OGDEN, Utah - Officials said a Weber State University math instructor has violated NCAA ethical conduct rules after completing coursework for five university football players.
A Division I Committee on Infractions panel reported student-athletes said they received hints about the proper approach, formulas or help with quiz and test answers.
"This case revolves around a Weber State math instructor who violated NCAA ethical conduct rules, when she completed coursework for five football student athletes," NCAA officials said in a phone conference on Wednesday.
The panel determined the school isn't at fault because the compliance system found the violations and the school took action when notified.
According to the official report, the math instructor admitted that during the spring 2013 semester five student-athletes gave her their usernames and passwords. The instructor was identified as Christine Marx, who resigned in May 2013 after the incident was discovered.
The report states she then used that information to log on to their online math courses to complete tests, quizzes and exams.
At the end of the semester, an adjunct instructor in one of the math classes noticed a student-athlete completed six quizzes and a final exam in less than one hour, an uncharacteristic pattern for that student.
That concern led to a review of the developmental math program which showed the instructor helped other student-athletes.
Officials said Weber State charged the five student-athletes with academic dishonesty and issued them failing grades for the course. WSU President Charles A. Wight stated in a press release they take responsibility for what happened.
“We take full responsibility for the incident,” he stated “While we regret that it occurred, it is reassuring to know the systems we have in place quickly detected these unethical activities. We must remain vigilant going forward.”
Penalties and corrective measures include:
- Public reprimand and censure
- Three years of probation from November 19, 2014 through November 18, 2017
- A fine of $5,000 plus two percent of the school’s football program operating budget
- A reduction of 9 football equivalency scholarships
- A five-year show-cause order for the math instructor. During that period, if the instructor works for a member school and has responsibilities in its athletics department, the school must appear before a committee panel.
Wight said the professor's actions were out of line with the values of the school.
“At Weber State, we hold our students, faculty and staff to the highest level of ethical and professional conduct,” Wight stated in the press release. “This investigation found that, in this case, a former adjunct instructor failed to uphold those standards.”
