Glossary of Terms

Notice of allegations − A letter that informs senior leadership of the involved institution of the inquiry and requests its cooperation during the investigation. The notice is sent when the enforcement staff determines enough evidence exists to indicate major infractions.

Secondary violation − An isolated or inadvertent violation that provides (or intends to provide) only minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantages. A secondary violation does not include extra benefits or any significant recruiting benefits. If an institution commits several secondary violations, they may collectively be considered a major violation. Secondary violations occur frequently and are usually resolved administratively.

Major violation − Any violation that is not considered secondary.  Major infractions usually provide an extensive recruiting or competitive advantage.  Alleged major infractions are investigated by enforcement staff and can lead to severe penalties against the school and involved individuals.

Summary disposition − A cooperative process among the institution, involved individuals and the NCAA enforcement staff.  If these groups agree about the facts and the penalties presented in the report, an in-person hearing may be averted. The Committee on Infractions reviews the report in private and decides either to accept the findings and penalties or conduct an expedited hearing. An institution that would become a repeat violator cannot use the summary-disposition process and must go before the Committee on Infractions.

Cooperative principle – The cooperative principle imposes an affirmative obligation on NCAA member institutions (and their representatives) to assist the NCAA enforcement staff in developing full information about potential violations. An important element of this principle requires that all individuals who are subject to NCAA rules protect the integrity of an investigation and maintain confidentiality throughout the process. The enforcement staff is responsible for investigating potential rules violations; however, institutions and their representatives are also responsible for investigating potential infractions and reporting all relevant information to the enforcement staff.

Postseason ban – A penalty applied only in the most egregious cases. The postseason ban prevents a team from participating in any postseason competition, including conference tournaments, NCAA championships and bowl games.

Repeat violators – The status of a program if the Committee on Infractions finds a major violation has occurred within five years of the starting date of a major penalty.  For this provision to apply, at least one major violation must have occurred within five years after the starting date of the penalties in the previous case.

Institutional control – the efforts institutions make to comply with NCAA legislation and to detect and investigate violations that do occur. NCAA member institutions are obligated to maintain appropriate levels of institutional control.

Failure to monitor – a serious violation that is similar to lack of institutional control but considered less significant. Violations that result from a failure to monitor are usually limited in scope and do not involve widespread inadequacies in compliance systems and functions that are often found in lack of institutional control cases.

Last Updated: Jan 21, 2013