RECRUITING VISIT POLICIES
WINTHROP UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Institution Philosophy for the Recruiting Visits of Prospects
The recruiting process offers prospective student-athletes an opportunity to gain more first hand knowledge regarding athletic participation at Winthrop University. This process also offers an opportunity for coaches and prospective student-athletes to understand and focus on the importance of the academic mission and programs of the institution. Through the official visit process, prospects can make an informed decision on how the athletics and educational programs at Winthrop University will prepare them for their chosen vocational area and their future contributions to society.
Winthrop University is committed to conducting prospects’ official campus visits without recruiting abuses and to avoiding the perception of impropriety. Winthrop will put forth its best efforts to educate all groups involved in the conduct of recruiting visits and will actively investigate all allegations of recruiting related misconduct. Internal controls to monitor compliance have been established and will be periodically reviewed for effectiveness. If applicable NCAA, Big South Conference, Winthrop University or criminal policies are violated, immediate disciplinary action shall be taken. Such action could include termination of University employment and permanent loss of eligibility for prospects or student-athletes.
Description of Method Used to Develop Policies
Following the passage of visit legislation by the NCAA Board of Directors in the summer of 2004, Winthrop University established an ad hoc committee to develop recruiting visit guidelines. That committee consisted of two head coaches, the athletics director and the compliance director at Winthrop University. The committee drafted policies which were reviewed by the entire staff of head coaches, the Faculty Advisory Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics, the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and the President of the University. The policies were granted final approval by the President of Winthrop University on November 29, 2004. The statement of policies was then submitted to the Commissioner of the Big South Conference.
Educational Component of Recruiting Visits
Prospective student-athletes will have the opportunity to meet with university professors in their area of academic interest. In many cases the prospect will have the opportunity to sit in during a class. The prospect will be provided a written copy of the standards for good academic standing at the university and will be briefed on the NCAA satisfactory progress standards. Individuals involved in this process will be from among the coaching staff, the Athletics Academic Coordinator and the Director of Compliance & Student Services. Prospective student-athletes will be given the opportunity to raise any questions regarding academic programs and requirements at Winthrop University.
Responsibilities of Student Host(s)
Student hosts must be current student-athletes. Recruiting visit policies and any applicable laws will be thoroughly reviewed with the student-athletes prior to their service as a student host. The student-athletes will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding the visit policies. The student-athlete host will be held responsible for full compliance with the policies, for representing the University in accordance with its stated mission for recruiting visits, and for avoiding the perception of impropriety during recruiting visit activities.
Student hosts are expected to abide by the following guidelines and sign off on their compliance with these guidelines at the completion of their host duties. These guidelines are also included on the “Official Visit Host Instructions” form (Attachment A).
1. You will receive $30.00 per day to cover costs of entertaining the prospect and the prospect’s parents. You will receive an additional $15 per day for each additional prospect you entertain. You may not supplement this amount with your own money in order to improve the entertainment. You may not use the money to purchase gifts or memorabilia. The money may not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages and absolutely no money may be provided to the prospect.
2. In addition to the entertainment money, the prospect will receive three complimentary meals per day. You may receive a complimentary meal if you are accompanying the prospect.
3. If several students host a prospect, the $30 per day entertainment money may be utilized to cover the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the prospect and all hosts. Only one student host per prospect may be provided a free meal if restaurant facilities are used.
4. All entertainment must take place within a 30 mile radius of campus. Please use good judgement and discretion when choosing entertainment activities. Not every recruit is comfortable in a “party” environment. Your recruit is not familiar with available activities and restaurants. Give them some options.
5. Hosts are not to provide alcoholic drinks from any source to the prospect.
6. Entertainment venues where there are activities including gambling, gaming, strippers, or underage use of alcoholic beverages are off limits and are prohibited from entertainment options. Gentlemen’s clubs, or the equivalent, and/or escort services are expressly prohibited.
7. You are expected to abide by all state and local laws, NCAA regulations and Winthrop University policies. Your good judgment will protect you and the recruit, and may make the difference in whether the prospect chooses Winthrop.
8. You must turn in any money left over from the cost of the entertainment.
Precommunication with Prospects and Parents/Legal Guardians
Recruiting visit policies and guidelines will be posted on the Winthrop University Athletics website. Prospective student-athletes and their parents/legal guardians will be advised of the Winthrop University recruiting visit policies prior to their arrival on campus. Head coaches are responsible for ensuring that the prospects and their parents/guardians are made aware of the policies. Prospective student-athletes and parents/guardians will be encouraged to ask questions about the recruit visit policies at Winthrop.
Forms and Receipt Policies for Prospects and Student Hosts
The official visit report form is included as Attachment B. The staff member responsible for the visit must complete the form and submit to the sport head coach for verification. The report then goes to the Athletics Business Manager for further verification and approval. Attachment A includes the guidelines for the student host (which were also given above). The student host must sign that they have read and agree to abide by the student host guidelines and they also must sign affirming that they have utilized the entertainment monies in accordance with stated policies.
Participation of Head Coaches in Communicating Standards and Policies
Head coaches must be a fundamental participant in the recruiting visit process. Head coaches are ultimately responsible for ensuring that recruiting visits in their programs are in full compliance with recruiting visit legislation, policies and applicable laws. Head coaches must be committed to and effectively communicate the policies to any individuals (e.g., student-athlete hosts, assistant coaches, student managers and athletics staff) involved in recruiting visits.
Recruiting Visit Activities
All recruiting visit activities will be in full compliance with NCAA and Big South Conference legislation, Winthrop University regulations and with all laws and ordinances of the City of Rock Hill, York County and the State of South Carolina. Such prohibitions include but are not limited to the underage use of alcohol and the use of illegal drugs. In addition, sex shall not be used as a recruiting device and sexual harassment shall not be tolerated. Finally, gambling and gaming activities and the use of strippers, escort services, gentlemen’s clubs or an equivalent entity are strictly banned from recruiting visit activities. Violations of these provisions will result in immediate and appropriate disciplinary action, which could include permanent loss of eligibility.
Curfew and Unstructured Time
The Department of Athletics expects both the student host and the visiting recruit to utilize good judgment in making decisions regarding their activities. Each student host is expected to return the visiting recruit to his/her room at a reasonable time in order for the prospect to get sufficient rest to carry out the activities of the following day and to be alert and rested. The student host should offer the visiting recruit a variety of activities.
The student host will be responsible for ensuring that all entertainment activities with the prospect do not violate the provisions of the preceding section titled “Recruiting Visit Activities”. The student host should also reinforce to the prospect that he/she is not allowed to engage in the activities of the preceding paragraph on their own time while taking their official visit to the Winthrop campus.
Reporting of Violations and Applicable Sanctions
Violations of these recruiting visit policies or of any NCAA or Big South recruiting visit policies, will be treated in the same manner as other rules violations. Violations will be judged as to whether they should be considered secondary or major. Secondary violations will be reported to the Big South Conference and those involved will receive letters of reprimand, warning and/or a review of the policies and rules to help assure no repeat occurrence. Any major violation will also be reported to the Big South Conference and the involved staff member will be subject to disciplinary action including up to loss of employment at the University. Student-athletes (including the prospect) involved in major violations are subject to disciplinary action which may include permanent loss of their eligibility.
All violations of the recruiting visit policies will be reported to the Faculty Athletic Representative and the President of the University.
ADDITIONAL NCAA LEGISLATION
The following legislation was adopted by the NCAA Board of Directors in August 2004 and went into effect immediately (i.e. effective for recruiting visits that take place during and subsequent to the 2004-05 academic year). These NCAA legislative measures are included here as a part of the Winthrop University Recruiting Visit Policies.
A. No. 2004-93 – Recruiting – Official Visits –Air Transportation.
An institution that provides air transportation for an official visit must use commercial transportation at coach-class airfare with no upgrades.
B. No. 2004-94 – Recruiting – Official Visits – Campus Transportation.
An institution that transports a prospect (and those accompanying the prospect) around campus during an official visit must use an institutional vehicle normally used to transport prospective students while visiting the institution’s campus; further, to permit coaching staff members or student hosts to use personal vehicles to transport a prospect (and those accompanying the prospect) around campus during an official visit.
C. No. 2004-95 – Recruiting – Official Visits – Meals and Lodging.
During an official visit, a prospect (and the prospect’s parents or legal guardians) must be housed in standard lodging that does not include special accessories (e.g., jacuzzis, suites) that are not available generally to all guests residing at the establishment and must eat standard meals comparable to meals provided to student-athletes during the academic year.
D. No. 2004-96 – Recruiting – Official Visits – Student Hosts.
Students who engage in any host activities for prospects on either official or unofficial visits must be either current student-athletes or students designated in a manner consistent with the institution’s policy for providing campus visits or tours to prospective students generally.
E. No. 2004-97 – Recruiting – Official Visits – Personalized Recruiting Aides.
An institution may not arrange miscellaneous, personalized recruiting aides (e.g., personalized jerseys, personalized audio/video scoreboard presentations) or engage in any game-day simulations during a prospect’s official or unofficial visit.
