Former UNC students have a chance to make up classes that were deemed fraudulent as part of the University’s athletic and academic scandal — but only one person has taken that opportunity so far.
UNC decided to offer the free courses to complete the degrees of 46 students after facing an audit from its accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, last summer. Those students, who either transferred or took time off, are at risk of not graduating unless they take their remaining courses.
Thirty-nine course sections in the former Department of African and Afro-American Studies (now the Department of African, African-American and Diaspora Studies) from 1997 to 2009 were identified as fraudulent and classified as Type 1, meaning the instructor did not regularly hold class, according to a report by former N.C. Gov. Jim Martin.
Rather than sanction UNC, the agency opted to monitor it for one year as it moves forward with proposals it submitted to the agency — including offering optional courses to alumni and mandatory courses to students currently seeking a degree who received credit for fraudulent courses.
Academic Advising Associate Dean Lee May said some courses were taught properly during some semesters, but not others.
Students currently pursuing a degree have three options to make up the classes: they can provide prior coursework for evaluation, take a “challenge exam” or take a free course.
Options are open as long as students continue their education, said Dee Reid, director of communications for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Reid said letters were sent to affected students, advising them to contact May for help with completing the graduating requirements.
May said many students have contacted her about the classes, but some cannot re-take them immediately because of other commitments.
