RALEIGH - Criminal charges could come as early as next week in the academic misconduct that surrounded UNC-Chapel Hill’s former Afro-American Studies program. The Daily Tar Heel reports Orange County District Attorney Jim Woodall will meet with state investigators Tuesday to discuss the potential of pursuing criminal charges in the case. Woodall told the student paper charges could be announced after the March 12 meeting.

A UNC Board of Governors Academic Review Panel attributed the misconduct to the former Department of African and Afro-American Studies chairman Julius Nyang’oro and administrator Deborah Crowder. The panel found irregular courses dating back to 1997 and evidence of unauthorized grade changes. Both Nyang’oro and Crowder have retired from their positions and UNC officials have reorganized the department.

The State Bureau of Investigation was asked by UNC-Chapel Hill officials in May 2012 to determine whether criminal activity may have been a part of the misconduct.