There are many NCAA rules that apply to the recruiting process. While you were being recruited by Winthrop University (or anyone else) you should NOT have received:
· Cash or any other items of value or promises from anyone associated with Winthrop.
· Correspondence or phone calls from anyone other than Winthrop staff members.
· Promises, gifts of any items of value, or “free” tickets to any events other than complimentary tickets for athletic events held on campus.
· Gifts to family from the institution, including promises, gifts of value, and job promotions or new job offers contingent upon your decision to attend Winthrop.
If any of these has occurred, or if you are unsure of something that happened during your recruitment, you should contact the Office of Compliance immediately at (803) 323-2129 ext. 6227.
Below are rules that apply to you as a currently enrolled student-athlete at Winthrop University. Each section spotlights different aspects affecting you as a student-athlete, from eligibility issues to financial assistance. This document is in no way exhaustive. Also, feel free to look through the Winthrop Student-Athlete Handbook for other information regarding conduct of Winthrop student-athletes. If you should have any questions regarding any of this information, feel free to contact the Office of Compliance at (803) 323-2129 ext. 6227.
While you are a student-athlete at Winthrop, you are obligated to abide by NCAA, Big South Conference, and University rules. The Office of Compliance is ready to assist you with all of these issues. The staff will conduct an annual rules education session with each team and periodic updates as needed during the course of the academic year. Student-athletes are encouraged to ask questions and utilize the resources available in the Office of Compliance. Below are rules that apply to your athletic and academic eligibility while you are here at Winthrop.
To Maintain Your Eligibility, You Must…
Be academically eligible to attend Winthrop University. This means you must maintain a grade point average that places you in good academic standing at Winthrop.
12-Hour Rule
To be eligible for practice, competition, and financial aid, you must be enrolled in a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. If you need fewer than 12 credit hours to graduate, you may enroll in only these final hours and still be eligible for practice, competition, and financial aid.
The Six-Hour Rule
A student-athlete must successfully complete at least six (6) degree relevant credit hours in a regular term to be eligible for competition that takes place during the next regular term. Graduate students must also abide by this regulation along with satisfying conference and university eligibility terms.
NCAA Five-Year Rule
The NCAA states that you have five (5) calendar years in which to complete four (4) years of competition in a sport. This five-year clock begins when you become a full-time student at any collegiate institution and is continuous. If you are not enrolled in school at any time during these five (5) years, you do not regain that time. In special cases, you may be granted an extension of the five-year eligibility clock.
Progress Toward Degree Requirements
The NCAA has recently revised its academic standards in an attempt to ensure the established measures increase the graduation rates of student-athletes. As a result, there are two different academic standards operating concurrently for all student-athletes. The standard that applies to you can be determined by your date of enrollment as follows:
Class Enrollment Changes
This rule prevents you from making changes in your academic schedule that could jeopardize your eligibility status. You must have approval from the Student-Athlete Services Office before dropping a class. If approval is granted, you must submit changes in your enrollment (adding/dropping courses, late enrollment, instructor drops, etc.) before the published deadlines set by Winthrop in order to ensure that your records are accurate and complete.
To maintain your eligibility, you must:
1) Complete twenty-four (24) credits prior to second (2nd) year of enrollment.
2) Eighteen (18) credits must be earned during the academic year (excluding summer).
3) Six (6) credits must be earned in the previous regular academic term of full-time enrollment.
4) Declare a major no later than the beginning of your fifth (5th) semester or third (3rd) year of enrollment and, thereafter, complete the required credits in courses applicable to your declared major.
5) Complete 40%, 60%, and 80% of your degree requirements before the beginning of your third, fourth and fifth years of enrollment, respectively.
6) Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average that is 90% of minimum GPA required to graduate (1.8) at the beginning of your second year, 95% of the minimum GPA (1.9) at the beginning of the third year and 100% of the minimum GPA (2.0) the fourth and fifth year.
Redshirting
Redshirting, an informal reference to the official NCAA term “non-compete year”, is used when a student-athlete does not participate in any competition during a particular academic year (i.e., neither in the championship nor the non-championship segment of the playing season). A student-athlete may be non-competed at any point in his/her career.
Medical Hardship
If a student-athlete suffers a season-ending injury or illness after competing in a limited amount of competition during a particular academic year, he/she may qualify for a medical hardship waiver, sometimes referred to as a “medical redshirt”, which would allow him/her an additional season of competition during the five-year eligibility period. To qualify for a medical hardship:
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The student-athlete’s injury/illness must occur in one of the four seasons intercollegiate competition, or during the student’s senior year in high school;
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The injury/illness must occur prior to the completion of the first half of the playing season that concludes with the NCAA championship in that sport and must result in incapacity to compete for the remainder of that season; and
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The injury/illness must occur when the student-athlete has not participated in more than two (2) contests/dates of competition or 20% of Winthrop’s scheduled contests/dates of competition in his/her sport.
AMATEURISM & EXTRA BENEFITS
Employment
Prior approval is required for any employment arrangement to ensure you do not jeopardize your eligibility. A student-athlete may receive earnings from legitimate on-or off-campus employment during the academic year and school vacation periods. Failure to meet NCAA employment bylaws could jeopardize not only your own athletics eligibility, but that of your team. Whether or not you are on an athletics scholarship, you and your employer must complete an Employment Form before beginning employment verifying that:
· You obtained the employment through established hiring protocol.
· You are not receiving payment based on any publicity, reputation, fame, or personal following you have gained from your athletic ability.
· You are compensated only for work you have actually performed.
· Your rate of pay is the normal rate of pay for the duties performed.
· You are only compensated for hours and work you have actually completed or performed.
· You are not paid in advance for hours to be worked.
· If you are provided with transportation to work, such transportation is available to all employees.
Upon completion, this form should be returned to the Compliance Office. At all times during your athletics eligibility, you and your employment must comply with all NCAA, Big South Conference and Winthrop regulations.
12.4.2.1 Fee-for-Lesson Instruction
A student-athlete may receive compensation for teaching or coaching sport skills or techniques in his or her sport on a fee-for-lesson basis, provided:
1. Institutional facilities are not used;
2. Playing lessons shall not be permitted;
3. The institution obtains and keeps on file documentation of the recipient of the lesson(s) and the fee for the lesson(s) provided during any time of the year; and
4. The compensation is paid by the lesson recipient (or the recipient's family) and not another individual or entity.
5. Instruction to each individual is comparable to the instruction that would be provided during a private lesson when the instruction involves more than one individual at a time.
6. The student-athlete does not use his or her name, picture or appearance to promote or advertise the availability of fee-for-lesson sessions.
Before a student-athlete begins giving a fee-for-lesson instruction, he/she must meet with the Compliance Office.
Extra Benefits
Accepting extra benefits or illegal aid, knowingly or not, is a serious violation of NCAA rules that could cost you your eligibility, your scholarship, and your right to compete in intercollegiate athletics. Student-athletes are only allowed to receive benefits that also are offered to the general student population. Be extremely careful of "free" or "special" benefits that you may be offered. If any of these items or services are offered to you by someone other than a family member, or for clarification of what may be considered as illegal aid, notify your coach or the Compliance Office immediately.
Examples of extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
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Gifts or loans of clothing, stereo equipment, compact discs, food, beverages
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Transportation
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Use of an automobile
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Low interest or interest-free loans, telephone cards, credit cards, charge accounts, etc.
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Exceeding the allotted number of complimentary admissions
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Money from selling complimentary admissions
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Special discounts on products or services
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Special payment arrangements on personal purchases
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Material benefits that are not available to the general student body
Promotional/Charity Appearances for Student-Athletes
The NCAA amateurism legislation regulates the manner in which student-athletes may participate in promotional activities. Any use of a student-athlete's name, picture or appearance to support Winthrop University or a charitable, educational or nonprofit organization requires prior approval by the Compliance Office under NCAA legislation. Failure to obtain prior approval could affect a student-athlete's eligibility.
Procedure for Approval
All requests for a Winthrop student-athlete appearance must be approved though the following procedure:
1. If a student-athlete is requested to make an appearance at any event, please contact the Compliance Office at (803) 323-2129 ext. 6227 or print and fax the
Student-Athlete Appearance Form to (803) 323-2433.
2. Upon receipt of the request form, our office will review and determine if appearance is permissible under NCAA legislation.
3. If approved, the Compliance Office will contact the entity or organization and inform them of the decision made on the Student-Athlete Appearance Form and provide a contact name for scheduling the appearance.
Please do not allow a student-athlete appearance to be made unless you receive approval from the Compliance Office.
Gambling
Gambling in any respect is strictly forbidden. The NCAA has initiated its “Don’t Bet on It” campaign over the past decade. NCAA regulations prohibit student-athletes and the athletics department's staff members from engaging in the following:
a. Providing information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition;
b. Accepting a bet on any team representing the institution;
c. Soliciting or accepting a bet on any intercollegiate competition for any item (e.g. cash, shirt, dinner) that has tangible value;
d. Engaging in any activities designed to influence the outcome of an intercollegiate athletics contest; or
e. Participating in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics through a bookmaker, a parlay card, or any other method employed by organized gambling.
FINANCIAL AID AND EMPLOYMENT
NCAA regulations limit the amount of financial aid a student-athlete may receive. “Financial aid” refers to funds provided to student-athletes from various sources to pay or assist in paying their cost of education at Winthrop, including athletic scholarships, federal grants, and outside financial awards (e.g., Lions Club, Rotary Club, etc.). For further information regarding institutional financial aid possibilities, visit the
Winthrop Office of Financial Aid.
Athletics Scholarships
A student-athlete may receive up to five (5) years of athletically-related financial aid within six (6) years of initial full-time collegiate enrollment. There is no guaranteed four-year athletics scholarship at Winthrop. An athletics scholarship is awarded for one (1) academic year, but it may be renewed at the end of each academic year. Student-athletes will receive notification by July 1 regarding the renewal/non-renewal of his/her athletics scholarship. If the scholarship is not renewed, a hearing will be provided to the student-athlete.
Additional Financial Assistance
Before accepting any financial assistance in addition to your partial or full athletics grant-in-aid, talk to the Office of Compliance. You must report all forms of financial assistance, including outside grants, scholarships and loans. All funding must comply with Big South Conference and NCAA rules and regulations. Your additional financial assistance may count toward team scholarship limitations as established by the NCAA, so be sure to contact the Office of Compliance.
NCAA Special Assistance Fund
The NCAA provides a fund to assist student-athletes with special financial needs. You may be eligible to receive money from the NCAA Special Assistance Fund if you:
· Are a Pell Grant-eligible student. This includes student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility or cannot participate in athletics because of medical reasons. This does not include non-qualifiers in their initial year of residence; and
· A student-athlete who receives countable, athletically-related financial aid, and who has a demonstrated financial need (you will need to complete the required FAFSA information to show “unmet need”); or
· A foreign student-athlete who has need. The Office of Financial Aid must certify in writing that you have sufficient need (you will need to complete the required FAFSA information to show “unmet need”).
If you are eligible to receive money from the NCAA Special Assistance Fund, you may use the funds for the following expenses:
· Essential purchases, such as clothing and shoes (entertainment is not included in these expenses).
· Supplies for academic courses (general school supplies such as notebooks and pens) and rental of equipment (such as cameras, computer time) that are required for all students enrolled in a particular course.
· Medical and dental treatment not paid for by your insurance coverage (premiums for optional medical insurance, hearing aids, vision therapy, psychological counseling).
· Travel and other costs due to family emergencies.
These funds are available if you meet the qualifications. If you think you are eligible to receive aid from the NCAA Special Assistance Fund, complete the SAF Form and contact the Office of Compliance.
NCAA Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund
The receipt of money from the NCAA Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund for student-athletes is not included in determining the permissible amount of financial aid that a member institution may award to a student-athlete. Member institutions and conferences shall not use money received from the fund to finance salaries, grants-in-aid (other than summer school) for student-athletes with remaining eligibility, capital improvements and stipends.
Student-Athletes from other institutions (transferring in)
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If a coach is interested in speaking to a student-athlete at another institution, or if a coach or member of the athletic department staff is contacted by a student-athlete at another institution for the purpose of transferring, the coach or staff member should notify the student-athlete that under NCAA rules, it is not permissible to discuss transferring without first obtaining written permission from that institution’s Director of Athletics.
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The coach or staff member should immediately notify the Compliance Office of the request. The Compliance Office will send a letter and a One-Time Transfer Form to the institution’s Director of Athletics.
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Once the form is completed and returned to the Compliance Office, the Compliance Office will notify the coach, in writing, whether or not the institution granted permission to contact the student-athlete
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Once a student-athlete receives permission to contact Winthrop, the student-athlete is considered a prospective student-athlete and would be eligible for an official visit.
Student-Athletes at Winthrop University (transferring out)
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When the Compliance Office is notified that a Winthrop University student-athlete is requesting permission to contact another institution for the purpose of transferring, the Compliance Office will contact the head coach for approval.
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If the coach approves the request, the Compliance Office will send a letter to the Director of Athletics at the other institution granting permission for that institution to contact the student-athlete once the student-athlete completes the exit interview process with the Faculty Athletics Representative.
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If the head coach does not approve the request, the Compliance Office will then notify the Athletic Director that the request was not approved. If the Athletics Director decides not to grant permission, the student-athlete and the institution will be notified of the decision. In addition, the student-athlete will be notified of a hearing opportunity.
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If the student-athlete requests a hearing, the student-athlete and a representative of the athletics department will attend the hearing, and each will have the opportunity to present information and documentation to the committee. The committee that hears the case will include the Faculty Advisory Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics (FACIA). The FACIA chair will serve as chair of the committee that hears the case. The committee will render a decision and provide the student-athlete and the Athletics Department with a written statement.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
The above information does not explain every NCAA rule. Also, NCAA rules are constantly changing. Do not do something to put Winthrop University or yourself as a currently enrolled student-athlete at risk of a penalty or loss of eligibility. Remember ASK BEFORE YOU ACT. Please call the Winthrop Office of Compliance if you have any concerns:
Scott McDonald,
Associate Athletic Director for
Compliance, Student Services and Donor Relations
Winthrop Coliseum
(803) 323-2129 ext. 6227
