From WIU Athletics (with additions from Community News Brief staff) In full cooperation with the NCAA, Western Illinois University's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has reached a negotiated resolution regarding an investigation into unintentional certification violations that resulted in ineligible student-athletes competing between 2021 and 2024.
According to Intercollegiate Athletics Director Paul Bubb, the issues were initially identified and self-reported by WIU after discovering that insufficient communication across campus units involved in transfer evaluations, combined with inadequate training for academic personnel responsible for certification, led to procedural errors resulting in violations.
'During a time of transition, our department was understaffed and we failed to meet the NCAA's compliance expectations. We didn't hide our unintentional violations, nor did we step back from the hard work required to correct them,' Bubb said in a press release shared late in the day on Dec. 12. 'We accepted responsibility and implemented the educational training, policies, and practices necessary to ensure this does not happen again.'
In determining the appropriate penalties, the NCAA recognized several mitigating factors that reduced the severity of potential sanctions. These included WIU's decade-long absence of Level I, Level II, or major violations; the prompt disclosure of issues; immediate acknowledgement of responsibility; the institution's commitment to meaningful corrective actions, and timely submission of a negotiated resolution that expedited the review process.
Intercollegiate Athletics is required to pay a $25,000 fine. The Community News Brief reached out to the University to inquire where the funding will originate to pay the fine. University Spokesperson Zach Messersmith stated the funds 'will come from self-generated resources.' Self-generated resources include contributions, ticket sales, corporate partnerships and concession sales.
WIU Recreation, Park, Tourism, and Hospitality Professor Jeremy Robinett, who serves as the institution's NCAA faculty athletics representative, emphasized the positive outcomes of the process.
'While this process has required significant time and energy, it has strengthened relationships across campus and prompted meaningful reviews of our policies and procedures,' Robinett added. 'There was no ill intent behind the violations, rather athletics didn't complete NCAA required procedures as thoroughly as it should have. The issue was caught by an eligibility certifier in the Registrar's Office and Athletics took corrective action immediately to ensure it will not occur again.'
According to Robinett, part of the negotiated resolution requires WIU to demonstrate it is following procedures and meeting guidelines. There were no sanctions impacting scholarships or postseason/championship competition, but for the next three years, the institution is required to supply additional compliance documentation.
