1

UNC AT CHAPEL HILL: ATHLETIC DEPT. AND TWO DECADES OF “PAPER

CLASSES”

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The Athletic Department and Two
Decades of “Paper Classes”

Diana Rea Flores

Department of Educational Leadership, California State University, Fresno

Dr. Gonzalez

December 14, 2021

2
UNC AT CHAPEL HILL: ATHLETIC DEPT. AND TWO DECADES OF “PAPER
CLASSES”
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The Athletic Department and Two
Decades of “Paper Classes”

Summary

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the African American Studies

Department injunction with the Athletics Department, are part of one of the biggest academic

scandals of all time. In an effort to keep student-athletes eligible to play sports, university

administrators facilitated “paper classes,” where students would enroll and earn a high letter

grade without having to work for the grade. For 18 years, the University of North Carolina at

Chapel Hill offered “paper classes” to thousands of students, specifically student-athletes (Ganim

& Sayers, 2014).  Called “GPA boosters” by academic counselors, these unethical practices

remind us of the academic inequities students still face. Even when student affairs practitioners

are guided by ethical standards, these can easily be forgotten and violated and ultimately affect

the reputation and transparency of the university, most importantly, the students.

Research on the Issue

  In the early years, college sports programs were established as a form of enhancing the

academic experience of the student while fostering students an appreciation for the commitment,

teamwork, and a sense of fair play (Edwards, 2019). As the times pass, athletics and sports have

become more popular. One main reason is that college sports generate considerable revenue for

the universities. Because of this, many universities opt for sports programming as one of their

main streams of generating money and to maintain a status of prestige (Edwards, 2019). Even

though it is few, several Division I football teams can average approximately $30 million in

revenue. However, this is not the case for most universities. In reality, most universities lose

money every year from their athletic programs (NCAA, n.d.).  Even when most universities do
3
UNC AT CHAPEL HILL: ATHLETIC DEPT. AND TWO DECADES OF “PAPER
CLASSES”
not generate profit from the athletics department, athletics still brings in people and allows the

university to build a reputable image (NCAA, n.d.).  

         As time progressed, scandals involving athletics and favoritism among athletes have

emerged. One of the most well-known scandals of our time is the one at The University of North

Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) in 2010. Evidently, this scandal exemplifies the magnitude and

influence of big-time sports and how unethical leadership from administrators can corrupt the

academic mission of a university (Edwards, 2019). For almost two decades, UNC offered paper

classes to a disproportionate number of student-athletes.

Analysis of the Issue and Ethical Standards

Higher education leaders have the responsibility and obligation to lead in an exemplary

way, with students always in mind. Analyzing UNC and the way university staff handled the

situation in creating the “paper classes” is impractical and violates ethical standards. Higher

education leaders have the responsibility to practice certain ethical standards. These ethical

standards and principles should guide the behaviors of professionals in their everyday practice

(ACPA, 2006). Looking at the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Ethical

Principles and Standards for higher education practitioners, there are many disparities in the way

student affairs professionals at UNC went against the tenets and ethics of the profession while

creating the paper classes. The standard for Professional Responsibility and Competence, 1.1

“Conduct their professional activities in accordance with sound theoretical principles and adopt a

value system with the basic tenets of the profession” (see Appendix A) clearly states how student

affairs professionals must apply ethical decision-making into all decision.

In the case of the paper classes, administrators at UNC evidently went against the

principles and value systems of the institution as a whole, as they were providing advantages to
4
UNC AT CHAPEL HILL: ATHLETIC DEPT. AND TWO DECADES OF “PAPER
CLASSES”
student-athletes over the general student population. By offering the paper classes and

disproportionately enrolling student-athletes, all other students were at a disadvantage for just

being “normal” students. The student-athlete status gave these students the advantage of taking

classes, receiving the credit, and not doing the work. This activity is not congruent with the basic

tenets of the profession. Ethical principles should guide the behaviors of student affairs

professionals in everyday practice and always keep in mind the good of the larger group.

Ethical Implications and Resolution

After the scandal, a stellar reputation came crashing down for the university (Ganim &

Sayers, 2014). Before the scandal, UNC had a reputation that placed academics and athletics

hand in hand. It was said to produce some of the best professional players after graduating. After

the investigation was completed, there were more unanswered questions than answers. The

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was investigated through different outlets. One

source of the investigation was through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Once the investigation concluded, and in light of the fact that the paper classes were available to

and taken advantage of by students as well as student-athletes, the NCAA concluded that there

was insufficient evidence of an athletic purpose behind the classes to establish an academic

integrity violation under laws by the NCAA (Kukowski et al., 2014). This decision was

controversial in the sense that the NCAA regulates intercollegiate sports but, in this case, it did

not believe it violated any of its laws. Additionally, there was no indication to support a scheme

or connection existing between the Athletics Department and the Academic Support Programs

for Student Affairs (Kukowski, 2014). The NCAA defers to the schools and their administration

to determine whether academic fraud arose, and ultimately, the panel is obliged to make

decisions within the rules that are set by the membership (Tracy, 2017).
5
UNC AT CHAPEL HILL: ATHLETIC DEPT. AND TWO DECADES OF “PAPER
CLASSES”
Additionally, UNC went through another investigation through their accrediting body, the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The

investigation reviewed the matters related to the paper classes and its Board of Trustees decided

to only sanction UNC to one-year probation. Then, after monitoring UNC’s implementation of

remedial policies and guidelines to prevent the recurrence of such irregularities, SACSCOC said

it would not take any further action against UNC (Kukowski, 2014).

Recommendations

The NCAA ought to be more involved in the academic life of its student-athletes. On

their website, the NCAA states that they are a “member-led organization dedicated to the well-

being and lifelong success of college athletes” (NCAA, n.d.). This clearly contradicts their

involvement in the UNC case because the NCAA was not checking in with its student-athletes

hence their decision to not sanction the university of their athletic department. The NCAA

should revisit its policies and legislature to ensure the legitimacy of academic programs at

universities. Also, the NCAA must ensure student-athletes are being treated with respect while

participating in intercollegiate sports. It should be the responsibility of the NCAA to ensure

student-athletes excel both in the field and academically.

         UNC must also implement random checks by university administrators to ensure classes

that are supposed to meet are meeting. This will keep classes in check and hold them

accountable. Additionally, revising the standards for admitting athletes and keeping athletes

eligible to play, and stricter reviews for faculty leadership can ensure a fair share for all students

and administration (Nelson, 2014). In an effort to assist student-athletes, implementing study

hours or time one-on-one with a tutor can be beneficial to the student-athlete as opposed to

making their academic journey easier by enrolling students in “paper classes.”

6
UNC AT CHAPEL HILL: ATHLETIC DEPT. AND TWO DECADES OF “PAPER
CLASSES”
Conclusion

The discrepancies in the decision of this case brought to light a bigger issue. Not to

mention, the university paid almost $18 million in legal costs (Ganesan, 2021). While the

university suffered financially, the collateral damage also extended to instructors, faculty, the

athletic department, and, most importantly, the students and athletes at UNC Chapel Hill

(Ganesan, 2021). The wrongdoing of the staff that leads the paper classes leaves us questioning

the integrity and ethical decision-making of student affairs professionals and administrators. The

investigation is a reminder of the inequities that are still present in the academic system. Even

when students were involved in the ongoing scandal, direct criticism should be appointed to the

administration that created and allowed for these classes to occur. As leaders of the university,

the administration must foster an environment of equity and academic excellence.

7
UNC AT CHAPEL HILL: ATHLETIC DEPT. AND TWO DECADES OF “PAPER
CLASSES”
References

American College Personnel Association. (2006). ACPA ethical principles & standards -
myacpa.org. ACPA. Retrieved December 14, 2021, from
https://myacpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Ethical_Principles_Standards.pdf

Edwards, J. (2019). The Incompatibility of Sports and Higher Education. Academic Questions,
32(3), 342-353. http://doi-org.hmlproxy.lib.csufresno.edu/10.1007/s12129-019-09805-5

Finances of Intercollegiate Athletics. NCAA.org - the official site of the NCAA. (n.d.). Retrieved
November 28, 2021, from https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/research/finances-
intercollegiate-athletics

Ganesan, R. (2021, August 29). Column: Ten years since UNC's academic scandal - and we still
haven't learned. The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from
https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2021/08/opinion-who-is-to-blame-unc-sports-scandal

Ganim, S., & Sayers, D. (2014, October 23). UNC athletics report finds 18 years of academic
fraud. CNN. Retrieved December 12, 2021, from https://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/us/unc-
report-academic-fraud/index.html

Inside Higher Ed. (2014). Report finds that academic fraud at U. of North Carolina lasted nearly
20 years. Retrieved November 30, 2021, from
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/10/23/report-finds-academic-fraud-u-north-
carolina-lasted-nearly-20-years

NCAA. (n.d.). Mission and Priorities. NCAA.org - the official site of the NCAA. Retrieved
December 13, 2021, from https://www.ncaa.org/mission-and-priorities.

NCAA. - the official site of the NCAA. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2021, from
https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/research/finances-intercollegiate-athletics

Nelson, L. (2014, October 22). Inside UNC's outrageous academic scandal: Athletes took fake
classes for 18 years. Vox. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from
https://www.vox.com/2014/10/22/7040107/unc-academic-scandal-explained

Tracy, M. (2017, October 13). N.C.A.A.: North Carolina will not be punished for academic
scandal. The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/sports/unc-north-carolina-ncaa.html
8
UNC AT CHAPEL HILL: ATHLETIC DEPT. AND TWO DECADES OF “PAPER
CLASSES”
Appendix A

ACPA Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards

9
UNC AT CHAPEL HILL: ATHLETIC DEPT. AND TWO DECADES OF “PAPER
CLASSES”
10
UNC AT CHAPEL HILL: ATHLETIC DEPT. AND TWO DECADES OF “PAPER
CLASSES”
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators

Appendix B