UNC hires Outside Experts to check data...

[AppGrad1]

http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/updat ... w-dean-jr/

[asu66]

http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/updat ... w-dean-jr/

Oooookay! So the executive summary of this "independent," "outside" review was written by UNC's Office of the Provost, was it. I guess that depends on what the definitions of "independent" and "outside" are. The UNC Exec VP and Provost must think that all North Carolinians are unable to read between the lines.

Outside experts found no evidence to support public claims about widespread low literacy levels of a group of first-year University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student-athletes who had been screened for possible learning differences or learning disabilities between 2004 and 2012. Since January, those claims were widely reported in news media accounts and via social media.

To assess the validity of the claims and the results of an internal review, the University engaged three experts to independently analyze and report on the data set, which was provided on Jan. 13 to the University’s provost, the chief academic officer. The data set comprised results of a Scholastic Abilities Test for Adults (SATA) Reading Vocabulary subtest — a 25-question, multiple choice vocabulary test — given to 176 new student-athletes during the eight-year period.

According to an executive summary, the outside experts “also determined that the majority of the students referenced in the public claims scored at or above college entry level on the SATA Reading Vocabulary subtest. The data set was based on those scores.”

The reports, produced by faculty in psychology or education at the universities of Minnesota and Virginia and Georgia State University, and the executive summary are posted at http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu. The executive summary was produced by the Office of the Provost and approved by the independent experts.

[AppinVA]

http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/updat ... w-dean-jr/

Oooookay! So the executive summary of this "independent," "outside" review was written by UNC's Office of the Provost, was it. I guess that depends on what the definitions of "independent" and "outside" are. The UNC Exec VP and Provost must think that all North Carolinians are unable to read between the lines.

Outside experts found no evidence to support public claims about widespread low literacy levels of a group of first-year University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student-athletes who had been screened for possible learning differences or learning disabilities between 2004 and 2012. Since January, those claims were widely reported in news media accounts and via social media.

To assess the validity of the claims and the results of an internal review, the University engaged three experts to independently analyze and report on the data set, which was provided on Jan. 13 to the University’s provost, the chief academic officer. The data set comprised results of a Scholastic Abilities Test for Adults (SATA) Reading Vocabulary subtest — a 25-question, multiple choice vocabulary test — given to 176 new student-athletes during the eight-year period.

According to an executive summary, the outside experts “also determined that the majority of the students referenced in the public claims scored at or above college entry level on the SATA Reading Vocabulary subtest. The data set was based on those scores.”

The reports, produced by faculty in psychology or education at the universities of Minnesota and Virginia and Georgia State University, and the executive summary are posted at http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu. The executive summary was produced by the Office of the Provost and approved by the independent experts.

Some of their athletes are unable to read...much less read between the lines.

[Saint3333]

Money can buy you anything. Three years later outsiders are allowed in...

[AppGrad1]

I guess they just shouldn't do anything to try to correct the problems.

Just what would make haters happy?

I've read several things on this and some think part of the problem was that UNC opened themselves up for investigation instead of telling everyone to "shove" it like some of the other schools have done.
Not sure of this though...

[BeauFoster]

UNC isn't doing anymore to correct this problem than I am. They're trying to appease the NCAA so they can keep "graduating" football and basketball players uninterrupted. Take off the sky blue glasses.

[AppGrad1]

UNC isn't doing anymore to correct this problem than I am. They're trying to appease the NCAA so they can keep "graduating" football and basketball players uninterrupted. Take off the sky blue glasses.

And you know this how? Is this your opinion or can you back up the claim that they are doing nothing?
No blue glasses. I don't care if they get punished or not. Does not matter to me whatsoever.

[DoubleA]

So the executive summary of this "independent," "outside" review was written by UNC's Office of the Provost, was it. I guess that depends on what the definitions of "independent" and "outside" are. The UNC Exec VP and Provost must think that all North Carolinians are unable to read between the lines.


This was my initial reaction as well, until I read the three reports provided by independent experts from the University of Minnesota, UVA and Georgia Southern. Each had similar conclusions and pretty much shot down the use of SATA Reading Vocabulary subtest (test used for assessment) to determine reading grade level. This is a 25 question multiple choice test and the reviewers noted a number of limitations of the test itself, and in particular, with just using one part of the test and excluding reading comprehension subtest. Technical errors were noted in Mrs. Willingham's assessment methods, data computation and analysis. Also, large demographic differences were noted between the SATA norm population and the UNC athlete test taker population. The SATA population was comprised of 46% male, 54% female, and just 8% black while the UNC athlete sample population was heavily weighted towards black males. Further, SATA is normed for grades 10-16 and extrapolation is required to associate any scores to grades below 10. Mrs. Willingham's findings associated a number of scores to grades 3-9, which required extrapolation. The authors noted that there are better, contemporary tests available, most of which use much larger sample sizes than SATA. SATA was normed on a relatively small sample of 1,005 back when the test was developed in1991.

Don't get me wrong, Mrs. Willingham's points and criticisms are not without merit. After all, she had years of experience working one on one with countless athletes who were in need of remediation and extensive tutoring assistance. Certainly UNC lowered admissions standards to admit a limited number of athletes who should never have been admitted, because they stood little chance of success in the classroom. And this snowballed into a situation where tutors were writing papers for certain athletes, where athletes were steered to fake classes, where grades were improperly changed, etc. What they did in Chapel Hill is nothing short of academic fraud and an embarrassment to our State. And they still have their heads in the sand and are locked in denial mode. All of this is in the name of chasing the growing stream of revenues associated with "Big Time" college sports. It seems to come at a steep price.

[BeauFoster]

UNC isn't doing anymore to correct this problem than I am. They're trying to appease the NCAA so they can keep "graduating" football and basketball players uninterrupted. Take off the sky blue glasses.

And you know this how? Is this your opinion or can you back up the claim that they are doing nothing?
No blue glasses. I don't care if they get punished or not. Does not matter to me whatsoever.

See doubleA's explanation below. Super independent, huh...?

[StumpyCulbreath]

They just let go the professor who assisted Willingham with her research. There's absolutely no end to their public stupidity. There's no way they should still have the two basketball championships earned by players who took illegal classes. UNC is a great academic institution with a legacy of graduates that matches any public institution in the southeast. It makes no sense that they cannot come to grips with this situation and get beyond it.

[DoubleA]

Mary Willingham, the tutor at the center of the research, responded to the press release in an email.

"For now I will just say that the University neglected to take even the most basic steps to ensure the integrity, impartiality, and fairness of its supposedly 'independent' review of my data," she said.

"The fact that they engaged in this exercise without ever seeking input from me or my research partner, and without the raw scores, or an examination of the full battery of tests (on a majority of these same athletes) available in Accessibility Resources speaks volumes about the true motivations behind today's press release."

The never ending story continues.

[AppGrad1]

Mary Willingham, the tutor at the center of the research, responded to the press release in an email.

"For now I will just say that the University neglected to take even the most basic steps to ensure the integrity, impartiality, and fairness of its supposedly 'independent' review of my data," she said.

"The fact that they engaged in this exercise without ever seeking input from me or my research partner, and without the raw scores, or an examination of the full battery of tests (on a majority of these same athletes) available in Accessibility Resources speaks volumes about the true motivations behind today's press release."

The never ending story continues.

She has said over and over again that UNC has all of her data, until other experts respond, and now these reports aren't impartial because they didn't have all the data.

[AppGrad1]

UNC isn't doing anymore to correct this problem than I am. They're trying to appease the NCAA so they can keep "graduating" football and basketball players uninterrupted. Take off the sky blue glasses.

And you know this how? Is this your opinion or can you back up the claim that they are doing nothing?
No blue glasses. I don't care if they get punished or not. Does not matter to me whatsoever.

See doubleA's explanation below. Super independent, huh...?

Still waiting on your link as to why UNC has refused to do anything about this stuff?

[Apps03]

My issue has never been the entrance of less qualified athletes. Every school, even ASU, allows entry to people who wouldn't otherwise be admitted due to special skills.

The focus of all this needs to be the documented fake classes and the documented grade changes that allowed athletes to remain eligible to compete. This has all been confirmed by UNC (Martin report). The rest is just a smoke screen for the real problems.

[appst89]

This should be the biggest academic scandal in the history of college athletics, but because it happened in Chapel Hell, nothing is being done about it. Well, nothing unless you count the continued attempt to discredit the person who brought it all to light. A bogus department with fake classes, changed grades, and what work was done was done by tutors and they get nothing? Every school in America should just follow this model and there would never be any APR problems. I bet UW-Milwaukee and UNLV wish they had the blueprint for the Carolina Way.

[asutrnr81]

My issue has never been the entrance of less qualified athletes. Every school, even ASU, allows entry to people who wouldn't otherwise be admitted due to special skills.

The focus of all this needs to be the documented fake classes and the documented grade changes that allowed athletes to remain eligible to compete. This has all been confirmed by UNC (Martin report). The rest is just a smoke screen for the real problems.

I will say this from personal knowledge....as I agree this hAPPens. There was a kid I know who could have been a major impact on ASU athletics that was denied admission. He has basically messed his way through his freshman and sophomore years, realized he was special and buckled down....ended up VERY close to qualifying...now has above 3.0 in legit classes in a legit school and has a legit chance at the professional level. During his recruitment I really felt like HE would have been one of those "supposed" exceptions....he wasn't, and trust me he is VERY GOOD! (difference maker) I believe the way these cases are handled at ASU and the vetting of those transcripts, scores, and the like are handled differently than some places....

I am NOT saying it does not happen, I do not know.....but my personal experience is different!!

[BeauFoster]

UNC isn't doing anymore to correct this problem than I am. They're trying to appease the NCAA so they can keep "graduating" football and basketball players uninterrupted. Take off the sky blue glasses.

And you know this how? Is this your opinion or can you back up the claim that they are doing nothing?
No blue glasses. I don't care if they get punished or not. Does not matter to me whatsoever.

See doubleA's explanation below. Super independent, huh...?

Still waiting on your link as to why UNC has refused to do anything about this stuff?

The researcher's email is a good start. There's no reason to argue about this because your Tar Heel born, Tar Heel bred...

[AppGrad1]

UNC isn't doing anymore to correct this problem than I am. They're trying to appease the NCAA so they can keep "graduating" football and basketball players uninterrupted. Take off the sky blue glasses.

And you know this how? Is this your opinion or can you back up the claim that they are doing nothing?
No blue glasses. I don't care if they get punished or not. Does not matter to me whatsoever.

See doubleA's explanation below. Super independent, huh...?

Still waiting on your link as to why UNC has refused to do anything about this stuff?

The researcher's email is a good start. There's no reason to argue about this because your Tar Heel born, Tar Heel bred...

Just like I thought. You can't back up your claim that UNC is doing nothing to fix their problems.
Your statement was your opinion slighted by your hatred by UNC. I have no problems with your opinions about UNC. They deserve every bit of what happens.

[AppinVA]

The researcher's email is a good start. There's no reason to argue about this because your Tar Heel born, Tar Heel bred...

Just like I thought. You can't back up your claim that UNC is doing nothing to fix their problems.
Your statement was your opinion slighted by your hatred by UNC. I have no problems with your opinions about UNC. They deserve every bit of what happens.

Which to this point is.....nothing.

[AppGrad1]

This should be the biggest academic scandal in the history of college athletics, but because it happened in Chapel Hell, nothing is being done about it. Well, nothing unless you count the continued attempt to discredit the person who brought it all to light. A bogus department with fake classes, changed grades, and what work was done was done by tutors and they get nothing? Every school in America should just follow this model and there would never be any APR problems. I bet UW-Milwaukee and UNLV wish they had the blueprint for the Carolina Way.

Like I've said many times. I have no problems if anything happens to UNC for this.
Your hatred also shines through about what UNC is doing to dig into the information that MW has brought forth. 3 independent researchers have stated that MW's info is unreliable.
Are you actually blaming UNC for trying to discredit bogus information she has put out in the media? Are you serious????
You are the one who can't see through things because of your bias towards UNC.