Report sheds light on NIC athletics case
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
COEUR d'ALENE — Grades given to students who rarely or never attended class is among the findings of a North Idaho College athletics investigation, The Press has learned.
The investigation led to longtime wresting coach Pat Whitcomb being fired and one of his assistants resigning earlier this year. Whitcomb denies any wrongdoing.
The Press acquired a redacted version of the report, by attorney Peter Erbland of Lake City Law, on Friday. The newspaper had made a public records request of NIC and paid for the edited report, which blacked out names and other information the attorney deemed confidential.
Erbland wrote that through interviews and data maintained by NIC, there is "clear evidence" that an instructor "knowingly gave grades and credit to multiple NIC students who either never attended or rarely attended classes."
Laura Rumpler, NIC's chief communications and government relations officer, said she couldn't name the instructor, citing confidential personnel matters. She also did not say what, if any, action was taken against that employee.
"I can't answer outcomes or actions of individuals within the report," she said. "What I can say with regard to allegations of academic integrity is that the college has taken appropriate actions and steps to support the high level of integrity at NIC. I can't get into specific details of conduct taken specific to personnel or student matters.
"Because this redacted report is out there and potential litigation, I have to be extremely sensitive and respectable about protecting privacy of current and former employees as well as students."
Erbland wrote there's also evidence that coaches and others facilitated the practice of granting grades to students who either rarely or never attended classes. Four coaches were interviewed during the investigation, according to the report, but the names of those coaches were redacted.
Erbland wrote that at least two athletes who registered for classes never attended those classes.
"Instead, by prior arrangement (the students) performed workouts under the supervision of coaches," Erbland wrote.
One of the athletes who kept the commitment to work out through the summer received an "A" in the class, while another who didn't fulfill the workout commitment received an "F" in the same class.
Whitcomb was fired in January in the middle of his 22nd season.
NIC officials indicated the firing was for academic integrity violations that arose as a result of Erbland's investigation, but Whitcomb believes he was fired for speaking out over possible rights and security violations the college was allegedly committing against NIC students and employees. Among them were a lack of ADA-mandated access for a double-amputee wrestler and what Whitcomb describes as an assault of a female instructor that occurred last fall on campus that he doesn't believe was addressed with safety measures.
Whitcomb denies any academic integrity wrongdoing and maintained that position on Friday.
Meanwhile, assistant coach Keri Stanley resigned in February after being placed on paid administrative leave.
Stanley is not allowed to comment on the matter, per his resignation agreement.
Assistant Coach Brandon Richardson finished the season as the wrestling team's interim head coach. A search for a new head coach is underway.
During the investigation, Erbland interviewed four coaches. Whitcomb said he was one of them.
Others interviewed included: Graydon Stanley, vice president for student services; Larry Briggs, dean of General Studies; Lita Burns, vice president for instruction; Paul Manzardo, division chair for Physical Education; Al Williams, athletic director; Jess Bennett, director of Wellness and Recreation; Angie Rios, coordinator of Recreational Sports and Fitness programs; and the name and title of a 12th person, presumably the instructor, which was redacted.
An NIC student became aware of possible academic integrity violations last fall and advised Bennett, who in turn reported the allegations to Graydon Stanley.
According to the report, until the fall of 2017, it was hard to determine if a student who registered for such a class actually attended the class. However, that changed with the opening of the Student Wellness and Recreation Center. Entrance into that facility is controlled.
"A person wishing to use the facility must have his or her card with the unique bar code assigned to that card for scanning upon entrance to the facility," Erbland wrote. "The computer program will store the date and time as well as the name of the person whose card is scanned upon entering. This includes individuals who want to use the facility for recreation as well as students who are attending the classes taught within the facility."
Erbland wrote that the instructor violated NIC's academic integrity, professional ethics and attendance policies and failed to adhere to the course's description by granting grades and credits to students who were registered for but never or rarely attended the classes.
"Teaching students that they can receive benefits based on grants in aid and yet not perform classwork or even attend teaches to disrespect the notion of academic integrity," Erbland wrote. "Moreover, (the instructor) received payment for work (that wasn't performed)."
Erbland wrote that beneficiaries of the violations professed ignorance of the matter, a position the attorney wrote was "difficult to accept given the circumstances and facts."
Even if those beneficiaries were ignorant of the alleged scheme, Erbland said he believes they have been at least negligent in failing to manage it as it relates to academic integrity.
"Any coach who is committed to the success of … student athletes would more than likely be aware of the student's progress and presence at school, particularly in slower summer months," Erbland wrote.
Erbland wrote that all special arrangements with student athletes should be approved in advance through appropriate college channels, allowing for transparency and adherence to academic policies.
The report also indicates that some employees asked students for their logins and passwords so they could access students' accounts to assist with registration, financial aid and classes.
"Graydon Stanley indicated that this had to stop immediately," the report states.
Whitcomb said he and his attorney, James Piotrowski, have also received a redacted report. Whitcomb said a full report has been requested, but one hasn't been granted by NIC legal staff.
Whitcomb said he believes the report was a plot to attack the wrestling program and himself, not about academic integrity violations.
"You don't get rid of a head coach with six weeks left in the season unless you want to destroy the program," Whitcomb told The Press. "That was the intent. This was a straight witch hunt for wrestling and wrestling coaches. The investigation does not say that Keri or myself had anything to do (academic integrity violations)."
Whitcomb said he believes that, if anything, the report exonerates he and Stanley of wrongdoing.
"That's the way I read it," he said. "But that piece of information (Erbland's report) was exactly what was used for my termination and the forced resignation of Keri Stanley."
Piotrowski couldn't be reached for comment on Friday.
Whitcomb said that to his knowledge, no students were disciplined as a result of the investigation.
Rumpler said the investigation started with the intent of looking into academic violations within the athletic department overall and didn't target specific individuals. The results revealed localized, relational-based issues, not a systemic concern, she said.
Rumpler said no further details on the redacted report other than the report itself could be released.
"Personnel issues, especially when they come to the public's surface, become complicated to navigate," she said. "With the redacted summary report, North Idaho College is trying to be as transparent as it can be while still respecting the rights and privacy of employees and students."
Rumpler said Erbland's report is the only one that's related to the alleged academic integrity violations.