Report released about improper degree

In a report to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-the regional accrediting agency investigating the improperly awarded degree given to former Police Chief Rodney Monroe-VCU said it discovered university employees made 37 exceptions to routine processing and documentation requirements. That includes those involving Rodney Monroe’s admission to the university, academic coursework and graduation. The report called the awarding of the degree an isolated incident but said it “could not have occurred unless this student had been afforded preferential treatment at the admissions, curriculum and graduation stages of the student experience.” Monroe, now chief in Charlotte, N.C., satisfied only 15 of the 28 academic requirements normally needed to earn a bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree. No specific examples were listed in the report, which was forwarded to SACS on Friday.

Brief by the Associated Press