SAVANNAH STATE NCAA LEVEL II INFRACTIONS, PENALTIES RELEASED
SAVANNAH – Savannah State University (SSU) has acknowledged to the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions (COI) violations pertaining to student-athlete eligibility over five academic years starting in 2013-2014 through 2017-2018. The NCAA’s findings are related to the following 10 SSU sports:
• Men’s: basketball, baseball, cross country, football, golf, track & field; and
• Women’s: basketball, softball, track & field and volleyball
The NCAA also found a failure to monitor the conduct and administration of its athletics program. Please see
http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/savannah-state-failed-monitor-its-certification-process. SSU will be subject to a set of penalties, most of which are self-imposed, adopted by the COI panel. NCAA Level II penalties include:
• Two years of probation for SSU’s athletics program.
• A $5,000 fine.
• Vacating regular season and conference tournament records involving ineligible student-athletes.
In addition, SSU will ensure that employees involved in the eligibility certification process attend required NCAA rules seminars and will continue to develop and implement NCAA compliance education programs for athletic personnel and others responsible for NCAA certification. SSU also will receive public reprimand and censure.
SSU has adopted and will fully comply with the NCAA corrective actions under the leadership of its new athletic director and has taken additional corrective measures to include:
• Hired an Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Academics.
• Revamped the certification committee to include the Faculty Athletic Representative, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Academics, and the Registrar.
• Established a training schedule for appropriate university personnel to attend NCAA regional rules seminars.
Savannah State is appreciative of its student-athletes and recognizes the hard work they devote to their studies as well as on the courts and fields. As the university continues its athletic transition from NCAA Division I to Division II, these requirements provide an
opportunity for staff members to increase the focus on the welfare of its student-athletes. We will continue working to ensure compliance and striving for excellence in both our athletic and our academic programs.
Established in 1890, Savannah State University is the oldest public historically black college or university in Georgia and the oldest institution of higher learning in the city of Savannah. The university’s 4,000 students select majors from 30 undergraduate and six graduate programs in four colleges — Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Business Administration, Education, and Sciences and Technology.
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