The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has filed a lawsuit today seeking damages for ACT, Inc.’s failure to detect improper test administration or exam results at one of its testing sites, failure to timely investigate such improprieties, and failure to notify the NCAA or the University.
The lawsuit charges that since at least 2010, answer sheets for several prospective student-athletes who took the ACT college readiness exam at its testing site at Wayne County High School in Waynesboro, Miss., were altered, creating false test scores.
In providing test results to the NCAA and UL Lafayette, ACT misrepresented prospective student-athletes’ exam scores, which the University relied upon to determine their eligibility.
The NCAA today sanctioned UL Lafayette even though its Committee on Infractions noted that the University neither lacked institutional control nor failed to monitor.
According to the suit, ACT “knew or should have known in the reasonable implementation of its duties to ensure valid testing conditions and exam scores.”
The suit notes that beyond NCAA sanctions, related adverse publicity is “damaging to the UL’s reputation for integrity and impairs its ability to attract qualified students and faculty.”
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, will hold ACT accountable for its actions.
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Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette President
"College readiness tests are used in a variety of ways including admissions, course placement and awarding of both academic and athletic scholarships. This is bigger than the Ragin’ Cajuns. This is bigger than college football. The credibility of college readiness test administration significantly affects higher education and needs to be addressed."