The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has posted its report responding to a request for information from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), its regional accrediting body.
In a letter the University received on November 19, 2014, SACSCOC sought information about compliance with various accreditation standards in light of the findings of the independent investigation into past academic irregularities conducted by Kenneth L. Wainstein of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.
Wainstein announced his findings at a news conference on October 22, 2014 and his report is posted here.
The University’s 200-plus page report was delivered to SACSCOC on January 12, 2015. In her accompanying letter, Chancellor Carol L. Folt wrote, “The University has the utmost confidence in its academic programs and their integrity and stands ready to answer any further questions from the Commission.”
The report can be viewed as a PDF or a web version, which includes links to more than 400 additional supporting documents. Portions of the report and the supporting documents were redacted for public release to protect the privacy rights of students and employees as required by federal and state laws.
In February 2014, the University informed SACSCOC that Folt and UNC President Tom Ross had commissioned the independent investigation by Wainstein based on new information that had become available, and pledged to keep SACSCOC fully informed as the process unfolded. The University provided a copy of the report to SACSCOC on October 22, 2014, the same day it was released.
The University completed a previous review with SACSCOC in June 2014 related to the academic irregularities that included sharing the various actions and initiatives taken by the University about the more than 70 reforms and actions to tighten oversight and ensure the integrity of University programs.
The University is a founding member of and has a long-standing relationship with SACSCOC. The University is accredited and in good standing with SACSCOC. The University has pledged its full and continued cooperation with SACSCOC in this review.
Updated January 21, 2015
Note: The University notified SACSCOC on March 9, 2015, of a correction in one sentence on p. 20 of the January 20, 2015 printed report. The versions of the reports posted above have been updated accordingly.
Updated March 16, 2015