ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Today, the NCAA Committee on Infractions (COI) released its decision regarding a violation which involved Elmira College committing financial aid violations at Elmira College, when merit-based scholarships were awarded to student-athletes at a disproportionately higher rate than other students.

Full NCAA Press Release
 
During the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years, the COI found student-athletes at Elmira had a disproportionately higher percentage of their financial need met in comparison to non-college athletes.  Also, according to the decision, Elmira failed to provide adequate financial aid rules education to athletes and financial aid personnel.

The former vice president of enrollment management – who was responsible for implementing the financial aid awards – failed to cooperate in this case in by refusing to participate in an interview and failing to provide information relevant to the investigation, resulting in a violation of NCAA ethical conduct rules.

"The College has been cooperating with the NCAA and the Committee throughout the process," said Rhonda Faunce, interim director of athletics. "While this mistake is resulting in a major violation and a "failure to monitor" finding, we are extremely thankful the NCAA has accepted our suggested penalties, we do not need to pursue any individual reinstatement, and no individual teams are required to vacate contests."

In its decision, the NCAA agreed that while this was a major violation, it was not implemented with the intent to benefit intercollegiate athletics, rather as a strategy to support increased enrollment. Under the new senior leadership, the College has reviewed and implemented policies and practices that will engage all entities across campus in heightened compliance training, has instituted additional layers of oversight, and contracted with an outside consulting firm to ensure equitable and compliant awarding of financial aid to all students.

Elmira's case was resolved through the cooperative summary disposition process, a process in which involved parties collectively submit the case to the committee in written form. All participating parties must agree to the facts and the level of the case for this process to be used instead of a formal hearing.

The committee prescribed the following penalties and corrective measures:

• Two years of probation
• A two-year show cause order for the former vice president of enrollment management. During that period, the former vice president of enrollment management must attend NCAA Regional Rules Seminars, and any NCAA member school employing that individual must restrict their involvement with NCAA financial aid legislation by requiring direct oversight from the athletic department's senior leadership on financial aid-related responsibilities.
• The director of financial aid, current vice president of enrollment management, and associate vice president of athletics must attend a NCAA Regional Rules Seminar in either 2021 or 2022 (self-imposed by Elmira College).