athletics implements mandatory
background checks for all staff for overnight programs with minors in athletics facilities.
40. Department of Athletics provided NCAA annual compliance report as required by the infractions case of March, 2012. Report was accepted and approved with no additional recommendations by the NCAA.
41. Two assistant deans are assigned to coordinate advising for student-athletes as part of the Academic Advising Program (AAP) in the College of Arts and Sciences. One is funded by the Department of Athletics and one is funded by the College’s Academic Advising Program.
Summer 2013
42. Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes (ASPSA) strengthened its academic
evaluation process for admitted student-athletes before beginning classes. For example, some admitted incoming student-athletes are now evaluated in the spring before their first semester.
43. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions began meeting with ASPSA staff to review the academic performances of all first-year student-athletes to inform future student-athlete admissions decisions.
44. The University activated stricter online procedures to monitor temporary grades with an electronic grade change process. The changes improve efficiency and provide an audit trail, enforce all existing grade change policies and verify that changes to grades are only made by the class instructor. Only the faculty member of record for a class may submit grade changes.
45. The Priority Registration Advisory Committee – which reviews student groups recommended
for priority registration – stipulated that one of two faculty representatives will be a current elected member of the Faculty Council’s Educational Policy Committee. The Educational Policy Committee can recommend that courses be removed from the priority registration process if it is determined that too many priority registrants are enrolling. The Faculty Council reviewed the priority registration policy every three years.
46. As part of the degree audit process, the University now limits and monitors independent study course credits that count toward graduation.
47. The Registrar launched a new student records dashboard reporting system to monitor compliance with teaching credit hour policies.
48. ASPSA begins reporting to the Provost, UNC’s chief academic officer, instead of the College of Arts and Sciences, in conjunction with the appointment of the new Director of the Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes. The new director has appropriate credentials and background related to higher education and advising.
49. ASPSA and the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Program begin cross training on policies, procedures and best practices.
Fall 2013
50. The Provost and Registrar redefined and summarized policies for grading and mandatory final exams, including changes to permanent letter grades, temporary grades and incomplete grades.
51. Administrative boards of the General College and College of Arts and Sciences approved department name change to African, African American and Diaspora Studies (AAAD) from African and Afro-American Studies (AFAM).
52. Department of African, African American and Diaspora Studies (AAAD) added new requirements for major and minor programs, such as the number of courses needed to fulfill the major and minor. The approval process for enrolling in independent studies courses was also tightened.
53. The Provost required visits to classrooms each semester to confirm classes are being held as scheduled.
54. Members of the Faculty Council’s Faculty Athletics Committee now participate in the review and monitoring of student-athlete enrollment patterns. These efforts include meetings with the Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Faculty Athletics Representative and the Registrar. Courses with 20 percent student-athlete enrollment (25 percent in Summer School) trigger a course review.
55. The University launched a Student-Athlete Academic Initiative Working Group to review all aspects of a student-athlete’s experience – from recruitment through graduation. The goal is to ensure that every procedure and policy helps student-athletes achieve their fullest potential – both academically and personally. (Refer to
http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/updates/update-from-provost-james-w-dean-jr-about-the-student-athlete-academic-initiative-working-group/.)
56. Department of Athletics revised policy to require all student-athletes, regardless of scholarship status, to complete a motor vehicle registration form.
57. Department of Athletics revised social media policy. Each team must designate a social media monitor on a semester-by-semester basis. The monitors regularly review student-athlete social media for postings that potentially violate team or NCAA rules.
58. Department of Athletics now requires coaches to participate in bimonthly rules education meetings.
59. Department of Athletics formalized policies and procedures for complimentary game admissions, parking passes and credentials to increase accountability and improve inventory documentation.
60. Department of Athletics implements a new Vehicle Use Policy and training program.
61. University requires all student-athletes to meet with an academic advisor from the College of Arts and Sciences and/or the professional schools at least once per semester to review their program of study, choose courses, plan for their academic major(s) and monitor progress toward graduation.
62. As part of the My Academic Plan (MAP) program – which creates and focuses on individually designed weekly plans based on student-athletes’ academic preparedness and specific needs – ASPSA offers guided study sessions for student-athletes led by academic counselors, assistant academic counselors and tutors. (Refer to
http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/updates/what-is-map/.)
Spring 2014
63. Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions presents its first detailed annual report on athletics admissions to Faculty Council. (Refer to
http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/updates/admissions-report-on-enrolling-student-athletes-
class-entering-2013/.)
64. Department of Athletics revises process for employees to report outside athletics-related income to take a more comprehensive approach to the requirement.
65. Department of Athletics provides NCAA annual compliance report as required by the infractions case of March, 2012. Report was accepted and approved with no additional recommendations by the NCAA.
66. Department of Athletics hires an accounting firm to conduct an assessment of ticket operations including the sale, distribution and security of tickets, parking and credentials.
Summer 2014
67. Department of Athletics enhances student-athlete employment policies and procedures to increase monitoring and verification of actual employment in collaboration with the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. Increases documentation required from employers and educational efforts with them. These efforts place special emphasis on non-University campus and clinics.
68. Department of Athletics overhauls its summer camp manual including protocol and enhances
controls over any programs bringing minors into athletic facilities.
69. University launches Complete Carolina, an enhanced degree-completion program providing financial support, academic advising and career counseling to former student-athletes who return to complete their degrees at any time. The goal is to encourage all student-athletes to graduate and makes the process more accessible. (Refer to
http://unc.edu/campus-updates/complete-carolina-strengthens-commitment-to-former-student-athletes-undergraduate-education/.)
Fall 2014
70. The Student-Athlete Academic Initiative Working Group begins clarifying and documenting guidelines for recruiting, admissions, registration, enrollment, advising, counseling and all other processes that impact student-athletes’ lives.
