Osburn said the NCAA in most instances does not start investigations, but typically is contacted by a school and notified that a violation may have occurred. Schools, as a condition of their NCAA membership, are required to investigate any possible violations they are made aware of, she said.

“When (schools) become aware of possible violations, they are bound to look into those,” she said. “If they find they are violations, then they report those to the NCAA.”

Osburn said investigations into major violations can be done by the school, or in cooperation with NCAA investigators. If the school opts for an independent investigation, the NCAA’s enforcement staff will conduct a separate probe once the alleged violations are reported.

“We would prefer joint investigations,” she said. “That way, we can work alongside the school. It’s a faster process. It’s better for everyone in our view if we can do a joint investigation.”

If the enforcement staff feels violations have taken place, the case would go before the NCAA’s committee on infractions for a hearing. Committee members typically include law professors, former judges, and representatives of athletic departments from schools and conferences across the nation, Osburn said.

After hearing both sides, that committee determines whether violations have taken place, are they minor or major, and what the penalties should be.

The time it takes between an allegation being reported and the case being resolved can vary widely, Osburn said. If the school and the NCAA staff both agree on what the violations are and what the penalty should be, the case moves along more quickly, she said.