The Top Ten Things to Consider When Your University is Confronted with an NCAA Enforcement Investigation

Course: “The Top Ten Things to Consider When Your University is Confronted with an NCAA Enforcement Investigation.”

Date and Time of Course: Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 12 noon to 1:00 pm EDT (9:00 am to 10:00 am PDT).

Event and Location of Course: Webinar.

Level: Intermediate.

Cost: $50.00 per telephone line (early registration—through April 1, 2011); $75 per telephone line (regular registration—April 2, 2011, to April 22, 2011); and $100 per telephone line (late registration—after April 23, 2011). We accept credit cards and checks: Credit card payments are processed through PayPal.

Sponsoring Organization and Background: The Michael L. Buckner Law Firm, which assists organizations with addressing allegations of rules-violations (e.g., federal/state laws, corporate rules, NCAA bylaws, high school regulations), ethical misconduct and academic-fraud. The Michael L. Buckner Law Firm is headquartered in the Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida, area. The firm’s street and mailing address is 1000 West McNab Road, Pompano Beach, Florida 33069. The Michael L. Buckner Law Firm’s telephone number is 954-941-1844 and facsimile number is 954-941-1846. The law firm’s contact e-mail address is mbuckner@michaelbucknerlaw.com. The law firm website is located at www.michaelbucknerlaw.com.

Presenter and Biography: Michael L. Buckner is the shareholder of the Michael L. Buckner Law Firm. Mr. Buckner, a licensed attorney and private investigator, advises organizations on compliance, investigation, ethics, training, and management enhancement issues. Mr. Buckner represents academic institutions before all NCAA committees, including colleges and universities in the enforcement process and secondary schools in the high school review process. Mr. Buckner, as an independent consultant for the NCAA (2006-07), conducted on-site investigative audits of non-traditional and preparatory schools in the United States and Puerto Rico. Mr. Buckner has appeared on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel and ESPN’s College Football Live, as well as been quoted in numerous newspapers (including the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News and Lexington Herald-Leader), as a commentator on NCAA enforcement cases. Mr. Buckner is the author of two books, Athletics Investigation Handbook: A Guide for Institutions and Involved Parties During the NCAA Enforcement Process and The ABCs of Ethics: A Resource for Leaders, Managers, and Professionals. Mr. Buckner is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and all federal and state courts in Florida. Mr. Buckner served as a commissioner on the Broward County Charter Review Commission and Volunteer Florida, the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. Mr. Buckner earned his bachelor’s degree in international relations and social sciences and communication in 1993 from the University of Southern California. He was awarded a law degree in 1996 from Florida State University, where he was a member of the Moot Court team.

Course Summary: A telephone call or letter from the NCAA enforcement staff to a college or university concerning the staff’s receipt of an alleged rules-violation is the start of a complex, daunting and high-profile investigative and administrative process. The webinar will provide participants with the "top ten things" presidents, general counsel, athletics administrators and other institutional employees should consider before and during the NCAA enforcement process. In fact, over the course of the 60-minute web-based workshop, the participants will review the best practices, techniques and strategies to place their colleges and universities in the best position prior to, and during the course of, an NCAA infractions case.

Course Objectives and Benefits: The workshop will enable university administrators (including general counsel) to:

• Prevent common errors made by institutions before and during the NCAA enforcement process.
• Minimize an institution’s legal liability stemming from an investigation of alleged NCAA rules-violations.
• Conduct an objective internal investigation that provides the most pertinent and accurate information.

Course Resources and Materials:

I. PowerPoint presentation.
II. Workshop handbook (contain summary of best practices, strategies and NCAA infractions cases).

Course Outline of Activities:

I. Introduction, Workshop Overview and Review of the NCAA Enforcement Process. (5 minutes)
II. Item No. 1: The Three Pillars: Monitoring, Rules-Education and Shared-Responsibility. (5 minutes)
III. Item No. 2: Written Investigation Policy and Procedure. (5 minutes)
IV. Item No. 3: Attention to Detail: Scope, Interviews, Document Review and Research. (5 minutes)
V. Item No. 4: Minimizing Legal Issues with Employees. (5 minutes)
VI. Item No. 5: Document Destruction Policy and Protocol. (5 minutes)
VII. Item No. 6: Legal Issues Resulting from Open Records Requests. (5 minutes)
VIII. Item No. 7: When the NCAA Staff is Wrong: Defending the Institution. (5 minutes)
IX. Item No. 8: Self-Reports and Responses to Notices of Allegations. (5 minutes)
X. Item No. 9: Anticipating an Infractions Appeal. (5 minutes)
XI. Item No. 10: Infractions Hearing Preparation. (5 minutes)
XII. Questions & Answers and Closing. (5 minutes).

Michael L. Buckner Law Firm
Telephone: 954-941-1844
E-mail: mbuckner@michaelbucknerlaw.com
Website: www.michaelbucknerlaw.com
Blog: http://michaelbucknerlaw.wordpress.com
Twitter: @mbucknerlaw
LinkedIn: @michaelbucknerlawfirm
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/michaelbucknerlaw
YouTube: @michaelbucknerlaw
 

This communication, including the information presented herein, is not endorsed or presented by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or its representatives, but is a legal advertisement from the Michael L. Buckner Law Firm (which is not affiliated with the NCAA). Any questions concerning this communication or event should be directed to Michael L. Buckner via telephone (954-941-1844) or e-mail (mbuckner@michaelbucknerlaw.com).

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