VIOLATION PROCEDURES
Investigating and Self-Reporting Potential NCAA Violations
In accordance with NCAA rules and regulations, all suspected or alleged violations of NCAA rules shall be investigated. If the Director of Athletics or the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance determines a violation has occurred, appropriate and adequate corrective measures will be taken, and a report of the violation will be submitted to the NCAA national office and/or NEC officials.
In responding to rules violations, the University will evaluate factors such as:
- Whether the violation is intentional
- Whether any recruiting or competitive advantage is gained; and
- Whether violations are recurring (either in the same sport or of the same type).
Robert Morris University's goals in responding will be to encourage communication, and to seek consistency and accountability.
Robert Morris University is a strong proponent of NCAA rules education. The Athletics Department firmly believes that education is the best means of preventing a violation of NCAA regulations. In addition to this focus on education, and in recognition of the complex regulatory framework within which a Division I intercollegiate athletics program operates, the following policies and procedures have been established to address potential violations when they occur.
Reporting an Alleged or Potential Violation
Any individual (e.g., athletics department staff member, student-athlete, university employee, representative of the University's athletics interests, members of the community) may report an alleged or suspected violation. The individual may report the alleged or suspected violation verbally or in writing to any of the following persons: the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance, the Director of Athletics, or the Faculty Athletic Representative. The individual may also choose to report the violation anonymously via the Ethics Point portal located on the front page of the athletic department website at rmucolonials.com.
Whenever an alleged or suspected violation is communicated to any athletics department staff member, the staff member has an obligation to immediately notify the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance or the Director of Athletics.
Procedures for Investigating and Self-Reporting a Secondary Violation
Once informed of an alleged violation, the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance will conduct a preliminary investigation to ascertain the basic facts surrounding the incident. The parties involved in the incident will be contacted directly and asked about the matter. The supervising administrator for the sport involved will be notified at this time.
The Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance is responsible for determining whether the evidence establishes the occurrence of a violation. To make this determination, he/she may request the assistance of the Director of Athletics and/or the Faculty Athletic Representative.
If, after an evaluation of the facts and relevant NCAA legislation, it is determined that a violation has occurred, the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance will initiate a comprehensive investigation. The Director of Athletics is responsible for overseeing all institutional investigations. During this discovery period, all parties involved will be interviewed and written notes of the interviews and the investigation will be kept. The investigation file will be housed in the Compliance Office. The Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance will keep the Director of Athletics informed of all events surrounding the investigation.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance will meet with the Director of Athletics and the sport supervisor to review the matter and determine the appropriate corrective actions.
If the secondary violation falls within the list of those secondary violations identified with specifically-prescribed sanctions (per NCAA Bylaw 32.4), a self-report will be submitted to the NEC Office. If the violation is not included in that listing, the self-report will be forwarded to the proper department(s) at the NCAA office.
The Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance is responsible for ensuring that all corrective actions are clearly communicated to the appropriate individuals and that they are carried out. Copies of all subsequent correspondence with the NCAA and/or the NEC are permanently filed in the Compliance Office.
Procedures for Investigating a Major Violation
If, based on the evaluation of facts gathered during the internal investigation, the potential for a major violation exists, the Director of Athletics, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance, and other senior staff members selected by the Director of Athletics, will hold an immediate meeting to initiate an appropriate investigation. This meeting may include the University's General Counsel, Faculty Athletic Representative and/or a representative from the President's office. NCAA and/or NEC investigatory assistance will be solicited as circumstances warrant.
Alleged Violations Involving Other NCAA Institutions
If an individual has knowledge of an alleged violation that involves another NCAA member institution, he/she may report the alleged violation to the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance. The Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance will discuss how best to address the situation with the individual who has lodged the accusation, Robert Morris University coaching staff members in the involved sport, and other departmental staff members, as necessary.
After evaluating the allegation, the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance may then contact the Director of Compliance at the accused member institution to request that the alleged violation be investigated. In some cases, the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance or the Director of Athletics may choose to communicate directly with the NEC office or NCAA enforcement staff and request that they contact the accused institution or that institution's conference.
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
COOPERATION, CONSCIENCE, COMPLIANCE... COLONIALS!
