Allegations of lowering of academic standards and improper recruiting

See the statement issued by the Ivy League on September 3, as well as background links...

See the statement issued by the Ivy League on September 3, as well as background links...

An inquiry by the Ivy League into allegations of improper recruiting and lowering of academic standards by the Harvard men's basketball program—raised initially in a March 2008 New York Times article—has determined that no violations of either National Collegiate Athletic Association or Ivy League rules occurred. All the athletes admitted met the Harvard-specific standards mandated by the Ivy League.

A statement issued by the Ivy League on September 3 appears below. (For background on the allegations, see Questions About Recruiting.)

Ivy League Statement on Harvard Men’s Basketball Inquiry

Princeton, N.J. – The Ivy League has concluded its inquiry into questions raised in a March 2008 newspaper article about possible improper recruiting activity during the spring and summer of 2007, related to Harvard University’s men’s basketball program.

The League has determined that no violations of NCAA or Ivy League rules occurred. Harvard Head Coach Tommy Amaker and Assistant Coach Kenneth Blakeney were completely forthcoming in their participation in this inquiry, and interviews with others who were involved, as well as a thorough examination of relevant records, corroborated that the coaches’ contacts with prospective student-athletes and their families were entirely consistent with NCAA and Ivy League rules.

The March 2008 article also purported to raise questions about the academic credentials of students who might be admitted to Harvard as recruited men’s basketball players in the Class of 2012. The Ivy League routinely reviews the admission of all recruited athletes each year, and in this year’s review concluded that Harvard’s admission of recruited men’s basketball players complied with all relevant Ivy League obligations.

You might also like

Teaching Through War With AI

Harvard Graduate School of Education students examine the use of AI in wartime Ukraine.

Harvard Students Restore the Old Burying Ground

Members of the Hasty Pudding Institute help revive the graves of former Harvard presidents.

New Faculty Deans Announced for Currier House

Education professor Nancy Hill and her husband Rendall Howell will start their roles in July.

Most popular

How Measles Causes Immune Amnesia

Michael Mina explains “immune amnesia” and the lasting impact of infection.

Martin Nowak Sanctioned for Jeffrey Epstein Involvement

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences announces disciplinary actions.

Why Men Are Falling Behind in Education, Employment, and Health

Can new approaches to education address a growing gender gap?

Explore More From Current Issue

A man skiing intensely in the snow, with two spectators in the background.

Introductions: Dan Cnossen

A conversation with the former Navy SEAL and gold-medal-winning Paralympic skier

Four men in a small boat struggle with rough water, one lying down and others watching.

The 1884 Cannibalism-at-Sea Case That Still Has Harvard Talking

The Queen v. Dudley and Stephens changed the course of legal history. Here’s why it’s been fodder for countless classroom debates.

Evolutionary progression from primates to humans in a colorful illustration.

Why Humans Walk on Two Legs

Research highlights our evolutionary ancestors’ unique pelvis.