The NCAA has found that Maine Maritime Academy committed three violations relating to the awarding of financial aid. MMA has been placed on probation for two years along with other minor penalties. MMA officials say when they first found out about the violations, the school self reported to the NCAA.

The violations took place between 2007 and 2012. The school discovered the issues in September of 2011 and has been working with the NCAA on the matter since that time.

 

 

 

Here's the school press release on the matter...

NCAA Infraction Resource

On September 15, 2011, Steve Peed, the newly appointed compliance officer at Maine Maritime Academy discovered several scholarships awarded by the institution were in violation of the NCAA’s bylaws, and subsequently self-reported the violations to the NCAA. On October 17, 2013, the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions issued a report finding Maine Maritime Academy to have committed three violations as it relates to the awarding of financial aid. Specifically, the NCAA found:

1. From at least the 2007-08 through 2011-12 academic years, the institution considered athletics leadership, participation and/or performance as a criterion in four of its scholarship programs;

2. That from the 2007-08 through the 2009-10 academic years, the institution's director of athletics was permitted to serve as a member of the institution's annual scholarship selection committee which was involved in the review of the institution's financial assistance to be awarded to student- athletes;

3. That from at least the 2007-08 through the 2011-12 academic years, the institution failed to monitor and educate its athletics department and financial aid personnel involved in creating and awarding four institutional scholarships, as detailed above.

It is important to note that the NCAA found that Maine Maritime Academy did not violate NCAA rules with the intention of creating a competitive advantage. Nonetheless, it found that the Academy’s actions did, in fact, create a competitive advantage through its actions. It is also worth reiterating that the Academy discovered these violations, acted swiftly to report them to the NCAA, and has worked with the NCAA to develop a resolution from the outset.

Athletics at Maine Maritime Academy are a proud tradition. In this co-curricular venue, we reinforce the values of accountability, integrity, and honor taught by our amazing faculty. The institution maintained the integrity necessary to hold itself accountable so that the athletic department can move forward with unquestioned honor. While the findings of the NCAA, and the subsequent penalties imposed, represent a setback for the department, our discovery of the violations has provided a platform to improve our operations. We have been working to that end for the past two years, and will continue to do so moving forward.

 

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