Stanford Official & Unofficial Visits

Case Facts Decision Trends Waivers Stanford: Official & Unofficial Visits

Taking a closer look … What trends do we see? Is there room for more flexibility under the interpretations philosophy? What areas are there potential to pursue new legislation under our autonomy? Stanford: Official & Unofficial Visits

Case # 1 Men’s gymnastics has several recruits who would like to return to Colorado after their official visits for required national team training camp. Facts All recruits live east of Colorado so it would be cheaper to fly there versus home. Institutions may pay for a recruit to return to a site of competition if the flight costs are the same or less than if the recruit returned to the original point of departure. Decision While a national team training camp is not specifically listed within Bylaw , it was determined that a national team training camp is sufficiently related to a "site of competition" in order to allow Stanford to pay for the return leg of the recruits' flights. Trends Has anyone seen Bylaw used for other similar scenarios that don’t meet “site of competition”? Is this an area to request more flexibility under autonomy? Waivers Most waivers under Bylaw are approved when there is a student-athlete well-being issue at hand and the institution with saves money.

Case # 2 Women’s basketball has a recruit flying in Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM from Australia. The coaches would like to have her visit start Thursday morning. Facts The recruit’s travel time will be really, ridiculously long (roughly 20 hours). Institutions may provide lodging the night before an official visit starts if the recruit arrives too late. Stanford’s policy is a recruit may not fly in before 5:00 PM without their official visit starting that day. Decision While an international recruit’s long flight time is not specifically addressed within Bylaw , it was determined that a day of rest is sufficiently warranted for a student-athlete’s well being. The recruit’s visit was permitted to start Thursday morning with the requirement that our coaching staff could not trigger the start of the official visit as mandated in Bylaw The coaches had to drop her off at the hotel and could not join her for any meals. Trends Has anyone seen Bylaw used for other similar scenarios? Is this an area to request more flexibility under autonomy? Waivers The waivers approved under Bylaw address student-athlete well-being. Stanford: Official & Unofficial Visits

Case # 3 Multiple Stanford coaches have complained about recruits in the “greater bay area” not being able to receive lodging the night before their visit starts. Coaches complain it can take over 3 hours in morning traffic to get to campus and recruits can’t arrive in time for morning classes with hosts. Facts Traffic in the “greater bay area” stinks. Institutions may provide lodging the night before an official visit starts if the recruit arrives in the “locale” too late. Decision While the definition of “locale” is not specifically addressed within Bylaw , it was determined that Stanford implementing a 70 mile radius was sufficiently warranted for a student-athlete’s well being. Stanford policy now states a recruit living outside of a 70 mile radius of our campus may receive lodging the night before an official visit starts. Trends Has anyone seen Bylaw used for other similar scenarios? Is this an area to request more flexibility under autonomy? Waivers The waivers approved under Bylaw address student-athlete well-being. Stanford: Official & Unofficial Visits

Case # 4 Multiple athletic programs have expressed interest in taking recruits to tour local businesses (i.e. Google, Facebook, etc.) as entertainment during official visits. Facts Companies are within a 30 mile radius of Stanford’s campus (as required for entertainment). Touring office buildings is way cooler than playing laser tag. Decision Stanford permits athletic programs to take recruits to tour local businesses within the 30 miles radius for entertainment as noted within Bylaw It was determined that coaches may not allow additional meetings to be set-up for the recruits with employees as it could trigger contact with representatives of athletic interests. Further extra benefits may not be provided that could trigger inducements. Lastly, Stanford and the company may not publicize the recruit’s visit. Trends Has anyone seen Bylaw used for other similar scenarios? Is this an area to request more flexibility under autonomy (entertainment for more individuals associated with the recruit)? Waivers Most waivers approved under Bylaw address entertainment for nontraditional “family”. Stanford: Official & Unofficial Visits

Case # 5 Athletics staff member’s daughter is being recruited by a Stanford athletics program (2016 recruit). The staff member lives on-campus and the wife and daughter would like to host other 2016 recruits on unofficial visits. Facts The athletic program is hosting an unofficial visit weekend for 2016 recruits. Staff member’s daughter is among the 2016 recruits and verbally committed to Stanford. Staff member lives on Stanford campus (where is my on-campus housing you ask??) Stanford does not charge guests a fee who stay in dorms with students (Bylaw ) Decision While other on-campus housing is not specifically addressed within Bylaw , it was determined that it would not be permissible for recruits to stay at the staff member’s home. A staff member’s home is understandable different than a dorm room and the intention of the rule was to allow a recruit to familiarize with campus life. Trends Has anyone seen Bylaw used for other similar scenarios? Is this an area to request more flexibility under autonomy? Waivers None. Stanford: Official & Unofficial Visits

Case # 6 Marketing approached us about a Stanford student’s father wanting to do a “kick starter” to help fund a visit for Mo’Ne Davis to come to Stanford including a ticket to the Stanford vs. UCONN basketball game and to help establish her a scholarship fund. This will be a part of a campaign to close the achievement gap. Facts Mo’Ne gained fame during the Little League World Series and Chevy commercial (NCAA approved). “Unofficial visits” typically may not be funded by individuals outside of an individual’s family. Decision Clearly a fundraiser to provide an expense paid trip would be a violation of Bylaw , it was determined that the basis of the trip was athletics oriented and would be considered an unofficial visit. In addition the father would be considered a representative of athletics interest and contact rules could be violated. No one requested filing a waiver in this case. Trends Has anyone seen Bylaw used for other similar scenarios? Is this an area to request more flexibility under autonomy? Waivers Most waivers approved under Bylaw address providing expenses for community outreach scenarios. Stanford: Official & Unofficial Visits

Case # 7 One of our coaching staffs were concerned about another school giving away “gift baskets” on official visits. They were wondering if they could too. Facts Coaching staff saw on Twitter a recruit at another school posted a picture of a “gift basket”. Twitter is the bane of my existence. “Gift basket” was actually a snack basket. Snacks are permissible on official visits. Decision Under Bylaw , snacks may be provided on official visits. It was determined that a snack basket may be provided to recruits on official visits and may be adorned with school colored ribbons and name tag. No giveaways or other contents permitted. Trends Has anyone seen Bylaw used for other similar scenarios? Is this an area to request more flexibility under autonomy? Waivers Most waivers approved under Bylaw address providing meals for nontraditional family/friends. Stanford: Official & Unofficial Visits

Case # 8 The staff member who operates our recruit tailgate before football games would like to decorate. Facts Stanford football operations staff coordinate a recruit tailgate before home football games. Food is provided (charge unofficial visitors) and Stanford employees are guest speakers. Stanford football is bowl eligible (Thanks Cal!). Decision Under Bylaw & , institutions may not include decorative items or special additions to locations recruits visit. It was determined that balloons directing individuals where to go would be permissible. In addition Stanford colored candy could be placed on tables as well as necessary dining essentials (table cloth, etc). Trends Has anyone seen Bylaw & used for other similar scenarios? Is this an area to request more flexibility under autonomy? Waivers None. Stanford: Official & Unofficial Visits

Case # 9 Women’s Basketball staff would like an Australian recruit to participate in an on-campus evaluation during her official visit in Fall Facts Australian recruit exhausted her scholastic basketball eligibility in summer Decision Under Bylaw , institutions may allow on-campus evaluations in the sport of basketball with certain caveats. Our two concerns under the list of requirements that spoke more specifically towards an international student were if she could come after the first day of classes and if she had exhausted her scholastic eligibility: For purposes of conducting an on-campus evaluation, an international or home-schooled student who is not a participant on her institution's basketball team is deemed to have exhausted eligibility at the time of graduation from high school (or the international equivalent). The on-campus evaluation shall be conducted not later than the opening day of classes of the institution's fall term (the last day prior to the fall term deadline is really meant to ensure that the recruit takes her visit and conducts the on-campus evaluation prior to the start of the academic year after she graduates from high school) In addition, we discussed CARA implications and verifying who was working out with recruit. Trends Has anyone seen Bylaw used for other similar scenarios? Is this an area to request more flexibility under autonomy? Stanford: Official & Unofficial Visits

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