2. NCAA Eligibility Center: Overview and Updates
Christa Palmer, NCAA
Nick Sproull, NCAA
November 5, 2015

3. Game Plan What is the NCAA? Initial-Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility Center Process
Nontraditional Core Course Rules
Nontraditional Core Course Review Process

6. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
What is “initial-eligibility?”
Requirements necessary in order to:
Practice
Compete
Receive athletically-related financial aid
First year at a Division I or II campus
Subsequent academic eligibility based on progress toward degree requirements
Students may lose/gain eligibility in each term

7. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
Evolution of initial-eligibility
1973: minimum high school GPA
1986: 700 SAT/15 ACT; 11 core courses, core GPA: 2.000
1995: 700 SAT/17 ACT; 13 core courses, sliding scale (DI)
2003: Amended sliding scale, 14 core courses (DI)
2005: 14 core courses for DII
2008: 16 core courses for DI
2013: 16 core courses for DII
2016: NEW REQUIREMENTS

8. Probability of going pro

9. Who makes the rules? NCAA member institutions
Representative structure in Division I
Convention voting in Divisions II and III
Academic rules generally vetted through academic committees
Input from secondary school community

10. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
Elements of determining initial-eligibility
Graduation from high school
Minimum number of core courses
Minimum grade-point average in those core courses
Minimum SAT or ACT test score

11. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
Courses
Division I
Division II
English 4 3
Math 2
Science
Social Science
English, Math or Science 1
Other Core
Total 16
Elements of determining initial-eligibility
Graduation from high school
Minimum number of core courses
Minimum grade-point average in those core courses
Minimum SAT or ACT test score

12. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
Division I Academic Index (abbreviated)

13. New Requirements – Division I
Qualifier:
Increased sliding-scale: 2.3 minimum core-course GPA
Core-course progression requirement
Academic Redshirt
Satisfaction of current requirements, but not increased requirements
Nonqualifier

14. New Requirements – Division I
New sliding-scale
High School Portal
Core-course progression
Students must complete 10 core courses before seventh semester of high school (e.g., senior year).
Of the 10 core courses completed, seven must be in the area of English, math, or science.
These 10 core courses become “locked in” for the purpose of GPA calculation.
A repeat of one of the “locked in” courses will not be used if taken after the seventh semester begins.

15. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
Determining initial-eligibility
Division II
Minimum core-course GPA
820 SAT or 68 sum score ACT
“Partial qualifier”
Division III
No specific NCAA legislation

16. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
Role of the student
Academic achievement
Register at any time
Stay current on “tasks”
Send test scores via 9999

17. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
Role of the high school
Annually update list of core courses
Transcripts
New direct upload feature
Fee waiver requests

18. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
Definition of an NCAA core course:
English, mathematics, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language or comparative religion;
Academic, four-year college preparatory;
Algebra I or higher;
Taught by a qualified instructor; and
At or above the high school’s regular academic level

19. NCAA Eligibility Center Process
Definition of an NCAA core course:
“Typical” core courses:
AP Calculus BC, Biology, Advanced Composition, French V
“Typical” non core:
Consumer Math, Personal Finance, Resume Writing, Fundamentals of Algebra
Not so easy:
Film Literature, Transition to College Math, English 9 CP2, Conceptual Physics etc.

20. Nontraditional Courses
Prior to 2000
Nontraditional courses prohibited
Certain nontraditional cores allowed
Transition from Clearinghouse to Eligibility Center
Increased participation in nontraditional coursework

21. Nontraditional Courses
Nontraditional core courses:
Requires teacher/student access and interaction
Must be required
Must be ongoing and regular for the duration of the course
Teaching, evaluating, and providing assistance
Defined time period for completion
Student work must be made available

22. Nontraditional Courses
You be the judge

23. Nontraditional Courses
You be the judge

24. Nontraditional Courses
You be the judge

25. Nontraditional Courses
You be the judge

26. Nontraditional Courses
You be the judge

27. Nontraditional Courses
Review process
Call the Eligibility Center Customer Service toll-free number
Questionnaire
Questions regarding curriculum, instruction, interaction, feedback, transcript designations
Possible outcomes
Approved
Extended Evaluation
Not approved

28. Nontraditional Courses
Review process
Accountability and responsibility for the status of a course, program, or school lies with the entity responsible for instruction and assessment.
Accuracy and integrity
What does a list mean? What doesn’t it mean?

29. High School Portal

30. High School Portal

31. Nontraditional Courses

32. Questions?