September 15, 2011 - Letter from Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst Published in The Miami Herald
Re the Sept. 10 story, Shalala compares UM to Notre Dame and Stanford. Say what?: The measure of a university’s academic rigor isn’t as simple as a number — the quality of faculty, depth of courses and achievement by its students are among just some essential ingredients.
However, as it relates to attempts to quantify the academic progress and success and ultimately, the earning of a degree, by student-athletes, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has identified two clear indicators of that success: Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and Academic Progress Rate (APR).
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The NCAA annually honors teams achieving multiyear APR in the top 10 percent of their sports. The most recent year for which that data is available is 2009-10, Miami’s football program earned this distinction along with 25 other Division I programs, including Brown, Cornell, Harvard, Notre Dame and Yale. We were the only football team on the list to be simultaneously ranked in the Associated Press and the USA Today Top 25 football polls.
In 2009, UM and Notre Dame shared the American Football Coaches Association’s Academic Achievement Award, recognizing the Football Bowl Subdivision institution with the highest team graduation rate. Both schools recorded a 100-percent graduation rate for members of their freshman football student-athlete class of 2002.
UM ranked 21st nationally with an APR of 979, while Stanford earned a 977 and Notre Dame recorded a 971. Our football GSR is 81 percent compared to the NCAA average of 67 percent for Football Bowl Subdivision schools. As a member of the 12-institution academic powerhouse Atlantic Coast Conference, Miami’s football program ranks third, below only Duke and Boston College.
We are proud of our student-athletes’ commitment to academics. We look forward to continuing the excellence.
Shawn Eichorst, director of athletics, University of Miami, Coral Gables
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September 2, 2011 - Letter from Faculty Senate Chair Richard Williamson Published in The Miami Herald
UM Morale Not Low
Michael Putney, in his Aug. 24 Other Views column, Nobody Comes Out of UM Scandal Looking Good, asserts that a survey of University of Miami faculty and staff “shows very low morale.” Someone provided him with misleading information.
Earlier this year, anonymous surveys were taken. Polling experts named by the Faculty Senate worked on the questionnaires to assure that they were professionally done and fair. The surveys did show uncertainty over the rate of change at UM and unhappiness with current salary levels.
Those were hardly unexpected results at a time of serious concerns over the economy and with little to no net pay increases over the prior two years. Those dissatisfied on these matters exceeded those who were satisfied, but only by modest margins, hardly proof of “very low morale.” On the other hand, measurements of pride in working for the university and of job satisfaction — traditionally the strongest measures of morale — were overwhelmingly positive.
August 31, 2011 - Op-Ed from UM Board of Trustees Chairman Leonard Abess Published in The Miami Herald
I am the first and only third-generation trustee of the University of Miami board of trustees. My mother’s father was a founding trustee. Years later, my father served with him, and many years later I joined my dad.
Through more than 85 years of service to the U, no member of our family has received a UM degree. That will change next year when our son receives his diploma. I will sit on stage in my capacity as chairman of the board, but I will experience the emotions of a parent. My child, who just four years earlier entered this great university, will be leaving as an educated adult, ready and eager to make a difference...
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Most nights we have dinner as a family, and our son tells us what he has learned in music, business and environmental studies. We are amazed by the interdisciplinary track he is pursuing, and we learn new things from him. Most of all, we see how much he is learning to love to learn.
I go to bed knowing why my fellow trustees and I work so hard and give so much. We do it for the kids. They are not the most important reason for the university to exist — they are the only reason. Our mission is to educate young adults as they transition into adulthood. To prepare them to go out into the world and work hard to make it a better place.
Recent accusations by a convicted felon have placed us on the front page. We have been both supported and criticized. It seems like everyone knows what we should be doing and that we are not doing it. Some have already convicted us and determined our fate.
They see no need to wait for the facts and the truth. Most of the advice I have received is to get in front of the cameras, declare we are ethical and defend our honor. I do not believe that saying it makes it so. I believe you earn that reputation by being ethical and honorable. You earn it by the way you live and act. We are disappointed that anything wrong may have occurred in our sports program or anywhere else in our university.
The board is already focused on understanding where we failed and what we can do to prevent any improper conduct in the future.
What we will not do is let this distract us from our mission. Our mission is not to win national championships (although we certainly want to) but to educate these young adults. Along with our administration, faculty, staff, physicians and coaches — thousands of people who have dedicated themselves to this mission — we work hard every day in our quest for excellence.
When we finally get everything right and receive a perfect grade, we will then work even harder to continually improve. While those who rate Universities focus so much on who enters the freshman class, we focus on our graduates — what they learn and how they grow in the short time they pass through.
In the last decade the University of Miami has joined the ranks of the best of the best. I am proud of our response to the Haiti earthquake. We were the first to arrive on the ground and, if we ever leave, we will be the last to go. I am proud of our physicians who are the primary caregivers to our community’s substantial population of uninsured.
I am proud of our researchers who are finding new ways to treat disease or even eliminate it, protect the environment, predict the weather, design better communities, understand human behavior, and so much more. I am proud of the Frost School of Music, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miller School of Medicine, arts and sciences, business, engineering, nursing, architecture, communication, law and education schools. We teach nurses, teachers, musicians, therapists, architects, engineers, scientists, researchers, and lawyers, and we do it well while always striving to improve.
I am proud of our board, administration, faculty, staff, and students. I am proud of our athletes, who compete in 17 different sports, as well as the men and women who coach and train them. I am proud of those who are at the center of this storm. They have endured being tried and convicted before getting the opportunity to tell the truth. They are learning how to make better choices, accept responsibility for their acts and to be held accountable.
There is so much to be learned at a university, both in the classroom and out. Most of all, I am proud to be a Miami Hurricane — more today than ever before.
Leonard Abess is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami.
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August 30, 2011 - UM Notified of NCAA Penalties, Clearances
The University of Miami has been notified of the penalties from the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff.
“The NCAA has informed the University of Miami of their decisions regarding the reinstatement of eight student-athletes who were declared ineligible by the University last week, “ said UM Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst. “The student-athletes involved have acknowledged receiving improper benefits and will now be responsible for restitution and, in some cases, the student-athletes will also serve game suspensions. They understand that their actions demand consequences. This university has the highest standards in all of our academic and athletic endeavors. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to continue to build winning programs with the utmost of integrity. We will be more vigilant in our compliance and continue to work with the NCAA on the joint investigation to determine the facts. We appreciate the diligence and understanding of the NCAA staff and its handling of the student-athlete eligibility issues in an expeditious manner. I would also like to thank Coach Golden and his staff for their professionalism and leadership over the past few weeks.”
Additionally, the following football student-athletes have been cleared by the NCAA to play in all competition and each must make repayment in the amount of less than $100: Brandon McGee, JoJo Nicholas, Micanor Regis and Vaughn Telemaque.
Senior Marcus Robinson has been cleared of any NCAA violations and will not face any penalties.
Finally, UM head coach Al Golden announced that senior wide receiver Aldarius Johnson has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.
http://www.miami.edu/index.php/news/releases/um_notified_of_ncaa_penalties_clearances
August 29, 2011 - Video Message from President Donna E. Shalala
University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala offered this message to the community at large about the ongoing NCAA investigation.
August 27, 2011 - Letter from UM President Donna E. Shalala Published in The Miami Herald
These past two weeks have been quite painful for me, as they have been for anyone who loves the University of Miami.
I am deeply troubled by questions that have been raised about some current and former members of our athletics community.
It is way too early to know all of the details — and the NCAA is taking the lead in our joint investigation — but the allegations alone cause serious concerns.
Here’s my commitment: I will do, and we will do, everything possible to find the truth, learn from any mistakes and take measures to prevent any such behavior from happening again.
Investigations are, of course, about fact-finding and a systematic search for the truth. We have committed to the NCAA every possible resource to get to the bottom of all this. We promised the NCAA we would not comment on any specifics until the investigation runs its course. We continue to honor that commitment.
The review of the eligibility of current student-athletes who are alleged to have violated NCAA rules, including any disciplinary action to be taken, is awaiting an NCAA decision. How long the rest of the investigation might take, we simply don’t know.
We will use the joint investigation to identify any weaknesses in our compliance efforts and implement all necessary changes. Our new athletics director, Shawn Eichorst, already is reviewing our policies and procedures.Our promise is to pursue this investigation wherever it leads us. I reemphasize what I said last week: Every one of our employees and student-athletes has been urged to cooperate fully and honestly with the NCAA. If we do all this right — and we will — we will take the necessary actions to make sure we have the most compliant program possible. If we do this right — and we will — we will move on stronger and be better prepared for the future.
I deeply appreciate the leadership and dedication of so many of our coaches, administrators and student athletes. Over the past decade, we have made enormous progress in the academic achievements of our athletes, rising from a 43 percent graduation rate to 76 percent. Nationally, the academic achievements of our student-athletes are mentioned in the same breath and spirit as Notre Dame and Stanford. Our new football coach, Al Golden, brings not only football smarts, but s also a proven builder of young men. So is our new men’s basketball coach, Jim Larranaga.
While athletics at UM has been in recent headlines, do not forget that we are, first and foremost, an academic institution. The most recent U.S. News & World Report listings rank UM among the top 50 in the country. Our health system is now among the leading medical centers in the world. The University of Miami Life Science & Technology Park, under construction on the eastern edge of the medical campus, will bring new jobs in biotechnology and related fields that can help transform the South Florida economy.
I believe more than ever in the future of this growing and great university. I am proud of the support we receive from so many of you, and we will continue to earn and deserve that support.
You can count on all my energy and fullest commitment to upholding the ideals of our great university.
August 23, 2011 - A Message From UM Alumni Association President Dany Garcia, B.B.A. '92
Dear Fellow University of Miami Alumni,
Recent allegations of NCAA rule violations by current and former University student-athletes and staff have generated a great deal of speculation on the integrity of Miami Hurricanes athletics and the "U." Like me, I know you love your alma mater and take great pride in all its wonderful and varied achievements throughout the years. I am also aware that we are all deeply concerned about these allegations and the ultimate impact of the NCAA investigations on the future and reputation of our legendary athletics program. As a former student-athlete, I have experienced first-hand the devotion that the students and staff have to the integrity of their sport, to each other, and to the University.
The following is a very important message from President Shalala to the University of Miami family that I urge you to view. I know you will join me in continuing your support for all the students, staff, and greater Hurricanes community as we continue to move forward.
Always a Hurricane,
Dany Garcia, BBA '92
President, UM Alumni Association
August 22, 2011 – UM President Donna E. Shalala Offers Message to University Community
For the Media: Download a standard definition version of the video below. Allow a few minutes for download time. (Download video file here) | (Download "zip" file version here)
August 19, 2011 – Letter from UM Board of Trustees Chairman Leonard Abess to the Community
For more than eight decades, our community has embraced the Miami Hurricanes through both celebrations and commiserations. This devotion is not limited to University of Miami students and alumni—the ranks of past and present fans swells to include thousands of adopted ’Canes, many of whom have never even set foot on UM’s Coral Gables campus.
This is why it is understandable that recent news of potential NCAA violations committed by current and former University of Miami student-athletes and staff have aroused such strong emotions in our community and the greater “U” family.
Without a doubt these allegations are troubling and demand a thorough and honest evaluation of Hurricane Athletics. President Shalala has taken a strong position, insisting on full cooperation with the ongoing NCAA investigation. The process will be long, and in the ensuing months the Board of Trustees and the university administration will provide both leadership and unwavering support for our great institution, which we all care so deeply about.
While attention has been rightly focused on the allegations this week, during the same time, the University has also welcomed the finest ever incoming freshman class, and campus is in the midst of the wonderful excitement surrounding move-in day and the beginning of the academic year. We must not allow our current crisis in athletics to diminish the excellence and hard work of generations in the UM family.
It is especially important that the alleged misconduct not overshadow our current leadership and institutional values. Moving forward, I ask for your support in helping to ensure that the University of Miami and Hurricane Athletics come out stronger in our continued commitment to excellence in every endeavor.
Rest assured, ultimate responsibility for the conduct of the overall athletics department lies with the UM leadership, which includes President Shalala, the Board of Trustees, and the Athletics Director.
With everyone’s support, the University of Miami will continue to be a community leader and an invaluable resource to all of us.
August 18, 2011 – Statement from Shawn Eichorst, Director of Athletics
When I accepted the position of Director of Athletics at Miami in April, I not only embraced a new opportunity, but also a new family; a family of Hurricane students, coaches, staff, alumni, faculty and supporters. I know our family is hurting right now and that is what has made the past few days so difficult, upsetting and disappointing for me, as I am sure it has been for many proud Canes.
But these are not times for pity and reflection. All of my efforts and energy are committed to ensuring the integrity of the NCAA investigation, demanding the full cooperation of our employees and student-athletes and providing unwavering support to our more than 400 plus student-athletes and more than 150 coaches and staff. Along with our passionate and devoted supporters, they are the true essence of Miami athletics.
There are tough times ahead, challenges to overcome and serious decisions to be made, but we will be left standing and we will be stronger as a result. I understand there are unanswered questions, concerns and frustration by many but this Athletic Department will be defined now and in the future, by our core values, our integrity and our commitment to excellence, and by nothing else. The University of Miami, as an institution of higher learning, is a leader in exploration, achievement and excellence and we will work hard to do our part to live up to that standard.
In my introductory press conference back in April, I asked the community for their unconditional support in our efforts to achieve the goal of excellence. Now, the community, the coaches, the student-athletes and the University have my unconditional support as we move towards a better day. And there will be a better day.
http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/genrel/081811aaa.html
August 17, 2011 – Statement from President Donna E. Shalala
To the University Community:
Since its founding more than 85 years ago, the University of Miami has stood for excellence in higher education in every endeavor, every degree, and every student. Our more than 15,000 students, on three campuses in 11 schools and colleges, and over 150,000 alumni expect our core values to remain steadfast and true in times of extraordinary achievement as well as those rare times when those values are called into question.
As a member of the University family, I am upset, disheartened, and saddened by the recent allegations leveled against some current and past student-athletes and members of our Athletic Department. Make no mistake—I regard these allegations with the utmost of seriousness and understand the concern of so many of you. We will vigorously pursue the truth, wherever that path may lead, and I have insisted upon complete, honest, and transparent cooperation with the NCAA from our staff and students. Our counsel is working jointly with the NCAA Enforcement Division in a thorough and meticulous investigation, which will require our patience.
I am in daily communication with our Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, Director of Athletics, and counsel, and will continue to work closely with the leaders of our University.
To our students, parents, faculty, alumni, and supporters—I encourage you to have patience as the process progresses; to have confidence in knowing that we are doing everything possible to discover the truth; to have faith in the many outstanding student-athletes and coaches who represent the University; and to have pride in what our University has accomplished and aspires to be.
http://www6.miami.edu/communications/dialogue/2011-2012/dialogue_08_17_11.html
August 16, 2011 – University Statement
“When Nevin Shapiro made his allegations nearly a year ago, he and his attorneys refused to provide any facts to the University of Miami. The University notified the NCAA Enforcement officials of these allegations. We are fully cooperating with the NCAA and are conducting a joint investigation. The University of Miami takes these matters very seriously.”
