Investigators hired by the University to sort through allegations of academic fraud in the men’s basketball program are expected to complete their report in late September, a University official said Tuesday.
Contrary to published reports suggesting the fraud report will be turned in during late October, Sandra Gardebring, vice president for Institutional Relations, said independent investigators are “pretty close” to meeting their deadline.
After the investigators turn in their findings, University officials will review the report for at least three weeks before deciding on a course of action.
Gardebring said the report is expected to be made public by late October. University officials will also announce any disciplinary action at that time.
Time invested on a separate inquiry into charges of sexual misconduct in men’s athletics in May and July contributed to a slight delay in the investigation, Gardebring said.
Findings from the sexual misconduct report determined that athletic officials routinely engaged in a “pattern of favoritism” toward student-athletes, but did not systematically interfere in criminal sexual misconduct investigations.
The president hired independent investigators Michael Glazier, a Kansas City lawyer, and local attorney Donald Lewis in mid-March after Jan Gangelhoff, a former office manager, admitted she wrote academic papers and completed tests for more than 20 basketball players.
The scandal led to the $1.5 million contract buyout of former men’s basketball coach Clem Haskins on June 25. Former Gonzaga coach Dan Monson replaced Haskins on Saturday.
The men’s basketball team’s season opener in November is expected to closely follow the academic fraud report’s release and any self-imposed sanctions, such as a ban on postseason play.