The NCAA announced that Southeastern will be penalized for playing ineligible players during the seasons of 2005 through 2010.
Finding a lack of institutional control, the NCAA penalized the university after the university self-reported infractions stemming from athletes being allowed to play despite being ineligible.
The question of eligibility arose after Southeastern revisited old records in an investigation after a data review request made by the NCAA that began in July 2008. Even though the penalties are for errors made from the 2005-06 to the 2009-10 academic years, the affects are still felt by today’s programs.
“That is just the way the NCAA works. It’s unfortunate, but it is just the way it is,” said Athletic Director Jay Artigues.
Southeastern released the infractions publicly in spring 2013, after reporting them to the NCAA in summer 2012. The university has already been serving their self-imposed sanctions during the academic year.
The investigation revealed that in 90 percent of the cases, ineligibility resulted from the timing of degree changes. However, 86 percent of those ineligible did eventually graduate.
The NCAA did have some additions to the self-imposed sanctions made by the university. A fine of $25,000 will be placed upon the Athletic Department as well as an extension of the two-year probationary period to four years.
The news of the penalties comes on the heels of the football team’s run to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. The affects are retroactive as of July 12, 2012, but there will be no effect to the 2013 season.
“The scholarship reduction has been in effect for the past year or so,” said Artigues. “Although you never want to lose scholarships, fee reductions are not enough to keep us from winning. This past football season is a great example.”
According to the report, the scholarship reductions include: Football: 63 to 60 for 2013-15 and 62 for 2015-16, men’s basketball: 13 to 11 for 2013-14 and 12 for 2014-16, women’s basketball: 15 to 14 for 2013-15, men’s cross country/track and field: 12.6 to 10.6 for 2013-15 and 11.6 for 2015-16, women’s cross country/track and field: 18 to 17 for 2013-16, men’s golf: 4.5 to 4 for 2013-15, softball: 12 to 10 for 2013-14 and 11 for 2014-16, soccer: 14 to 13.25 for 2013-15 and volleyball: 12 to 11 for 2013-15.  
“I feel it’s [scholarship reductions] something we can overcome,” says Artigues.
According to the university’s report to the NCAA, most of the violations occurred in football and men’s basketball teams. Systems have since been put into place to ensure that records and NCAA rules education are up to standard, as well as a new compliance officer and better academic advising of student-athletes.
“The Athletic Department has addressed the situation and taken steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” states Artigues. “It’s an unfortunate situation.  Obviously it’s unfortunate that it occurred but we have taken steps to ensure that history does not repeat itself.”
The Athletic Department will continue to work with the NCAA as they submit to an external audit of its compliance system.