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Report: Michigan classes too easy

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The independent study courses administered to University of Michigan athletes by a professor there have drawn scrutiny in a published report. The Ann Arbor News reported on Sunday that the psychology professor John Hagen taught at least 294 independent studies from the fall of 2004 to the fall of 2007, 251 of them taken by athletes. Such courses are generally one-on-one classes between the student and the professor for a subject not offered by the university. In the report, three former athletic department employees said Hagen's independent studies were sometimes used to improve the grade point averages of athletes who were at risk of becoming academically ineligible. The average grade for 21 athletes who took 32 graded courses from Hagen, 25 of them independent studies, was 3.62. Those athletes had a grade point average of 2.57 in their other classes, according to transcripts reviewed by the newspaper. In some instances, athletes earned as many as four credits for meeting with Hagen for as little as 15 minutes every two weeks, and courses sometimes focused on study skills and time management, according to The News. Some athletes were also allowed to enroll in Hagen's courses nearly two months after the deadline to add classes had passed.

New York Times

University of Michigan, Brian Bahr/Getty Images University of Michigan, Brian Bahr/Getty Images
March 17, 2008  06:51 AM ET

I think that this only proves something that we already know happens in way too many programs. Michigan is just unlucky to be the particular team whose name is attatched to this report.

March 17, 2008  07:02 AM ET

OMG! If this was Ohio State the UM fans would be ALL OVER THIS!

Michigan always seems to get a free pass, and I for one am glad that this report is attached to their name.

March 17, 2008  07:10 AM ET

It looks like Jim Harbaugh was right. Michigan does cheat for athletes.

March 17, 2008  07:23 AM ET

Come one, we all know Harbaugh was right. Anybody familiar with Michigan football knows that half the student body dislikes the football team because of the preferential treatment they have always received. This is the team that has and continues to abuse the general studies major which is the ONLY reason their graduation rate has improved. It was not previously used. Michigan fans will not admit it but their football team is just another dirty program. I mean really, just take a look at their coach or their previous coach's well documented history of turning a blind eye to misdeeds by his athletes.

March 17, 2008  07:23 AM ET

I am not suggesting that they get a free pass, only that I am not willing to jump up on a soapbox without knowing what skeletons are in my teams closet. By all means, we should rail on all the schools for this type of behavior.

March 17, 2008  07:48 AM ET

And if any one thinks that Michigan is alone in this: I've got sone swamp property on the Moon i'd like to sell to them. This is a problem in College Sports and it seems to get worse as College Sports continue it's ascent into the "big time". Like the old adage says: every thing is legal until your caught!

March 17, 2008  07:53 AM ET

And all these years I thought only Michigan women were easy ...

March 17, 2008  08:08 AM ET

So much for the Mich Again - Big 10 Academic supremacy!

March 17, 2008  08:11 AM ET

Here's where all the scUM fans that get on OSU for any investigation say "What, everybody does it, don't pick on us." Hypocrits.

March 17, 2008  08:44 AM ET

Yes ....yes.....this is a problem now isnt it? Perhaps that Chris Webber fellow wasnt the Rhodes Scholar we all though eh?

March 17, 2008  08:45 AM ET

In other news, Rich Rod is only going to dress 7 players for their first football game.

The rest of the players will have to dress themselves!!

March 17, 2008  08:46 AM ET

If academics has any priority in Terelle Pryor's decision, then this may hurt Michigan

March 17, 2008  08:48 AM ET

I love this!!

March 17, 2008  08:53 AM ET

PRYOR:

OSU - work 15 minutes every 2 weeks, get a car & $

Michigan - study 15 min every 2 weeks, get free A's

March 17, 2008  08:55 AM ET

Nicely done NWPA, nicely done.

March 17, 2008  09:19 AM ET

This is only news because it is Michigan. Name one college in the country that runs a clean program. Harvard you say? Exactly.

March 17, 2008  09:28 AM ET

An apparent lack of academic integrity at a football factory school? This can't be!

March 17, 2008  10:02 AM ET

This story is crap.

March 17, 2008  10:15 AM ET

WHERE ARE YOU "THE TRUTH?" WE ALL AWAIT YOUR COMMENTS ON YOUR BELOVED PROGRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
March 17, 2008  10:16 AM ET

Ann Arbor is a ****!

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