PORTLAND, Maine – The NCAA has joined in an investigation of rules violations by 30 athletes at the University of Southern Maine.

Athletes falsified the number of hours they worked in the school’s work-study program during the previous school year, Athletic Director Al Bean said Tuesday.

“People were putting in for time that they didn’t work,” said Bean, who declined to name the athletes, 17 of whom are currently enrolled at USM.

Once the infractions came to light, the athletes were declared temporarily ineligible. Some had their eligibility restored, and Bean said the others will also regain eligibility if they agree to certain conditions, such as paying restitution and, in some cases, performing community service.

No criminal charges were filed, he said, and no school staff members were involved.

The falsified hours came to light last spring when two students were overhead talking about breaking rules. Over the summer, each of the 139 students involved in the athletic department work-study program was interviewed.

Under the program, students needing financial aid may earn between $600 and $4,500 a year by performing jobs around campus. Athletic and recreation department jobs included staffing the hockey arena and various sports complexes, manning a reception desk or fitness area, and facilitating intramural competition.

Because athletes were involved, Bean notified the NCAA, the governing body for most collegiate athletics, about possible violations.

While the NCAA as a matter of policy would not comment on an ongoing investigation, Bean confirmed that “we still have an active process going on with the NCAA.”

When USM completes its in-house investigation, it plans to report the findings to the NCAA.