MINUTES OF THE
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
DIVISION I LEGISLATIVE REVIEW AND
INTERPRETATIONS COMMITTEE
NCAA
National Office September
18, 2007
In-Person Meeting No. 1
Participants:
Brad Bertani,
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Jacqueline Campbell, Atlantic
10 Conference
Ellen Ferris, University of
Southern California
Frank Harrell, Tennessee
Technological University
Janet Lucas, University of
California, Riverside
Shane Lyons, Atlantic Coast
Conference, chair
Don Oberhelman,
San Diego State University
Ray
Shackelford, Bethune-Cookman College
Amy
Huchthausen, NCAA
Kris
Richardson, NCAA
Geoff
Silver, NCAA
Leeland
Zeller, NCAA
James
Klein, University of Toledo, was unable to attend.
[Note: These minutes contain only actions taken
(formal votes or stated "sense of the meeting") in accordance with
NCAA policy regarding minutes of all Association entities. While certain items
on the committee's agenda were acted on at various times throughout the
meeting, all final actions within a given topic are combined in these minutes
for convenience of reference.]
The
NCAA Division I Legislative Review and Interpretations Committee meeting was
called to order at 9 a.m. Eastern time by the chair, Mr. Lyons. All members were present as noted above.
Eligibility/Progress-Toward-Degree/Postbaccalaureate
Requirements
1.
Credit-Hour
Requirement for a Postbaccalaureate Student-Athlete. (I) The committee determined that a
student-athlete enrolled in a second baccalaureate degree program or a
student-athlete who has graduated and is continuing as a full-time student at
the same institution, while taking course work that would lead to the
equivalent of another major or degree, may fulfill the requirement of
completing six semester or quarter hours of academic credit during each regular
academic term of full-time enrollment by completing six credits that are
acceptable toward any degree program offered by the certifying institution. [References:
Bylaws 14.4.3.1-(c) (fulfillment of credit- hour requirements) and
14.4.3.5-(c) (exceptions to progress-toward-degree rule -- graduate student/postbaccalaureate exception).]
Eligibility/Hardship Waiver
2.
Counting
Contests or Dates of Competition for Purposes of Calculating Hardship Waiver. (I) The committee confirmed that in those sports
in which the playing season may be divided into two segments, but championship
selection is based on competition throughout the season (e.g., golf, tennis,
ice hockey), the hardship waiver legislation must be applied on the basis of
competition over the course of the entire season (e.g., nonchampionship
and championship segments). Further, in
those sports in which the playing season may be divided into two segments, but
championship selection is based on competition only during one segment of the
season (e.g., spring baseball, fall soccer), the hardship waiver legislation
must be applied on the basis of competition conducted during only the
championship segment. [References: Bylaws 14.2.4 (hardship waiver) and
14.2.4.3.4 (first-half-of-season calculation); and an official interpretation (08/2/89,
Item No. 10-c), which has been archived.]
Initial Eligibility/Graduation Requirements
3.
High School
Graduation Includes Academic and Nonacademic Requirements. (I) The committee
confirmed that in order for a prospective student-athlete to meet the high
school graduation requirement for initial-eligibility purposes, the prospect
must meet all graduation requirements, including academic and nonacademic
(e.g., state exit exams, community service, senior project) requirements, as
defined for all students by the prospect's high school. [References: Bylaws 14.3.1.2.1 (core-curriculum time limitation) and 14.3.1.2.1.1
(exception -- one core course after high school graduation).]
Recruiting/Contact/Summer-Certified
Event ? Men?s Basketball
4. Contact
at a Summer-Certified Event with a Prospective Student-Athlete who has Signed a National Letter of Intent. (I) The committee confirmed that in men?s basketball, it is not
permissible for an institutional coaching staff member to communicate in any
manner at the event site with any prospect who is participating in a
summer-certified event, including contact with a prospect who has signed a National
Letter of Intent (NLI). The committee
noted that it would be permissible for an institutional coaching staff member
to communicate with a prospect who has signed a NLI only if the prospect is not
participating in the event and is not associated with any team participating in
the event (e.g., prospect travels to an event at his or her own expense,
prospect is not under the authority of the coach at any time, prospect does not
participate in team functions). [References: Bylaws 13.1.6.8 (contacts after national
letter of intent signing or other written commitment-sport other than women's
basketball) and 13.1.7.2.2 (additional restrictions-men's and women's
basketball) and a staff interpretation (08/15/07, item 1), which has been
archived.]
Financial
Aid/Terms and Conditions/Reduction and Cancellation During
Period of Award
5. Conditions
for Reduction or Cancellation of Athletically Related Financial Aid During the Period of the Award. (I)
The committee confirmed that, in addition to the legislated conditions
by which a student-athlete?s financial aid may be reduced or cancelled during
the period of the award, an institution may include other nonathletically
related conditions (e.g., compliance with academic policies or standards,
compliance with athletics department rules or policies) in its financial aid
agreements. The committee noted that
regardless of the reason for reduction or cancellation, the student-athlete
must be provided the opportunity for a hearing before the aid is reduced or
cancelled. [References: Bylaws 15.3.2.4 (hearing opportunity),
15.3.4.1 (reduction or cancellation permitted) and 15.3.4.3 (reduction or
cancellation not permitted) and a staff interpretation (08/22/07, item 1),
which has been archived.]
Awards and Benefits/Academic Support
Services/Course Supplies
6. Provision
of Required Course Supplies Based on Written Documentation from Course
Instructor. (I) The committee determined that an institution
may provide required course supplies to a student-athlete for a course (even if
the supplies are not specified in the institution's catalog or course
syllabus), provided the supplies are required of all students in the course and
the course instructor indicates in writing that the supplies are required. [References:
Bylaw 16.3.1.1.1 (academic counseling/support services -- specific
limitations) and a staff interpretation (08/22/07, item 2), which has been
archived.]
Transfers/4-2-4 Transfers/Exceptions
7. Using
2-4 Transfer Exceptions in 4-2-4 Transfer Situations. (I)
The committee determined a 4-2-4 transfer student may use the 2-4
transfer exemptions, provided the individual has met both the two-year college
and four-year college transfer provisions in such a situation (e.g.,
combination of both the 2-4 and the 4-4 discontinued/nonsponsored
sports exception). [References: Bylaws 14.5.4.6 (exceptions or waivers for
transfer from two-year colleges) and 14.5.6 (4-2-4 college transfers) and a
staff interpretation (09/12/89, item h), which has been archived.]
Progress-Toward-Degree
Requirements for Student-Athletes Enrolled in a Second Baccalaureate Program
1. Background.
On
2. Issue.
Whether student-athletes enrolled in a second baccalaureate program must complete degree applicable coursework in order to satisfy the six-hour requirement.
3. Applicable Bylaw and Interpretations.
Eligibility for competition shall be determined based on satisfactory completion of at least:
[14.4.3.1-(a) and (b) omitted.]
(c) Six-semester or six-quarter hours of academic credit during the preceding regular academic term (e.g., fall semester, winter quarter) in which the student-athlete has been enrolled full time at any collegiate institution (see Bylaw 14.1.10 for postseason certification).
[14.4.3.5-(a) and (b) omitted.]
(c) Graduate Student/Postbaccalaureate Exception. A graduate student-athlete or a student-athlete who graduates and returns for a second baccalaureate degree or who is taking course work that would lead to the equivalent of another major or degree who is otherwise eligible for regular-season competition shall be exempt from the provisions of this regulation, except the student-athlete shall successfully complete a minimum of six-semester or -quarter hours of academic credit during each regular academic term in which the student is enrolled full time as a graduate student or a student who has graduated and is seeking a second baccalaureate or equivalent degree at any collegiate institution.
Date Issued:
Type: Official
Interpretation:
The NCAA Division I Management Council determined that a graduate student-athlete may fulfill the requirement of completing six semester or quarter hours of academic credit during each regular academic term of full-time enrollment by completing graduate or undergraduate courses (which are not required to be degree applicable), provided the student-athlete may complete such courses in accordance with published institutional policies applicable to graduate students.
[References: Division I Bylaws 14.4.3.1-(c) (fulfillment of credit-hour requirements) and 14.4.3.5-(c) (exceptions to progress-toward-degree rule -- graduate student/postbaccalaureate exception)]
Archived Interpretation
Date Issued:
Type: Official
Archive Info.: Due to
Interpretation:
The committee determined that a student-athlete enrolled in a second baccalaureate degree or graduate program must successfully complete six degree-applicable hours in order to satisfy the requirement of completing six semester or quarter hours of academic credit during each regular academic term of full-time enrollment. Further, the committee confirmed that a nondegree-seeking graduate student may complete credits that would
apply to any graduate-degree program offered by the certifying institution in order to satisfy the six-hour requirement. [References: Division I Bylaws 14.4.3.1-(c) (fulfillment of credit-hour requirements) and 14.4.3.5-(c) (exceptions to progress-toward-degree rule -- graduate student/postbaccalaureate exception)]
1. Background.
The hardship waiver
legislation states that only competition that occurs during the playing season
that concludes with the NCAA championship, or, if so designated, during the
official NCAA championship playing season in that sport (e.g., spring baseball,
fall soccer), should be counted when calculating both the number of contests in
which the student-athlete has participated and the number of scheduled or
completed contests during that season in the sport. An
2. Issue.
Whether the
3. Applicable Bylaws and Interpretations.
A student-athlete may be granted an additional year of competition by the conference or the Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet for reasons of "hardship." Hardship is defined as an incapacity resulting from an injury or illness that has occurred under all of the following conditions:
(a) The incapacitating injury or illness occurs in one of the four seasons of intercollegiate competition at any two-year or four-year collegiate institutions or occurs after the first day of classes in the student-athlete's senior year in high school;
(b) The injury or illness occurs prior to the completion of the first half of the playing season that concludes with the NCAA championship in that sport (measured by the number of scheduled contests or dates of competition not exceeding the maximum limitations in each sport as set forth in Bylaw 17 as set prior to the first scheduled contest or date of competition of the designated official NCAA championship playing season in the applicable sport or the number of completed contests or dates of competition) and results in incapacity to compete for the remainder of that playing season; and
(c) The injury or illness occurs when the student-athlete has not participated in more than three contests or dates of competition (whichever is applicable to that sport) or 30 percent (whichever number is greater) of the institution's scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition in his or her sport. Only scheduled or completed competition (including exempted events but excluding scrimmages and exhibition contests identified as such in the legislation) against outside participants during the playing season that concludes with the NCAA championship, or, if so designated, during the official NCAA championship playing season in that sport (e.g., spring baseball, fall soccer), shall be countable under this limitation in calculating both the number of contests or dates of competition in which the student-athlete has participated and the number of scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition during that season in the sport.
In determining if an injury or illness occurs in the first half of the season that concludes with the NCAA championship in a sport with an odd number of scheduled or completed contests or dates of competition, the injury or illness must have occurred prior to the beginning of the scheduled or completed varsity contest or date of competition that starts the second half of the season that concludes with the NCAA championship (e.g., an injury or illness occurring at any time after the beginning of the scheduled sixth game of an 11-game football schedule would be considered to be after the first half of the institution's season and would not qualify the student-athlete for a hardship waiver).
Date Issued:
Type: Official
Interpretation:
Council members received a report on the feasibility of declaring a primary playing season for each sport. The report examined the difficulty some institutions have experienced in applying the Association's hardship rule, inasmuch as some sports in Divisions I and II are not broken clearly into traditional and nontraditional segments.
It was VOTED
"That in those individual sports in which championships selection is based upon competition throughout the season, the hardship rule be applied on the basis of the entire season's competition; further, that in those sports in which championships selection is based upon competition during only a portion of the season, the hardship rule be applied on the basis of competition conducted during that portion of the year; finally, that this interpretation be published as soon as possible in The NCAA News for comment and (if necessary) reconsideration by the Council in October."