There is a current debate concerning the responsibility of the NCAA to afford college athletes protections against academic fraud and misconduct, as has occurred recently at the University of North Carolina, Auburn University, Syracuse University and other institutions of higher education. The NCAA reported in early 2015 that it had 20 academic misconduct cases currently under investigation, compared to just one in the previous year. Yet, the NCAA and several prominent institutional leaders, faced with the first college athlete lawsuit alleging NCAA and institutional academic fraud, contend the NCAA should not be held accountable in these academic misconduct matters.
