The academic scandal uncovered at UNC by the Wainstein report dominated a Wednesday afternoon Board of Trustees meeting, at which the faculty chair offered an apology.

“The events that occurred over a nearly 20-year time period are simply unacceptable,” said Faculty Chair Bruce Cairns. “Suffice it to say, we are very disappointed. And as a faculty, we let down our students, we let down the university.

In his apology to members of the UNC Board of Trustees during a late-afternoon meeting at Rizzo Conference Center, Cairns also acknowledged the people of North Carolina that are served by the university.

Cairns added that the Wainstein report on phony so-called “paper classes” offered for nearly two decades to 3,100 students — many of them athletes –had a lot of implications for UNC’s faculty.

He said that a lot of “soul searching” needs to happen right now.

“Our focus needs to remain on our students,” said Cairns, “and making sure that we fulfill our obligation to them, whether they are in athletics or not.”

Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost Jim Dean updated the Board on reforms that have taken place over the past few years.

Changes have been made to the advising system, to tailor academic planning more specifically to each student athlete’s needs.

There’s a new computer system that more closely monitors grade changes, course renumbering, and faculty workload.

Independent study reforms have also been implemented. One such reform limits faculty members to supervising two students per term. Required documentation includes learning contracts, and course syllabi are monitored more closely as well.

Measures are taken to ensure that a faculty is actually teaching each independent study course.

An informal Student Athlete Initiative Working Group is tracking experiences of student athletes at UNC, starting with recruiting.

Student Body President Andrew Powell said that while he agrees the reforms are necessary, he’s concerned that a fear of teaching independent study courses is developing among faculty in the wake of the paper-class scandal.

Powell said that continuing support of independent studies should perhaps be included in a UNC policy statement.

Dean said he agreed with Powell about independent studies, adding that UNC Chancellor Carol Folt does, too.

“Independent study courses are a really important element of education,” said Dean. “We can’t get to everything we want to get to through the existing courses.”

Dean added that an independent study course he took as an undergrad actually set him on the path to his academic career.

Powell also expressed disappointment in the way he’s seen some students treating athletes since the scandal broke – for instance, expressing reluctance to have a student athlete join a group project for a class.

Right before the meeting went into closed session, Powell spoke to WCHL about what student government is doing to make the situation better, adding that most students still treat all others with respect.

“We think that all students at Carolina should feel part of an inclusive community – that they’re supported by their peers and professors,” said Powell. “We’ve held a number of student forums where people can speak openly about these things.”

Powell said that UNC will celebrate an Athlete Appreciation Day on Dec. 2.