UNC-Chapel Hill disciplines three more employees after academic scandal
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has disciplined three additional employees after an investigation into the academic fraud scandal.
The university completed personnel reviews of six employees named in the independent investigation of academic fraud, also known as the Wainstein Report.
As a result of the personnel probe, two employees were fired and one was placed on permanent restriction from future administrative responsibilities. Three others were cleared.
Brent Blanton, associate director of the Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes (ASPSA) was fired Thursday. Travis Gore, an administrative assistant in the Department of African American and Diaspora Studies was also fired.
Roberta (Bobbi) Owen, a professor of dramatic art and former senior associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences is "permanently restricted from having any future programmatic or administrative leadership responsibilities at the University," according to UNC officials.
The three other employees who were cleared after the investigation were also named. Corey Holliday, associate director of athletics, Alphonse Mutima, a lecturer in the AFAM department, and Andre' Williams, the associate director of development in the Arts and Science foundation, were all found to have done nothing wrong.
UNC officials said the reviews of these employees took into account whether or not the individuals knowingly helped irregular courses be conducted, knowingly directed students to the irregular courses, or knew about the irregular courses and failed to stop them from happening.
The three are not the first to face action in the wake of the scandal. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Earlier this year, SACS sent a warning letter to the Tar Heels after officials there got a look at the now infamous Wainstein Report.
The report, commissioned by UNC, detailed so-called "paper classes" for athletes going back two decades.
Click here to read the full Wainstein Report (.PDF)
The classes required little to no work for passing grades.
SACS first put the university on notice back in 2011 when the scandal erupted, but said last fall the agency now considered the findings of Kenneth Wainstein as a new issue.
The agency claimed UNC showed a lack of "institutional integrity," wasn't diligent in providing information, and that two university employees withheld information.
In a 224-page response, UNC officials asked the agency to find them in compliance, noting numerous changes that have been made in the wake of the scandal.
Click here to read UNC's full response to the SACS accreditation warning.
University officials said Thursday's disclosure provides additional information beyond what the settlement terms required about the employees who were cleared.
