The NCAA has placed BYU-Hawaii on probation for three years after finding the Division II university had allowed some athletes to participate before ensuring they were academically eligible.
In a decision released Wednesday, the NCAA found instances during the 2003-04, 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years where BYU-Hawaii officials did not "track whether incoming transfer student-athletes had passed at least six hours in the preceding semester at their prior institution; (did not) ensure that student-athletes had designated a degree by the beginning of their third year of enrollment or fifth full-time semester; (and did not) ensure that (International Student Athlete eligibility forms) were complete, accurate and did not present any eligibility concerns about the student-athletes filling out the forms."
Also, the NCAA found the university did not ensure that student-athletes had received amateurism certification from the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center before being allowed to practice, compete and travel with their respective teams.
"A main cause of the deficiencies in the compliance program was the failure of certain institutional personnel to be fully educated regarding NCAA eligibility rules," the decision says.
The main infractions involved the eligibility process of eight transfer student-athletes — two in softball, two in women's basketball, and one each in men's basketball, women's soccer, men's soccer and men's tennis. The NCAA found that all eight actually met the criteria of having six-hours of eligible preceding credit, but they were allowed to practice and compete before that credit was officially part of the university's record. Also, those responsible for approving the transfer were not aware of the six-hour requirement, which, according to bylaw definition, meant the university was not adequately monitoring the certification process.
"That the transfer student-athletes eventually were shown to have earned the requisite six hours of transferable degree credit in their final semester at their former institutions is not the issue," the decision says.
During the probation period, the university must continue to develop and implement a comprehensive educational program on NCAA legislation and file a report annually on progress made in establishing a comprehensive compliance and certification system. The penalties have no impact on scholarships, or the university's participation in conference or postseason play.
"This decision is the result of a nearly two-year process in which the university has been working with the NCAA to address program improvements and to tighten up university procedures to insure that the Athletic Department is in full compliance with NCAA regulations," the university said in a statement released after the NCAA decision was issued. "BYU-Hawaii has no objection to the decision that was published (Wednesday) by the NCAA and is in agreement with the recommendations by the NCAA for BYU-Hawaii's athletic programs. BYU-Hawaii intends to follow all of the NCAA's recommendations, and has already implemented changes to correct the areas identified in (Wednesday's) decision."
e-mail: jimr@desnews.com