Fair Ball is an undergraduate student assistant coach for the baseball team at Ocean State University. Here is Fair’s academic record:
At the conclusion of the fall semester, Fair will have a total of 8 hours left to fulfill graduation requirements. Unfortunately two of the three classes he needs are taught at the same time during the spring 2015 semester. Is it permissible for Fair to enroll in 6 hours this spring and complete the final 2 hour class this summer and graduate?
Yes. NCAA Educational Column- 11/24/14- Undergraduate Student Assistant Coach or Manager Enrolled Less Than Full-Time During Penultimate Term (I)-states that institutions should note that an undergraduate student assistant coach or manager may be enrolled less than full-time during the penultimate term (i.e., term before the final term) of his or her degree program, provided he or she is carrying for credit all the degree-applicable courses necessary to complete his or her degree requirements that are offered by the institution during that term. Institutions are reminded that the interpretation does not apply to student-athletes, and an institution must submit a progress-toward-waiver for less than full-time enrollment during a student-athlete’s penultimate term.
The following scenarios are designed to assist member institutions in applying the staff interpretation regarding an undergraduate student assistant coach or manager’s enrollment that is less than full-time during his or her penultimate term:
Scenario 1: An undergraduate student assistant coach must enroll in three classes to complete her degree requirements. Due to the institution’s prescribed course sequencing, she is only permitted to enroll in two of the three classes during her penultimate term, and will complete the third class during her final term. May the undergraduate student assistant coach be enrolled less than full-time during her penultimate term?
Answer: Yes.
Scenario 2: A manager must complete five classes to finish his degree requirements. The institution offers all five classes during the fall semester. However, he is only able to enroll in three of the classes during the fall term because several of the course offerings conflict with one another. He will enroll in the remaining two classes in the spring term. May the manager be enrolled less than full-time during his penultimate term?
Answer: Yes.
Scenario 3: A manager will complete his student teaching during his final term. Prior to student teaching, he must repeat a course because he did not receive a passing grade the first time he took the course. He will only enroll in that course during his penultimate term, and will complete the student teaching requirement during his final term. May the manager be enrolled less than full-time during his penultimate term?
Answer: Yes.
Scenario 4: An undergraduate student assistant coach must complete five classes to finish her degree requirements and complete an externship during the summer. Due to the institution’s prescribed course sequencing, she is only permitted to enroll in two of the five classes during the fall term. She will complete the remaining three classes during the spring term and complete her required externship during the summer. May the undergraduate student assistant coach be enrolled less than full-time during the fall term?
Answer: No. The interpretation only applies to the penultimate term. In this scenario, the undergraduate student assistant coach will complete her degree requirements during the summer term. Therefore, the spring term is her penultimate term, and she must be enrolled full-time during the fall term.
[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 11.01.4 (coach, undergraduate student assistant) and 11.01.6 (manager), and staff interpretation (11/7/14, Item No. a)]Notice about Educational Columns: Educational columns and hot topics are intended to assist the membership with the correct application of legislation and/or interpretations by providing clarifications, reminders and examples. They are based on legislation and official and staff interpretations applicable at the time of publication. Therefore, educational columns and hot topics are binding to the extent that the legislation and interpretations on which they are based remain applicable. Educational columns are posted on a regular basis to address a variety of issues and hot topics are posted as necessary in order to address timely issues.
NCAA Staff Interpretation- 11/7/14- Undergraduate Student Assistant Coach or Manager Enrolled Less Than Full-Time During Penultimate Term (I)– states that an undergraduate student assistant coach or manager may be enrolled less than full-time during the penultimate term (i.e., term before the final term) of his or her degree program, provided he or she is carrying for credit all the degree-applicable courses necessary to complete his or her degree requirements that are offered by the institution during that term.[References: NCAA Division I Bylaws 11.01.4 (coach, undergraduate student assistant) and 11.01.6 (manager)]
Daily Compliance Item 