1. Eligibility Transfer Rules
Welcome to Legislative 101! Transfer student eligibility rules

2. Eligibility Transfer Rules Definition of a Transfer
Article V, Sections F-H
Eligibility
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 serve a 16-week residency period prior to NAIA participation.
Residency Rule Exceptions:
Most recent intercollegiate participation was at 2-year institution
Did not participate at the most recent 4-year institution
Has both a 2.0 GPA and written release
A transfer student is someone who becomes identified with an NAIA school after being identified with another institution previously.
The general transfer residency rules are simple: if a student participated at a 4-year school prior to transferring, they must serve a 16-week residency period before they will be eligible to participate at the new school.
There are a few exceptions to this rule that will allow a transfer student to bypass the residency period and compete immediately given all other eligibility requirements are met. If the student’s most recent college participation was at a 2- year school or the student did not participate at their most recent 4-year school they may compete immediately. If the student did participate at their most recent 4-year school, but has a 2.0 or above GPA as well as a written release from their previous school they may also compete immediately and bypass the 16-week residency period. Again, this is assuming that all other eligibility requirements are met.

3. Eligibility Transfer Rules
Article V, Sections F-H
Eligibility
Transfer Rules
Transfer student who represents 2 institutions in one academic year can be charged 2 SOCs in a 12-month period
JuCo Exception: JuCo grad who participated at JuCO, transfers to NAIA school in same sport season and is otherwise eligible
Mid-Year Transfers and Spring Events
Student must be certified as eligible to participate in next SOC
Applies even for spring scrimmages, where student won’t be charged a SOC
Transfer students who represent 2 institutions in one academic year may be charged 2 seasons of competition in a 12-month period.
students who play and graduate from a 2-year institution and transfer to a NAIA school in the same sport season are exempt from being charged 2 seasons of competition.
For spring sports: mid-year transfer students must be certified eligible in order to participate in their next season of competition.
This applies even for spring scrimmages, where students won’t be charged a season of competition.

4. Release vs. Permission to Contact
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
A permission to contact is not a concept that exists in the NAIA. The requirement for coaches to notify an institution of contact with a student looking to transfer is required within 10 days of the initial contact with the student. This is required of the coach regardless of if they or the student initiated the contact.
A release is needed from the previous schools Athletic Director in order for a transfer student to be eligible for the transfer residency exception. This release is not necessary to allow for communication between a coach and a student.

5. Transfer Rules: Suspensions
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
Transfers who were suspended for any reason, including athletic department policy from their previous institution must serve 2 semesters or 3 quarters of residency at the NAIA school they intend to compete at. Or, they must fulfill the terms of their original suspension, whichever is shorter.
Note: violation of team rules does not equal institutional athletic department policy
Suspension for misconduct in competition must be served at the NAIA school before competing.
There is an exception to this rule that wouldn’t require the student to sit the residency period if they were suspended for not meeting academic standards of the institution but do still meet NAIA rules and they haven’t played college athletics for 1 calendar year from the time they were suspended.

6. Contact Legislative Services
Questions?
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