Margo Gray

It's often considered the best four years of your life and hailed as a beacon of integrity and excellence. But beyond the polished campus tours, there are stories you won't find in the admissions pamphlets.

It's no wonder that college campuses capture the nation's attention, especially in moments of upheaval. I'm Margo Gray. Each week on the Campus Files podcast, we bring you a new story.

It's no wonder that college campuses capture the nation's attention, especially in moments of upheaval. I'm Margo Gray. Each week on the Campus Files podcast, we bring you a new story.

It's no wonder that college campuses capture the nation's attention, especially in moments of upheaval. I'm Margo Gray. Each week on the Campus Files podcast, we bring you a new story.

On Campus Files, we cover everything from rigged admissions to the drama of Greek life.

On Campus Files, we cover everything from rigged admissions to the drama of Greek life.

On Campus Files, we cover everything from rigged admissions to the drama of Greek life.

Listen to and follow Campus Files, an Odyssey original podcast. Available now on the free Odyssey app and wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Campus Files, an Odyssey original podcast. Available now on the free Odyssey app and wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Campus Files, an Odyssey original podcast. Available now on the free Odyssey app and wherever you get your podcasts.

previously on Campus Files.

previously on Campus Files.

previously on Campus Files.

In 2008, Debbie Crowder announced her retirement from UNC. She'd spent two decades as the office administrator in the African and Afro-American Studies Department, or AFAM. During this time, she'd used her position to offer fake courses that helped student-athletes stay academically eligible. So for the athletic department, her retirement wasn't exactly welcome news.

In 2008, Debbie Crowder announced her retirement from UNC. She'd spent two decades as the office administrator in the African and Afro-American Studies Department, or AFAM. During this time, she'd used her position to offer fake courses that helped student-athletes stay academically eligible. So for the athletic department, her retirement wasn't exactly welcome news.

In 2008, Debbie Crowder announced her retirement from UNC. She'd spent two decades as the office administrator in the African and Afro-American Studies Department, or AFAM. During this time, she'd used her position to offer fake courses that helped student-athletes stay academically eligible. So for the athletic department, her retirement wasn't exactly welcome news.

Almost immediately, academic advisors sounded the alarm in a meeting with football coaches. They presented a PowerPoint that made one thing clear. These fake courses had been a lifeline for many football players' eligibility. One PowerPoint slide bluntly stated, "...we put them in classes that met degree requirements in which they didn't go to class." these no longer exist.

Almost immediately, academic advisors sounded the alarm in a meeting with football coaches. They presented a PowerPoint that made one thing clear. These fake courses had been a lifeline for many football players' eligibility. One PowerPoint slide bluntly stated, "...we put them in classes that met degree requirements in which they didn't go to class." these no longer exist.

Almost immediately, academic advisors sounded the alarm in a meeting with football coaches. They presented a PowerPoint that made one thing clear. These fake courses had been a lifeline for many football players' eligibility. One PowerPoint slide bluntly stated, "...we put them in classes that met degree requirements in which they didn't go to class." these no longer exist.

And these academic advisors were right to be worried. Because the very semester after Debbie retired, the football team earned its worst grade point average in more than a decade, a GPA of 2.1. I'm Margo Gray. This week on Campus Files, the decades-long scheme at UNC finally comes to light.