SMU's response to reports re: DISD report

[SMU 86]

http://www.smumustangs.com/genrel/012714aaa.html

Jan. 27, 2014

SMU Statement on Reporting of DISD Investigation

January 27, 2014

SMU wishes to correct the record on a recent media report regarding the admission of an SMU student athlete.

As with all information related to student admissions, we are careful to make decisions based on official records of academic performance. Using our typical procedures, we granted admission to the student in question based on information on the official DISD transcript and certification of his graduation by DISD.

Several other points need to be made.

Because we care about the potential of our student athletes to be academically successful at SMU, it is not unusual for a coach to inquire about the academic progress of a prospective student athlete. This is common practice among universities. In this way, it can be determined whether the student is on track to complete academic requirements and qualify for admission.



As part of that practice, Assistant Coach Ulric Maligi asked for an update on the student’s grades, about whether the student needed to do extra credit assignments or take an extra course during the summer. He spoke with a higher education adviser who represented herself as the point of contact for the student’s academic performance. Previous grade reports indicated a passing grade in physics and other subjects. Subsequently, Coach Maligi conferred with the student’s high school counselor, a DISD employee, who instructed him to disregard the interim grade report he had just received. She indicated that DISD had experienced a problem regarding alleged grade changes at Kimball High School. This conversation led Coach Maligi to believe that DISD had addressed the issue and that forthcoming information on student grades would be accurate, as DISD has affirmed.



SMU received the final transcript on July 1, confirming the student’s graduation, with grades and credits indicating the student could qualify for SMU admission and NCAA eligibility. The alleged grade change on an earlier interim report was not reflected on the official transcript and thus did not have an impact on admission to SMU or NCAA eligibility.



Regarding the alleged attendance issue, SMU, like any other university, must rely on a school district’s procedures certifying that a student meets all qualifications for graduation. Universities are not provided with attendance records of high school students applying for admission.



With regard to the timing of SMU’s response to queries by the auditors, SMU’s athletics compliance officer was in communication with the investigator in August and September, and on October 4 provided a written response to the investigator’s questions.



It is unfortunate that misinformation has been publicized, even before SMU received the 500-page document on the investigation at 8:15 a.m. today. As DISD addresses its issues with personnel and procedures, we hope that future media reporting on such important matters will be more accurately conveyed.
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[gostangs]

BOOM!! Eat that WFAA. If they run with it anyway it is now liable - since they know it is not true.

[SMU Section F]

Well done.

I applaud the people that put that together.

[LA_Mustang]

I'll say it again, BOOM! Next.

[The PonyGrad]

and BAM!

Time to chill out.

[Pony_Law]

A good point by point rebuttal making the obvious arguments. As a fan of the program I wish they would have been more aggressive against the news story (ie "we question and are disappointed in the false and malicious questioning of the integrity of our admissions practices" but I can understand while they are being tactful which is probably the best way to make sure this story dies in the womb.

[SMU 86]

BOOM!! Eat that WFAA. If they run with it anyway it is now liable - since they know it is not true.

More Brett Shipp than WFAA. Very good response imo.

[Mustang75]

I wish one of the other stations in town would cover the skullduggery by the miscreant reporter at WFAA. Anyone got any pull at 4 or 5 or 11?

[SMU Section F]

I thought, "we hope that future media reporting on such important matters will be more accurately conveyed," was just the right amount of snarky.

Of course, they might as well hope for world peace while they're at it.

[GiddyUp]

I really like that response. Nice

[ponyboy]

Good. Now what happens to Keith? Is he going to remain eligible to play basketball for SMU?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Smu97186]

Part 2 of shipp's fantasyland investigation is supposed to air tonight, is that legal now that smu has claimed it is a false story?

[malachi896]

Hopefully everyone finally calms down and stops fearing the worst.

[Top Twenty]

As someone who has seen, sometimes up close, how SMU can mishandle certain situations, kudos to the powers-that-be on this one. Excellent work by all involved, and on very short notice. I believe that we sent a message today that we'll stand up for ourselves and for our kids. It was not always so.

As to those who might question how we got so good so fast, I have at least two answers for them...Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy, and they were transfers and not freshly minted McDonald's All-Americans.

Oh, and Larry Brown. That's how.

[Horseshoe]

SMU's PR staff, legal staff and whoever else was involved in putting this together are fantastic. This is thorough and specific, addresses specific points without diving into rumors.

We all are quick to point out when something is done poorly. Time to acknowledge that SMU hit this out of the park.