1. Brenda White & Lendsey Thomson NAIA Legislative Services
Stay in the Game
Brenda White & Lendsey Thomson
NAIA Legislative Services

2. Terms of Attendance & Identification

3. Eligibility: Academic & Athletic
Academic Eligibility
Terms of Attendance (TOA)
Limit of 10 semesters; 15 quarters
Athletic Eligibility
Seasons of Competition (SOC)
Limit of 4 seasons of competition in a given sport
*Covered in “Play in the Game” presentation*
Bylaw Article V, Section E, Item 1
Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 18

4. Terms of Attendance & Identification
Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 8/ 20
An NAIA student may only compete during the first 10 semester terms of attendance or 15 quarter terms of attendance.
Term of attendance (TOA) is any term (excluding summer sessions) in which the student becomes identified with an institution.
Identification is an association between the student and institution recognized by the NAIA.
Represent an institution in an intercollegiate contest.
Enrollment in 12 institutional credit hours as noted on the student’s official transcript.
Freshman Exception allows a freshman to identify by enrolling in 12 credits.

5. Institutional Credit Hours: Example

6. Identification: Freshman Exception
Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 8
An entering freshman will identify with an institution during the student’s first two semesters or three quarter terms:
Participation in an intercollegiate contest
Enrollment in 12 credit hours as noted on the student’s official transcript.
Exception allows for remedial/developmental courses

7. 12-Hour Enrollment Rule: Participation
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 3
To compete in any term, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 institutional credit hours.
Or enrolled in 9 institutional credit hours at the NAIA institution and at least 3 credits taken elsewhere.
All courses could be taken online.
Courses can be taken at any point in the semester
Example: 1st 8 week or 2nd 8 week courses

8. Repeat Course Rule
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 12
Courses previously passed with a “D” in any term, (including summer, non-term) and then passed with a “C” or better in the second attempt, can both count towards satisfying the 24/36-Hour Rule.
One repeat course/term previously passed with a “D” may be counted towards 12-Hour Enrollment Rule.
Excludes: Failed classes and classes for which student did not receive any credit.

9. Terms of Attendance & Identification: 21 Day Withdraw
Bylaw Article V, Section F, Item 3
If a student identified with an institution officially withdraws from that institution within 21 calendar days and returns at a later date, the student will not be charged a term of attendance for the term in which the student originally withdrew.
21 calendar days as defined by the official opening date of classes as stated in the institutional catalog
Student cannot become identified with another institution during this time period
21 Day withdraw period can apply to any institution of higher education (not just NAIA institutions)

10. Terms of Attendance & Identification: 21 Day Withdraw
Bylaw Article V, Section F, Item 4
Student identifies with institution and totally withdraws within 21 calendar days and subsequently becomes identified at an NAIA institution after remaining out of school for two full consecutive semesters (or equivalent).
The term will not count in application of Nine-Hour Rule or 24/36-Hour Rule
If student participates during the 21 days before withdrawing, then the transfer rule will apply and the term will be counted for both Nine-Hour Rule or 24/36-Hour Rule
Student will be charged a TOA regardless

11. Terms of Attendance: Two Terms of Attendance and Concurrent Enrollment
Bylaw Article V, Section F, Item 5
Can be charged two TOAs in one academic term
Identification at one institution, withdraw, and then transfer to another institution and identify.
Charge with a TOA (and zero credits earned at first institution) if the student meets the definition of identification as determined by the official transcript.
Only charged a TOA if concurrent enrollment
Identification at two institutions simultaneously and continuously
Must complete both terms

12. Term of Attendance vs. Inter-term
Bylaw Article I, Section M
Inter-term
Not a term of attendance
Student can identify by enrolling in 3/4 of normal academic load
Participation
Establishing residency
Things to think about when choosing Inter-term certification
The time in which you certify is important to consider!

13. Inter-term & Recertification
Option (a) - Stand Alone (Default option)
Inter-term is not attached to a term of attendance.
Recertify at end of Fall term and inter-term
Option (b) - Attach to First Term
Recertify at end of inter-term
Ineligible Fall students cannot gain eligibility until end of inter-term
Option (c) - Attach to Spring Term
Recertify at end of Fall term
Students who become ineligible at end of Fall terms cannot gain eligibility until end of Spring term

14. 24/36-Hour Rule

15. Intent: 24/36-Hour Rule & Progress Rule
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 6/9
24/36-Hour Rule:
Intent: students must pass coursework and earn credits in a manner consistent with the expectations for a full time student.
Bylaw focuses on terms of attendance and earning required credits over previous 2 semester/3 quarter TOA.
Progress Rule:
Intent: students must earn credits so that one’s academic achievement aligns with one’s athletic experience.
Bylaw focuses on seasons of competition and earning expected credits prior to the start of the next SOC.

16. 24/36-Hour Rule Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 6
To compete, a student must have earned:
24 credits during the student’s previous two semester TOAs; or
36 credits during the student’s previous three quarter TOAs.
This calculation may include:
“Non-term” hours earned between or after the student’s 2nd most recent TOA.
No more than 12 non-term hours can apply to the calculation.

17. 24/36-Hour Rule: Tricks of the Trade
Timing of Credits
Credits must be earned prior to the term in which the student wishes to compete
Cannot use mini-course within a TOA to earn eligibility
Cannot use summer credits if credits earned are prior to first of the two terms of attendance
If credits are transferred in, then those credits must be applied to the term of which the official transcript designates.
Example: Inter-term courses
Summer Credits
Non-identified student and summer classes:
A prospective student who has not identified with your institution prior may use all prior institutional credit taken at face value. Even if your institution does not accept the credit.
Identified student and summer classes:
Continuously identified students who enroll in summer courses outside of their institution and earn institutional credit not accepted by your institution cannot use these credits toward the 24/36-Hour Rule.

18. 24/36-Hour Rule: Most Common Exceptions
Exception 2 - AA Degree from a Junior College
No more than 5 semester/7 quarter TOAs used at Junior College
Passed all hours required for graduation in term of graduation
Less than 24 hours needed in last 2 semesters/3 quarters
Exception 3 - First term student initially competes in any intercollegiate sport
Provided the student has not previously participated in any intercollegiate sport at any institution.
If student is within first 4 semester/ 6 quarter TOAs: freshman eligibility requirements may be used instead; or
If student completes 4 semesters/ 6 quarter TOAs: cumulative 2.0 GPA on 4.0 scale may be used instead.

19. 24/36-Hour Rule: Transfers & Mixed Terms
If a student has mixed terms (quarter and semester), the credits always taken at face value.
Never convert
Always based on original transcript
If a student does not have three consecutive quarter TOAs, always use the two most recent TOAs.
For previous two terms, students needs 24 hours
Example: Semester / Quarter / Quarter

20. Progress Rule

21. Progress Rule Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 9
To compete in a student’s 2nd SOC:
24 semester / 36 quarter institutional credits accumulated.
To compete in a student’s 3rd SOC:
48 semester / 72 quarter institutional credits accumulated.
To compete in a student’s 4th SOC:
72 semester / 108 quarter institutional credits accumulated.
48 semester / 72 quarter general education and/or major institutional credits accumulated.

22. Progress Rule: Exception
A freshman who initially becomes identified after the first term in the fall shall meet this requirement by having passed 12 semester or 20 quarter institutional credit hours. This exception shall only apply to the second season of competition.

23. Progress Rule: 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
Hours will be determined based on institution’s transcript
Credits will depend on what the institution allowed to transfer
Tip: Think ahead to prevent problems from loss of hours

24. 2.0 GPA Requirement
Bylaw Article V, Section C, Item 8
Junior Academically and/or 3rd Season of Competition
Senior Academically and/or 4th 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

25. Transfer & Prospective Students

26. Transfers
Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 21
A transfer is a student who becomes identified with an NAIA institution after having previously been identified with a two-year or four-year institution of higher learning.
This does not include being identified while in a high school dual enrollment program.

27. Identification & Prospective Students
Bylaw Article V, Section B, Item 15
A Prospective Student remains a prospective student until they meet the definition of Identification.
A Prospective Student must identify first with an institution in order to:
Practice and compete with an institution’s team during the summer (May 16th- July 31st).
Practice and compete prior to the start of the institution’s academic term or between regular academic terms (inter-term).

28. Case Studies

30. Assumptions:
Assume all needed transcripts for each student are included in the provided documentation.
Assume the students did not participate anywhere other than the leagues and intercollegiate competition listed.
On the transcripts, you will not need to know what a specific symbol means on the transcript unless otherwise noted.

31. Question 1 Concept: Transferring in Inter-term Courses
Keeva identified at an NAIA institution, Ruff University, starting fall She wishes to compete in Lacrosse for the spring 2018 term, but does not meet the 24/36-Hour Rule. To help meet the rule, she decides to take intersession courses at a local community college, Meow College. Can Keeva apply the intersession courses from Meow College to meet the 24/36-Hour Rule for the spring 2018 term?
* For purposes of this question, Ruff University has evaluated this course and will apply it to their winter-intersession term.
Yes, the courses are shown as hours earned on the transcript from Meow College.
No, the courses are earned during the “Spring 2018 Term” at Meow College and cannot be applied toward eligibility for the spring 2018 term.

32. Answer 1
Answer: No, the courses are earned during the “Spring 2018 Term” at Meow College and cannot be applied toward eligibility for the spring 2018 term.
Rationale: The casebook example “Credit Hours Used for Eligibility” under Article V, Section C, Item 9 clarifies that all institutional credit hours used for eligibility must show on the transcript as earned in the term prior to the semester the student is seeking eligibility. Therefore, since the transcript from the community college listed the credit earned during the same term that the student-athlete wishes to use it toward eligibility, it cannot be used.

33. Question 2 Concept: Progress Rule Exception
Libby identifies at an NAIA institution, Tag University, for the first time in the spring 2017 semester and competes in swimming. She then transfers to another NAIA institution, Fetch University, for the fall 2017, a quarter school. She competes in swimming in the fall 2017 quarter, using the progress rule exception. After the fall of 2017, the student-athlete has earned 34 institutional credit hours and is still in the 2nd season of competition.
Now the student-athlete is being certified for the winter 2018 quarter. Per the Progress Rule, is the student-athlete eligible to compete?
Yes No

34. Answer 2
Answer: A. Yes
Rationale: The Progress Rule exception (Article V, Section C, Item 9) allows a freshman who initially became identified after the first term in the fall to meet the progress rule for the second season of competition with only passing 12 semester or 20 quarter institution credit hours. Additionally this applies to the second season of competition. Even though the student-athlete is being certified for the next quarter, the exception is applied for the whole season of competition, not a single term.

35. Question 3 Concept: Withdraws & 24/36-Hour Rule
Wrigley finishes his spring 2017 term at an NAIA institution, Pet University, after competing in his first season of competition in diving. He attends class for the first week during the fall 2017 term, but unfortunately withdraws for personal reasons. Wrigley enrolls for the fall 2017 term at a new NAIA institution, Bark College, closer to home and sits the residency period for diving. Now, he is wishing to compete in diving for Bark College during the spring 2018 term. Does Wrigley meet the 24/36-Hour Rule for the spring 2018 term?
No, he does not meet the 24/36-Hour Rule.
Yes, he does meet the 24/36-Hour Rule.

36. Answer 3 Answer: A. No, he does not meet the 24/36-Hour Rule.
Rationale: Article V, Section F, Item 5 (below) states, that a student that officially withdraws and transfers will be charged a term of attendance if they meet the definition of identification. Therefore, when calculating the 24/36-Hour Rule, the two most recent terms of attendance will be included in fall of Therefore, the student-athlete only earned 15 institutional credit hours and does not meet the 24/36-Hour Rule for the spring 2018 term.

37. Question 4 Concept: Concurrent Enrollment & Terms of Attendance
Lexie is a student-athlete at Terrier College, an NAIA institution. During the fall 2015 and spring 2016 terms, she enrolled at an online community college, Retriever College, to help her graduate sooner. Even though Lexie has not transferred the credits from Retriever College, she knows Terrier College will accept all credits earned. Terrier College’s FAR is checking on the terms of attendance used by Lexie to see how many more Lexie has left. When certifying for the spring 2018 term, how many terms of attendance would Lexie have used?
5 terms of attendance
7 terms of attendance
9 terms of attendance

38. Answer 4 Answer: B. 7 terms of attendance
Rationale: The casebook example “Concurrent Enrollment” found under Article V, Section B, Item 8 describes the student-athlete’s terms as concurrent enrollment. Therefore, she is not charged additional terms of attendance for her terms at the online community college. Instead, the only terms of attendance she has used are the seven at her NAIA institution.

39. Question 5 Concept: 24/36-Hour Rule & Graduate Students
Tank graduated with his undergraduate degree in December of 2016 from Obedience University. Utilizing the graduate transfer bylaw, Tank came to an NAIA institution, Purebred College, in the spring of 2017 to pursue a graduate degree. With one season of competition left in football, Tank is looking to compete in fall of 2017 at Purebred College. Does Tank meet the 24/36-Hour Rule for football for the fall of 2017?
* For purpose of this question, Purebred College’s graduate program considers nine hours to be full time enrollment.
Yes No

40. Answer 5
Answer: A. Yes
Rationale: Since the student-athlete earned a term of attendance from the first semester of graduate school via the casebook example “Term of Attendance – Graduate Student.” It states that a graduate student will be charged a term of attendance by enrolling in the full time enrollment as defined by the institution’s graduate school policies. Therefore, it must be used when calculating the 24/36-Hour Rule.

41. Question 6 Concept: Transfer, Prospective Student, Identification
NAIA institution, Chihuahua University, has an MBA program that is on quarter system: Fall term runs August 15th – October 15th, Winter term runs November 1st – January 15th, and Spring term runs February 1st – April 30th.
Blanca is a transfer softball student to Chihuahua University and will start the MBA program in the spring term. She arrives on campus in January and enrolls in the program that will start in February. CU will have their first softball scrimmage January 25th. Can Blanca compete for CU prior to her MBA program starting?
*for the purpose of this question – Blanca has received a decision of eligible from the Eligibility Center.
No, as a transfer student, Blanca must wait until term starts before she is able to compete.
Yes, as a prospective student who has enrolled, Blanca has identified with CU and may compete in the scrimmage on January 25th.

42. Answer 6
Answer: B. Yes, as a prospective student who has enrolled, Blanca has identified with CU and may compete in the scrimmage on January 25th.
Rationale: Per Article V, Section B, Item 15, Exception 1 – Once a prospective student identifies with their NAIA institution, they may begin practicing and be certified to compete. Additionally, Article V, Section C, Item 13 states a student enrolled in the subsequent term may compete between terms provided the students meets all eligibility requirements for the upcoming term.