The Ocean State University women’s basketball team won the Ocean Eleven Conference tournament this year. The Conference office will be providing each member of the team with a championship gift. There are two student-athletes on the team that did not attend the tournament. One has been academically ineligible all year and the other is serving a year in residence for transferring.
Can the Conference office provide a gift to these two student-athletes?
No. NCAA Official Interpretation- 12/12/94- National or Conference Championship Awards to Ineligible Student-Athletes– states that it is not permissible for an institution or conference (or organization approved by either) to provide awards in recognition of conference or national championships to student-athletes who were not eligible to represent the institution in intercollegiate competition during the applicable sport season. [References: 16.1.4.3 (conference and national championships) and staff minute 12/07/88, item c]
Jennifer M. Condaras
Associate Commissioner
BIG EAST Conference
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