Daily Compliance Item- 8/29/14- 12.1.1.1.3- Amateurism Certification

Intha Rough is a freshman golf student-athlete at Ocean State University.  Intha has received a qualifier status based on his academic record but has not yet received an amateur certification from the NCAA Eligibility Center.  Can Intha practice with his team while waiting for a final determination on his amateur status?

Yes.  NCAA Bylaw 12.1.1.1.3 states that if a prospective student-athlete reports for athletics participation before the student’s amateur status has been certified, the student may practice, but not compete, for a maximum period of 45 days.  After this period, the student shall have his or her amateur status certified to continue to practice or to compete. (Adopted: 1/9/06 effective 8/1/06, for all final certifications for student-athletes initially enrolling at a Division I or Division II institution on or after 8/1/07, Revised:  11/29/09)

 

Daily Compliance Item- 8/28/14- 16.2.1.1- Complimentary Admissions While Pending Certification

Hard Count is a freshman football student-athlete at Ocean State University (OSU).  Hard has been practicing with the team but has not yet been certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center.  OSU plays its first game this weekend at home.  If Hard is still not certified by Saturday, is he permitted to receive his four complimentary admissions?

No.  NCAA Staff Interpretation- 8/22/97- Complimentary Admissions Prior to Final Certification– states that the provisions of NCAA Bylaw 16.2.1.1 are not applicable to a student-athlete whose final certification is pending with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse.  Such a student-athlete may not receive four complimentary tickets to an athletics event.  The staff noted that the student-athlete may receive one complimentary ticket for his or her own use to attend the event. 

[References: 14.3.5.1.1 (participation prior to certification — recruited student-athlete); 14.3.5.1.2 (participation prior to certification — nonrecruited student-athlete); 16.2.1.1 (permissible procedures); and Figure 14-6, 1997-98 NCAA Division I Manual]

Daily Compliance Item- 8/27/14- 16.8.1- Transfers Serving as Team Managers

Ocean State University (OSU) is opening up its football season on the road this weekend.  Two of the student-athletes on the team transferred to OSU this fall and therefore must serve a year in residency before being eligible to compete.  The coaches would really like these two student-athletes to travel with the team, so they decide to make them team managers.  Is that permissible?

No.  NCAA Staff Interpretation- 8/5/87- Redshirt serving as team manager and traveling with the team– states that a member institution asked whether a transfer student who is serving a residence requirement could serve as the team manager, and thus be permitted to receive expenses to travel with the team. The staff concluded that this would not be permissible, inasmuch as Constitution 3-1-(g)-(2)-(iii) indicates that a student-athlete who is not eligible to compete may not receive expenses to travel with the team. The staff noted, however, that this legislation does not preclude an “intentional redshirt” from traveling with the team, inasmuch as a “redshirt” is technically eligible to compete.

 

Daily Compliance Item- 8/26/14- 13.8.1.1- Entertaining HS Personnel

Ocean State University (OSU) admissions office has created a new campaign to help recruit more students from neighboring states.  Part of this campaign includes hosting more events for guidance counselors and academic advisors throughout the year.  The first event for the fall will take place this weekend in conjunction with OSU’s home football game. Is it permissible for the admissions office to provide guidance counselors and academic advisors with complimentary admissions to the game, a pin and refreshments during the game? Yes.  NCAA Bylaw 13.8.1.1 states that an institutional department outside the athletics department (e.g., president’s office, admissions) may host nonathletics high school, preparatory school or two-year college personnel (e.g., guidance counselors, principals) in conjunction with a home intercollegiate athletics event and may provide such individuals reasonable expenses (e.g., food, refreshments, parking, room) and a nominal gift, provided the visit is not related to athletics recruiting and there is no involvement by the institution’s athletics recruiting and there is no involvement by the institution’s athletics department in the arrangements for the visit, other than providing (in accordance with established policy) free admissions to an athletics event. [R] (Adopted: 3/8/12) GO ORCAS!

Daily Compliance Item- 8/25/14- 14.4.3.1.3, 14.4.3.1.3.1- Regaining Eligibility

Ocean State University is in the process of certifying its student-athletes for the upcoming academic year.  During this process, the certifying officer discovered that two sophomore student-athletes, Base Line (tennis student-athlete) and Line Drive (baseball student-athlete), do not meet the 24 credit hour requirement [Bylaw 14.4.3.1(a)] prior to the start of the 2014-15 academic year.  Both student-athletes completed 12 hours during the spring 2014 semester, 3 hours during the summer 2014 term and are enrolled in 12 hours for the fall 2014 semester. 

Which of the following is true assuming ALL OTHER NCAA progress toward degree requirements are met?

A.  Base can be eligible for the spring 2015 semester if she passes at least 9 hours during the fall 2014 semester.

B.  Line can be eligible for the spring 2015 semester if he passes at least 9 hours during the fall 2014 semester.

C.  Both A and B are true.

D.  Neither A or B are true.

 

The answer is A.  Although NCAA Bylaw 14.4.3.1.3 states that for purposes of Bylaw 14.4.3.1-(a), a student-athlete who does not meet the 24-semester or 36-quarter credit-hour requirement prior to the start of his or her second year of collegiate enrollment (third semester, fourth quarter), may become eligible at the beginning of the next academic term by successfully completing 24-semester or 36-quarter hours during the previous two semesters or three quarters, NCAA Bylaw 14.4.3.1.3.1 indicates that in baseball, a student-athlete who is subject to the 24-semester or 36-quarter credit-hour requirement at the beginning of an institution’s fall term and fails to meet the requirement based on the student-athlete’s academic record in existence at that time shall not be eligible during the remainder of the academic year.  (Adopted:  4/26/07 effective 8/1/08)

Daily Compliance Item- 8/22/14- 17.1.7.6.3- Midnight to 5am During Preseason Practice Period

The men’s soccer coaches at Ocean State University want to practice late at night the next few days because of the excessive heat.    Since this is the preseason practice period, is it permissible for the team to be on the field from 10pm to 1am? No.  NCAA Bylaw 17.1.7.6.3 states that countable athletically related activities shall not occur between midnight and 5 a.m.   There is not a legislative exception for preseason practice.  The institution could certainly file a waiver and include any mitigating factors for needing to practice during that time period.

Daily Compliance Item- 8/21/14- 14.3.1.2.9- Attendance at Multiple High Schools

Goal Lee is a prospective student-athlete that will be playing soccer for Ocean State University this fall.  Goal attended two different high schools.  Goal must submit an official transcript from each high school he attended.   A.  True B.  False      The answer is A.  NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2.9 states that for a student-athlete who attends more than one high school, a Form 48-H (core-course form) and an official transcript from each high school the student-athlete attended must be used.  However, the NCAA Eligibility Center may receive the official transcript from either the student-athlete’s original high school or the high school from which the student-athlete graduated, or an institution’s admissions office. (Adopted: 1/10/92, Revised: 4/22/98 effective 8/1/98, 3/30/06, 5/9/07, 4/26/12)

Daily Compliance Item- 8/20/14- 14.2.1.5- Eligibility for Practice

Which of the following is true regarding a student-athlete’s eligibility for practice?

A.  A student-athlete is permitted to practice while enrolled less than full-time during the first five days of classes.

B.  A student-athlete is not permitted to participate in any countable athletically related activities during the first week of classes.

C.  A student-athlete must always be enrolled in at least 12 hours to practice.

D.  None of the Above.

The answer is A.  NCAA Bylaw 14.2.1.5 states that a student-athlete may practice, but may not compete, during the institution’s first five days of classes if the student-athlete is enrolled in less than a minimum full-time program of studies, provided the student is otherwise eligible under all institutional, conference and NCAA requirements. (Adopted: 1/10/95 effective 8/1/95)

Daily Compliance Item- 8/19/14- 14.3.1.2, 14.3.1.2.1.1, 14.3.1.2.1- Additional Core Course After HS Graduation

End A. Round is an incoming football student-athlete at Ocean State University (OSU).  When End graduated from high school, it was determined that he was deficient in one core course of meeting NCAA initial eligibility core course requirements.  End completed a course at his high school during the summer while also enrolled in a course during OSU’s first summer term.  To help with expenses, End received non-athletic aid from OSU.  Assuming the course is an approved core course, it was completed within the appropriate time frame, etc., can he use it to meet initial eligibility requirements since he was also enrolled in a course during OSU’s summer term and received non-athletic aid?

Yes.  NCAA Educational Column-8/18/14 (2/13/09)- Eligibility — Core-Curriculum Time Limitation Legislation — Exception — One Additional Core Course After High School Graduation (I)- states that NCAA Division I institutions should note that the core-curriculum time limitation legislation requires a prospective student-athlete to complete core-curriculum requirements not later than the high school graduation date of the prospective student-athlete’s class.  The appropriate graduation date is determined by the prospective student-athlete’s first year of enrollment in high school (grade nine) or the international equivalent.  For a domestic prospective student-athlete, the allowed time frame for completion of the core course requirements is eight semesters from the date the prospective student-athlete first enrolled in high school.  For an international prospective student-athlete, the graduation date is based on the prescribed educational path in his or her country.

If a prospective student-athlete graduates within the prescribed time frame, he or she may use one additional core course for initial-eligibility purposes.  The course must be completed prior to initial, full-time collegiate enrollment, but not later than the end of the academic year immediately after graduation.

An October 22, 2008, official interpretation specifies that it is permissible to use a core course completed after high school graduation, provided the prospective student-athlete either completes the course prior to enrollment in or after completion of the institution’s summer term for which he or she is receiving athletically related financial aid.  However, the interpretation specifies that it is not permissible for a prospective student-athlete to use a core course, including an online course, completed after high school graduation to satisfy initial-eligibility requirements if the prospective student-athlete is enrolled in the course while concurrently receiving athletically related financial aid to attend an institution’s summer term.

The following examples are designed to assist member institutions in applying the one additional core course after high school graduation exception to the core-curriculum time limitation legislation.

Example:   A prospective student-athlete enrolls in a core course at an area high school while enrolled in an institution’s summer term and receives nonathletics institutional financial aid while completing the core course.  May this core course be used to certify the prospective student-athlete’s initial eligibility?

Answer:  Yes.  The course may be used because the prospective student-athlete is receiving only nonathletics institutional aid.  Please note that if the prospective student-athlete were receiving athletically related financial aid, the course may not be used.

Example:  A prospective student-athlete who will receive athletically related financial aid to attend an institution’s summer term starts a core course before enrolling in the institution’s summer term.  The prospective student-athlete finishes the course after enrolling in the institution’s summer term.  May this core course be used to certify the prospective student-athlete’s initial eligibility?

Answer:  No.  The core course may not be used because the prospective student-athlete did not complete the core course before receiving athletically related financial aid to attend the institution’s summer term.

Example:  A prospective student-athlete receives athletically related financial aid to attend an institution’s summer term.  After completion of the summer term, the prospective student-athlete returns home and enrolls in a core course at the individual’s high school.  May this core course be used to certify the prospective student-athlete’s initial eligibility?

Answer:    Yes.  The core course may be used to certify this prospective student-athlete’s initial eligibility because even though the individual received athletically related financial aid to attend the institution’s summer term, the prospective student-athlete was no longer receiving athletically related financial aid at the time the core course was completed. 

The following questions may assist institutions in working with the NCAA Eligibility Center on issues related to the use of the additional core course completed after high school graduation exception.

Question:  A prospective student-athlete enrolls in a core course from a school or program that does not have a list of approved core courses.  Will the core course be used to determine the prospective student-athlete’s initial eligibility?

Answer:  If a prospective student-athlete takes a course from a school or program that does not have a list of approved core courses, the school or program must be evaluated by the Eligibility Center’s high school review team before the course is approved.  This can be a lengthy process; therefore, institutions should encourage prospective student-athletes who need to use the one core course after high school graduation exception to complete the additional core course through a school or program that has a list of approved core courses. 

Question:  How does the Eligibility Center verify that a core course completed after high school graduation was in compliance with the October 22, 2008, official interpretation? 

Answer:  Institutions are responsible for determining whether the prospective student-athlete completed the additional core course in a manner consistent with the official interpretation and for providing the same information to the Eligibility Center.

Question:  What documentation is required to certify the use of this exception to the core-curriculum time limitation?

Answer:  The following four scenarios address required documentation for purposes of the one additional core course after high school graduation exception only.  In all of these scenarios, the course must meet the legislated definition of a core course.  In addition, an important step in determining the validity of a course on a high school’s list of approved core courses is to confirm that the prospective student-athlete met all course expectations as indicated by the course provider.

1.  If the additional core course was taken at the high school from which the prospective student-athlete graduated, the course must appear on that high school’s list of approved core courses.  Also, the Eligibility Center must receive a transcript from the high school, showing the course title, grade received and credit awarded for the additional core course. 2.  If the additional core course was taken at a school other than the high school from which the prospective student-athlete graduated and that school has a six-digit College Board code (CEEB) and a list of approved core courses, the additional core course must appear on that school’s list of approved core courses.  A transcript from the school, showing the course title, grade received and credit awarded for the additional core course from that school must be provided to the Eligibility Center.  However, the additional core course is not required to appear on the transcript from the high school from which prospective student-athlete graduated. 3.  If the additional core course was taken through distance learning or other nontraditional means (e.g., online, correspondence, independent study, individualized instruction, credit recovery) and the school/program has a CEEB code and list of approved core courses, the additional core course must appear on that school/program’s list of approved core courses.  A transcript from the program, showing the course title, grade received and credit awarded for the additional core course must be provided to the Eligibility Center.  However, the additional core course is not required to appear on the transcript from the high school from which prospective student-athlete graduated. 4.  If the additional core course was taken at a community college, junior college or four-year college, a transcript from that college with the course title, grade received and credit earned for the additional core course must be provided to the Eligibility Center.  (Note: The Eligibility Center will accept the high school course credit equivalent if the course appears on the transcript of the high school from which the prospective student-athlete graduated or if the high school submits a letter indicating the amount of credit the student would have received had the course been taken at the high school.)

[References:  NCAA Division I Bylaws 14.3.1.2 (core curriculum requirements), 14.3.1.2.1 (core-curriculum time limitation) and 14.3.1.2.1.1 (exception — one additional core course after high school graduation), official interpretation (10/24/08, Item No. 1), staff interpretation (10/5/88, item f) and official interpretation (9/4/08, Item No. 1-b), which have been archived]

Educational Column:  Editor’s Note: The answer to the last example in this educational column was updated on August 18, 2014, to remove the original last sentence in order to avoid membership confusion.  The original posting date was kept for continued ease of reference.

Daily Compliance Item- 8/18/14- 15.5.3.2.2.2, 15.5.3.2.2.2.1- Academic Honor Awards for Transfers

Kilo Meter is a cross country/track student-athlete that transferred to Ocean State University (OSU) this fall.  Kilo will be getting a 25% athletic scholarship as well as a $5000 academic honor award based on her academic record and 3.5 GPA at her previous institution.

Is there an exemption for Kilo’s academic honor award to not have to count against OSU’s team limit?

Yes.  NCAA Bylaw 15.5.3.2.2.2 states that academic honor awards that are part of an institution’s normal arrangements for academic scholarships, either based solely on the recipient’s cumulative academic record from all collegiate institutions previously attended or based on the recipient’s high school record and cumulative academic record from all collegiate institutions previously attended, awarded independently of athletics interests and in amounts consistent with the pattern of all such awards made by the institution, may be exempted from a team’s equivalency computation, provided the recipient achieved a cumulative transferable grade-point average of at least 3.000 (based on a maximum of 4.000).  (Adopted:  1/16/10 effective 8/1/10, Revised: 1/15/11 effective 8/1/11)

NCAA Bylaw 15.5.3.2.2.2.1 states that grades earned in all courses that are normally transferable to an institution shall be considered in determining the grade-point average for meeting this exception, regardless of the grade earned or whether such grade makes the course unacceptable for transferable-degree credit. (Adopted:  1/16/10 effective 8/1/10)