UNC dismissing faculty involved in academic fraud scandal
UNC has dismissed an academic counselor and is attempting to fire a professor involved in the school's academic fraud scandal, in which athletes and other students were able to take fake classes with the knowledge of faculty members. The school has also accepted the resignation of another faculty member, according to the Associated Press.
School Chancellor Carol Folt said that efforts to terminate philosophy professor Jeanette Boxill began Oct. 22, the same day that former federal prosecutor Kenneth Wainstein released his report into the scandal.
"[Boxill was named] in light of the extraordinary circumstances underlying the longstanding and intolerable academic irregularities described in the Wainstein Report, as well as her role as the chair of the faculty council during a period of time covered by the report," said Folt.
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Wainstein's report found that the fake classes, offered from 1993 to 2011, enabled 3,100 athletes and other UNC students to earn artificially high grades. The classes were limited to the African studies department, but the report revealed that multiple individuals at UNC were aware of them and did nothing to stop the offerings.
David Parker, a lawyer for the school, revealed that Timothy McMillan, a senior lecturer in the department in question, resigned after 17 years at UNC. Parker also confirmed that academic counselor Jaimie Lee had been terminated.
Department administrator Deborah Crowder and former chairman Julius Nyang'oro, both since retired, are believed to have orchestrated the fake courses.
Boxill, who the university is trying to remove, is alleged to have guided women's basketball players into the fake classes and trying to influence grades. The report also alleges that Boxill admitted to editing student papers.
Parker added that six other campus employees were being reviewed for possible discipline, and that any who were punished would be identified.
• Fraud charge dropped against ex-UNC professor
Reports have indicated that the fake courses figured prominently in the eligibility of men's basketball players during the team's 2004-2005 championship season. Rashad McCants told ESPN in summer 2014 that he did not write the majority of his papers and was only able to maintain his eligibility because of the fake classes.
- Christopher Woody
