1. Academic Eligibility: Terms of Attendance & 12 Hour Rule
Welcome to legislative 101, academic eligibility as it pertains to terms of attendance and the 12 hour rule

2. 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)
A student my only compete during their first 10 terms of attendance at a semester school or 15 terms of attendance at a quarter school.
A term of attendance is defined as any term in which a student becomes identified with an institution. This does not include summer sessions or inter-term sessions.
Identification is an association between a student and institution that is recognized by the NAIA. This association is gained by a student participating in an intercollegiate contest or by enrolling in a minimum of 12 institutional credit hours as noted on the official transcript.
The freshman exception accounts for students who may be in required zero level/ remedial courses that are not considered to earn institutional credit. These courses will still count towards a student’s identification in being enrolled in 12 hours, even if the courses will not be considered institutional credit for meeting the 24/36 hour rule or the progress rule.

3. Academic Eligibility: 12-Hour Enrollment
To compete, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 institutional credit hours.
At least 9 institutional credit hours must be at the NAIA institution
Up to 3 institution credit hours from another institution - with prior permission from NAIA registrar – will count toward satisfying this rule
If a student drops below 12 hours at any time, student must immediately stop competing
In order for a student to compete, they must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 institutional credit hours. 9 of those hours must be taken at the NAIA institution, with 3 or more hours taken at another institution to be considered a term of attendance.
Being enrolled in 12 hours will keep a student eligible during a single term, if the student drops below 12 hours for any reason they must discontinue competition immediately. The student may not compete until they regain full-time enrollment status.

4. Academic Eligibility: 12-Hour Enrollment – Freshman Exception
EXCEPTION: An entering freshman shall identify with an institution during the student’s first two semester terms or first three quarter terms by representing an institution in an intercollegiate contest or enrolling in 12 or more credit hours with a minimum of nine credit hours at the NAIA member institution as reported by the institution’s registrar on an official transcript based on the institution’s official census date.
As the 12 hour rule pertains specifically to freshman, they must be enrolled in 12 credit hours, not specifically institutional credit hours as is required of all other students who are not classified as entering freshmen.

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