Eligibility 2.0: Advanced Applications

Chesney Allen & Matt Hanson NAIA Legislative Services

Today’s Focus: Applications and Intricacies      Academic Eligibility Athletic Experience Transfer Situations Campus Responsibilities Eligibility Forms & Documents

 All first-time NAIA participants must register at www.playnaia.org

and receive an eligible determination prior to participating in any contest (scrimmage, exhibition or regular season).

Eligibility Center: Reactivation

Reactivation:

The process by which the NAIA Eligibility Center provides an updated eligibility determination.

Reactivation is determined based on the

NAIA Eligibility Center

  

Situation Analysis

. Reactivation is required:   “Not eligible” determination “Eligible”, no competition, break in enrollment “Eligible”, no competition, transfer Registration, no NAIA enrollment “Eligible” in sport

A

, subject to Competitive Experience Rule, competition in sport

B

before competition in sport

A

.

Academic Eligibility

Academic Eligibility: Terms of Attendance An NAIA student may only compete during the first 10 semester terms of attendance or 15 quarter terms of attendance.

 TOA is any term (excluding summer sessions, inter-terms) in which the student becomes identified with an institution.

Inter-term

  Not a term of attendance Student can identify by enrolling in 3/4 of normal academic load

Note: use 2/3 if inter-term courseload is divisible by 3

 Participation  Establishing residency

Article I, Section M Academic Eligibility: Inter-term

Option a. Stand Alone (4-1-4)

 Recertify at end of Fall term and inter-term

Option b. Attach to First Term (5-4)

 Recertify at end of inter-term  Ineligible Fall students cannot gain eligibility until end of inter-term

Option c. Attach to Spring Term (4-5)

 Recertify at end of Fall term  Students who become ineligible at end of Fall terms cannot gain eligibility until end of Spring term

Default = Option a

Academic Eligibility: Terms of Attendance An NAIA student may only compete during the first 10 semester terms of attendance or 15 quarter terms of attendance.

 TOA is any term (excluding summer sessions) in which the student becomes identified with an institution.

Identification:

An association between the student and institution recognized by the NAIA.

 Participation in an intercollegiate contest  Enrollment in 12 institutional credit hours as noted on the student’s official transcript (Freshman Exception)

Academic Eligibility: Institutional Credit Hours

Definition

: Any credit hour attributed to a course that is recorded on the transcript with a grade and credit hours earned.

Identification: Freshman Exception An entering freshman will identify by:  Participation in an intercollegiate contest  Enrollment in 12 credit hours as noted on the student’s official transcript.

Identification: Institutional Withdrawal

Identification Followed by Complete Withdrawal

 Within 21 days of the start of classes:   If later returns and no other ID = no TOA If no enrollment for full academic year then transfer to NAIA school = TOA  Not in Nine-Hour Enrollment Rule or 24/36-Hour Rule  Beyond 21 days from start of classes = TOA

Article V, Section C, Item 3 Academic Eligibility: 12-Hour Enrollment To compete in any term, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 institutional credit hours.

Article V, Section C, Item 2 Academic Eligibility: Entering Freshman Requirements A student is considered an entering freshman until he/she has identified with a post-secondary institution of higher education for at least 2 semesters/3 quarters.

Freshman must meet 2 out of 3 requirements:

   2.0 Cumulative GPA Finish in top half of the student’s graduating class Minimum standardized test scores of:   18 on the ACT; or 860 on the SAT (Math & Reading only) Early determination are available after a student’s 6 th and/or 7 th semesters of high school.

Article V, Section C, Item 2 Academic Eligibility: Entering Freshman Requirements

2.0 Cumulative GPA Requirement

Multiple GPAs:

 Use GPA used to determine class rank   If multiple ranks, use rank for determining valedictorian If no valedictorian, use weighted over unweighted rank  If don’t rank but offer Academic GPA vs. Overall GPA:  Use Overall GPA (Academic GPA: doesn’t include activity or elective classes)

Article V, Section C, Item 2 Academic Eligibility: Entering Freshman Requirements

Class Rank Requirement

 Only accept class rank calculated after 8 th semester of high school

Multiple Class Ranks:

 If there are multiple variations of class rank:  Use rank used to determine valedictorian  If no class rank appears on the transcript:  Can accept a letter from the principal/headmaster certifying student graduated in top 50%

Article V, Section C, Item 2 Academic Eligibility: Entering Freshman Requirements

Standardized Test Scores

 “Super Scores” not accepted  SAT: Critical Reading and Math section only; Writing section not applicable  Must be earned prior to start of semester to be used for eligibility  Vacated Scores:   No longer count toward eligibility requirement If student has already participated, does not constitute ineligible participation

Article V, Section C, Item 5 Academic Eligibility: 2 nd Term Freshman To participate in the student’s second TOA, the student must:   Have met entering freshman requirements (2 of 3); and Have earned at least 9 credits prior to the second term

Academic Eligibility: Continuing Eligibility

24|36-Hour Rule:

 Passing coursework and earning credits in a manner consistent with the expectations for a full time student.

 Concerned with terms of attendance and earning expected credits over previous 2 semester/3 quarter TOA/

Progress Rule:

 Earning credits so that one’s academic achievement aligns with one’s athletic experience.

 Concerned with seasons of competition and earning expected credits prior to the start of the next SOC.

Article V, Section C, Item 6 Academic Eligibility: 24|36-Hour Rule Exceptions 1. Student participation and withdrawal   Identifies by participating; Occurs before school begins Only if 12 hour enrollment not shown on transcript 2. AA Degree from a JuCo    No more than 5 semester/7 quarter TOAs used Passed all hours required for graduation in term of graduation Less than 24 hours needed in last 2 semesters/3 quarters 3. First term of collegiate competition in any sport  Applies to first term in which student competes   In first 4 semester TOAs: freshman eligibility requirements In 5+ semester TOAs: cumulative 2.0 GPA on 4.0 scale

Article V, Section C, Item 6 Academic Eligibility: 24|36-Hour Rule

Transfers/Mixed-Terms:

 If a student has mixed terms (quarter and semester):  Credits always taken at face value  Never convert  Always based on original transcript  Unless student has three consecutive quarter TOAs, always use the two most recent TOAs  For previous two terms, students needs 24 hours  Example: Quarter / Semester / Quarter

Article V, Section C, Item 6 Academic Eligibility: 24|36-Hour Rule

Repeat Courses:

 Repeats previously passed with a “D” or better in any term (including summer, non-term) cannot count towards 24/36 hour rule.

Excludes:   Failed classes Classes for which student did not receive any credit  One repeat course/term previously passed with a “D” may be counted towards 12-Hour Enrollment Rule.

 Repeat: sufficiently similar in content and description   Course catalog description and registrars on campus Structure, credits awarded, supplementary components, for majors or non-majors, where the course is in the sequence

Article V, Section C, Item 9 Academic Eligibility: Progress Rule

To compete in a student’s 2 nd SOC:

 24 semester / 36 quarter institutional credits accumulated

To compete in a student’s 3 rd



SOC:

48 semester / 72 quarter institutional credits accumulated

To compete in a student’s 4 th SOC:

  72 semester / 108 quarter institutional credits accumulated.

48 semester / 72 quarter general education and/or major institutional credits accumulated

Article V, Section C, Item 9 Academic Eligibility: Progress Rule

Incoming Transfers

 First term of identification   Take all past transcripts at face value Check for institutional credit hours, not just cumulative total  Second term of identification  Rely on your transcript’s cumulative hours earned total  Tip: Think ahead to prevent problems from loss of hours

Article V, Section C, Items 8 & 9 Academic Eligibility: 2.0 GPA Requirement   Junior academically and/or 3rd Season of Competition, or Senior Academically and/or 4 th Season of Competition Calculating GPA  First TOA at your institution: cumulative GPA from all transcripts Cum GPA = Total Quality Points achieved Total GPA Hrs. attempted  After initial TOA at your institution: use institution's cumulative GPA policy for all students   Retention/Graduation GPA is only used if it is the only GPA If multiple “cumulative GPAs” appear, use whichever GPA institution uses to determine honors, graduation, etc.

Article V, Section C, Items 8 & 9 Academic Eligibility: Military Service Exception When released from military service, immediately eligible if enroll in 12 institutional credit hours  Minimum 1+ year of continuous active duty  Applies first 2 semester/3 quarters terms following release from active duty To retain eligibility in 2 nd   24/36 hours in last 2 semester/3 quarter TOAs, OR For 2 nd term: term students, earn 9 hours in immediately previous TOA

SOC Exception:

No SOC charged if representing military (base or intra-military team) in non-intercollegiate competition

Athletic Eligibility: Seasons of Competition Article V, Section B, Item 18

Article V, Section B, Item 18 Athletic Eligibility: Seasons of Competition A student may compete in 4 SOC that include a combination of: 

Intercollegiate competition

  Varsity and subvarsity (JV and/or freshman) Transfer students’ SOC are determined by previous association 

Non-collegiate competition (elite-level)

 Participation in leagues or experiences that meet the evaluative criteria for determining a chargeable league.

 PSAY – 12 month “grace period” after high school.

Article V, Section B, Item 18 Article V, Section M Athletic Eligibility: Intercollegiate SOC

Rely on Determination of Previous Athletic Association

   NCAA Division I and II: “% of Season” redshirt rules NCAA Division III: practice after start of scheduled games NJCAA: championship season vs. non-championship season

Unattached Exception

 Enrolled full-time at NAIA institution  Must meet

all

7 criteria: school does not provide travel, meals, lodging or enter student in event; no uniform; student informed not covered by school insurance; maintains amateur standing  If not, exception is not met = student represented institution = SOC

Article V, Section B, Item 18(b) Athletic Eligibility: Non-Collegiate Competition 

12-Month Window

 In general, a student cannot be charged two seasons of competition in a single 12-month period  Exception: Mid-year transfer 

In-progress Season: participation after May 15 th

 Non-collegiate participation after May 15 th (summer or fall) will be charged with participation occurring in the subsequent academic year.

Seasons of Competition: 12-Month Window

Identified Both Semesters 1 st SOC SOC

1st season Article V, Section B, Item 18

Seasons of Competition: 12-Month Window

Identified Both Semesters Identified Fall Semester Break in Enrollment

Article V, Section B, Item 18

1 st SOC 2 nd SOC

1st season

Seasons of Competition: Participation after May 15th

Identified Fall Semester

Break in Enrollment

1 st

?

1st season Article V, Section B, Item 18

Transfer Rules Article V, Sections F-H

Article V, Sections F-H Transfer Rules

Definition of a Transfer

 A student who becomes identified with an NAIA school after having been previously identified with another institution.

General Transfer Residency Rule

 A student with prior participation at a 4-year institution must sit a 16-week residency period prior to NAIA participation.

 Residency Rule Exceptions:  The student’s most recent intercollegiate participation was at 2-year institution  The student did not participate at the most recent 4 year institution  The student has a 2.0 GPA and written release.

Article V, Sections F-H Transfer Rules: Release vs. Permission to Contact 

Permission to Contact

  Concept doesn’t exist in NAIA 10-day requirement is notification only, permission not required 

Release

 Exception to Transfer Residency requirement  Must be signed by previous institution’s AD

Article V, Sections F-H Transfer Rules: Suspensions Transfer suspended for any reason, including athletic dept. policy:   2 semesters/3 quarters of residency at NAIA school, OR Fulfill terms/period of original suspension

Note:

  Violation of team rules ≠ institutional athletic dept policy Misconduct in competition suspension must be served at NAIA school before competing

Exception:

Not required if:   Suspension was academic but meets NAIA rules, AND not played college sports for 1 calendar year from suspension

Eligibility Certification Forms Article V, Section J

Required:

 NAIA Official Eligibility Certificate  NAIA Certificate of Clearance

When applicable:

 Transfer Eligibility Statement  Eligibility Certificate for Entering Freshmen  Competitive Experience Form

Article V, Sections F-H Eligibility Certification: Emerging and Year 1 Invitational Sports  Emerging Sports and Year 1 Invitational Sports:     Not governed by NAIA rules NGB determines eligibility rules Certification is required Contact eligibility chair on specifics of to certify  Year 2 Invitational Sports:  All NAIA eligibility rules apply, including Eligibility Center requirement

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