UNC Academic Scandal Update: School Reviewing Support System and Policies For its Athletes

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is already trying to nip its next academic scandal in the bud and is revamping its support system for the school's athletes.

According to the Associated Press, UNC officials are reviewing the academic support given to student-athletes as well as providing a refresher on specific NCAA rules. Led by provost James W. Dean Jr. and athletic director Bubba Cunningham, a group of academic and athletic officials have reviewed a range of policies over the past year.

Mary Willingham blew the whistle on the academic scandal in the athletic department three years ago and came forward with new testimony and evidence recently. The group is also brainstorming new ways to enforce the policies that were already in effect when the whole matter began.

"I continue to believe this is something we have to do," Dean told the AP. "And I think in some ways, other schools are probably going to want to do something similar for the same reason we're doing it: to make sure there's not some element of what we're doing that we haven't ever really thought carefully about, that doesn't really withstand scrutiny."

After 10 meetings thus far, the group is set to work through Sept., at which time they will provide policy recommendations for review. Bradley Bethel, a tutor who works with football players, is developing a summer program to ensure athletes' reading and critical thinking skills are at a college level.

"Based on those kinds of interactions I've had ... it seems to me like they really are scrutinizing and looking at everything very meticulously," Bethel, an outspoken defender of UNC's academic support for its athletes, told the AP.

Willingham resigned from her position as a reading specialist over reports that UNC president Carol Folt pushed her out. Both denied the allegation, but Willingham has remained true to her claims.

She has accused the school of running "paper classes" designed for student-athletes and hosted in the African and African-American Studies (AFAM) department. The classes rarely meet, if at all, and only require students to submit one paper. No matter how poorly it is written (she provided ESPN with a copy of one), they receive an A. She said the classes were designed to keep athletes academically eligible to compete.

Willingham's main accusation was that some of UNC's student-athletes could only read at a fourth- to eighth-grade level. She said she even worked with some who were mostly illiterate.

According to the News and Observer, Willingham confirmed she will be testifying at a Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation meeting on May 14.