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Media members set to experience enforcement
By Marta Lawrence
NCAA.org
When NCAA Vice President for Enforcement Julie Roe Lach assumed her duties in October, the 13-year NCAA veteran knew the job brought a host of communication challenges.
The most glaring was the need to educate critics and give them a better understanding of the process. The response will take place Tuesday when more than 30 members of the media and readers of a live blog will participate in the Enforcement Experience − a day-long session that will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the complex task of holding institutions, administrators, coaches and student-athletes accountable for NCAA rules that are intended to promote education and fair play.
Live blog planned for Enforcement Experience
The NCAA will live blog from the Enforcement Experience, a behind-the-scenes look at the NCAA enforcement process beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday.
The day-long event will guide members of the media visiting the NCAA national office through a simulated enforcement case, from the initial tip through the investigation, charging, hearing and penalty phases. Attendees are encouraged to log-in to the live blog to ask questions throughout the day.
Committee on Infractions hearings are not open to the public, so Tuesday's event will mark the first time the media and the public have been given access to committee members in that environment.
"When we began planning for the Enforcement Experience, I asked the staff to brainstorm the most common misperceptions about NCAA enforcement," Roe Lach said. "We know our detractors believe the process is unfair, and they accuse the staff of being selective and biased. We also know most people don't fully understand the role of the Committee on Infractions as compared to the role of the enforcement staff.
"We saw this as an opportunity to introduce our staff, educate people about the process and begin a dialogue to correct the record about why the enforcement program exists, who we are and how we do our job," she said.
Modeled after the mock selections in men's and women's basketball, the interactive Enforcement Experience will ask participants to assume the role of an NCAA investigator and later a member of the Committee on Infractions.
Tuesday's fictitious case – a multi-month process condensed to six hours – will begin with a confidential tip by a caller. Although the case is entirely made up, the confidential tip and ensuing investigation represent a typical scenario.
After reviewing the claim, participants will evaluate how to proceed with the investigation, based on guidance from NCAA staff experts. From there, the case could be passed on to a charging phase, a Committee on Infractions hearing and, if appropriate, the penalty phase.
NCAA enforcement staff members who participated in an Enforcement Experience preview last week said the simulation resembled real life.
NCAA Assistant Director of Enforcement Elizabeth Ramsey admitted she and many staff members are apprehensive every time they present to the committee. But they also said the enforcement staff must strive to ensure that the committee understands the case, is clear on the areas of disagreement and is in the best position possible to make an objective and fair ruling on the case.
"I think some people may believe the NCAA and the Committee on Infractions are one in the same," Roe Lach said. "In reality, we're on the hook to substantiate our allegations by presenting the facts. Our goal is to have a well-rounded presentation of the facts, not to keep a winloss tally. The committee is ultimately responsible for determining if a violation took place and they are the body that assigns appropriate penalties."
Roe Lach is realistic about the impact of the Enforcement Experience on future media coverage.
"We know members of the media will continue to question actions surrounding the enforcement program and process, and that's healthy," she said. "We hope, however, that today's session will give them a better understanding of the steps the NCAA enforcement staff and the Committee on Infractions take to uphold integrity of the rules by seeking accountability through a fair investigation and hearing for those who break the rules. "
In a related development, a new section of NCAA.org describing the enforcement process debuted Monday.
Media members set to experience enforcement
By Marta Lawrence
NCAA.org
When NCAA Vice President for Enforcement Julie Roe Lach assumed her duties in October, the 13-year NCAA veteran knew the job brought a host of communication challenges.
The most glaring was the need to educate critics and give them a better understanding of the process. The response will take place Tuesday when more than 30 members of the media and readers of a live blog will participate in the Enforcement Experience − a day-long session that will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the complex task of holding institutions, administrators, coaches and student-athletes accountable for NCAA rules that are intended to promote education and fair play.
Live blog planned for Enforcement Experience
The NCAA will live blog from the Enforcement Experience, a behind-the-scenes look at the NCAA enforcement process beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday.
The day-long event will guide members of the media visiting the NCAA national office through a simulated enforcement case, from the initial tip through the investigation, charging, hearing and penalty phases. Attendees are encouraged to log-in to the live blog to ask questions throughout the day.
Committee on Infractions hearings are not open to the public, so Tuesday's event will mark the first time the media and the public have been given access to committee members in that environment.
"When we began planning for the Enforcement Experience, I asked the staff to brainstorm the most common misperceptions about NCAA enforcement," Roe Lach said. "We know our detractors believe the process is unfair, and they accuse the staff of being selective and biased. We also know most people don't fully understand the role of the Committee on Infractions as compared to the role of the enforcement staff.
"We saw this as an opportunity to introduce our staff, educate people about the process and begin a dialogue to correct the record about why the enforcement program exists, who we are and how we do our job," she said.
Modeled after the mock selections in men's and women's basketball, the interactive Enforcement Experience will ask participants to assume the role of an NCAA investigator and later a member of the Committee on Infractions.
Tuesday's fictitious case – a multi-month process condensed to six hours – will begin with a confidential tip by a caller. Although the case is entirely made up, the confidential tip and ensuing investigation represent a typical scenario.
After reviewing the claim, participants will evaluate how to proceed with the investigation, based on guidance from NCAA staff experts. From there, the case could be passed on to a charging phase, a Committee on Infractions hearing and, if appropriate, the penalty phase.
NCAA enforcement staff members who participated in an Enforcement Experience preview last week said the simulation resembled real life.
NCAA Assistant Director of Enforcement Elizabeth Ramsey admitted she and many staff members are apprehensive every time they present to the committee. But they also said the enforcement staff must strive to ensure that the committee understands the case, is clear on the areas of disagreement and is in the best position possible to make an objective and fair ruling on the case.
"I think some people may believe the NCAA and the Committee on Infractions are one in the same," Roe Lach said. "In reality, we're on the hook to substantiate our allegations by presenting the facts. Our goal is to have a well-rounded presentation of the facts, not to keep a winloss tally. The committee is ultimately responsible for determining if a violation took place and they are the body that assigns appropriate penalties."
Roe Lach is realistic about the impact of the Enforcement Experience on future media coverage.
"We know members of the media will continue to question actions surrounding the enforcement program and process, and that's healthy," she said. "We hope, however, that today's session will give them a better understanding of the steps the NCAA enforcement staff and the Committee on Infractions take to uphold integrity of the rules by seeking accountability through a fair investigation and hearing for those who break the rules. "
In a related development, a new section of NCAA.org describing the enforcement process debuted Monday.
