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

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: NAIA Eligibility Center Situation Analysis  “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. Eligibility Center: Reactivation

Academic Eligibility

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 Academic Eligibility: Terms of Attendance

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: Inter-term Article I, Section M

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: Terms of Attendance

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 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 Identification: Institutional Withdrawal

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

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

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

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

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

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: 2 nd Term Freshman Article V, Section C, Item 5

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. Academic Eligibility: Continuing Eligibility

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

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

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 Institutional Credits:  Stuff. Academic Eligibility: 24|36-Hour Rule Article V, Section C, Item 6

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

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

 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 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. Academic Eligibility: 2.0 GPA Requirement Article V, Section C, Items 8 & 9 Cum GPA =

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 term:  24/36 hours in last 2 semester/3 quarter TOAs, OR  For 2 nd 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 Academic Eligibility: Military Service Exception Article V, Section C, Items 8 & 9

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

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

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

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

1st season Article V, Section B, Item 18 Academic Athletic HS Grad. Fall 2014 Sp Sm st SOC Identified Both Semesters 1 st SOC Seasons of Competition: 12-Month Window

1st season Article V, Section B, Item 18 Academic Athletic HS Grad. Fall 2014 Sp Sm. 2015Fall 2015 Sp Sm Identified Both Semesters 1 st SOC Identified Fall Semester 2 nd SOC Break in Enrollment Non-Collegiate Seasons of Competition: 12-Month Window

1st season Article V, Section B, Item 18 Academic Athletic HS Grad. Fall 2014 Sp Sm. 2015Fall 2015 Sp Break in Enrollment ? 1st SOC Identified Fall Semester Seasons of Competition: Participation after May 15th

Transfer Rules Article V, Sections F-H

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. Transfer Rules Article V, Sections F-H

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

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 Transfer Rules: Suspensions Article V, Sections F-H

Required:  NAIA Official Eligibility Certificate  NAIA Certificate of Clearance When applicable:  Transfer Eligibility Statement  Eligibility Certificate for Entering Freshmen  Competitive Experience Form Article V, Section J Eligibility Certification Forms

 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 Eligibility Certification: Emerging and Year 1 Invitational Sports Article V, Sections F-H

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