Bylaw 14 Advanced: Transfers and Good Academic Standing

2. Bylaw 14 Advanced: Transfers and Good Academic Standing

3. Agenda • Transfers. • Graduate student participation. • New legislation. • Change in eligibility.

4. Transfers

5. Foundational Transfer Rule • The SA who transfers to a member institution from any collegiate institution is required to complete an academic year in residence at the certifying institution before being eligible to compete or receive travel expenses. Bylaw 14.5.1

6. Common Transfer Triggers • Student-athlete attended a class while enrolled full-time at a collegiate institution. ​ • SA reported for a regular squad practice.​ • SA participated in athletics while enrolled less than full time. Bylaw 14.5.2

7. Multiple Transfer Situation • Prior to determining if a transfer exception applies, it is important to determine transfer history.  ​ • No matter how many transfers – a student is either a 4-4, 4-2-4 or a 2-4 transfer.  ​ • 2-2-4-4 = 4-4. • 2-4-2-2-2-4 = 4-2-4.

8. 4-4 Transfer Exceptions Bylaw 14.5.5.1.1

9. 4-2-4 Transfer Exceptions Bylaws 14.5.4.1-(c), 14.5.4.1.1

10. 2-4 Transfer Exceptions Bylaws 14.5.4.1-(a), 14.5.4.1-(b)

11. Two-Year Nonparticipation Exception • Applicable to two-year and four-year transfers.​ • Transfer SA is eligible if they have not participated in their sport for at least two calendar years before the date the SA begins participation at the institution. • Two calendar years must be consecutive.​ Bylaws 14.5.4.2, 14.5.5.1.3

12. Two-Year Nonparticipation Exception • Time before SA first enrolls in college does not count.​ • Practicing or competing on a college or amateur team while enrolled in college would count as "participation."​ • Nonparticipation is sport-specific. Bylaws 14.5.4.2, 14.5.5.1.3

13. Case Study No. 1: 4-2-4 Transfer • Read Supplement No. 1. • Identify transfer issues and review discussion points.

14. Case Study No. 1: 4-2-4 Transfer

15. Graduate Student Participation

16. Graduate Student Participation • 2018 legislative change. • Applicable to SAs who graduated from any Division III institution. • The SA does not need to be enrolled in the semester immediately before postgraduate participation.  

17. Graduate Student Participation • Therefore, the SA could take a break following completion of their baccalaureate degree prior to participating as a graduate SA. • Graduate/postbaccalaureate SAs graduating from non-Division III institutions would not have access to the transfer exceptions, nor would they be eligible under Bylaw 14.1.9.

18. Graduate Student Participation Directive: Compelling and Exemplary Academic Success http://www.ncaa.org/governance/committees/division-iii-subcommittee-legislative-relief-slr

19. Case Study No. 2:Graduate Student Participation • Read Supplement No. 2. • Identify issues and review discussion points.

20. Case Study No. 2

21. 2019-20 Amended Directive 1. The student-athlete graduated with an undergraduate degree ahead of schedule (i.e., in less that four academic years)within four academic years; 2. The student-athlete has seasons of participation remaining.  A season of participation shall be determined based on Division III Bylaw 14.2.4.1, regardless where (e.g., other NCAA division, NAIA) the participation occurs; 3. SA continued/maintained education as full-time student rather than having breaks in enrollment for no reason/circumstances beyond their control; and 4. SA possesses a minimum 3.000 cumulative grade-point average.

22. New Legislation – Bylaw 14

23. New Legislation • 2019-6: FINAL TERM BEFORE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING REQUIREMENT. • Intent: To extend the existing final term exception to the full-time enrollment requirement to include student-athletes that are carrying (for credit) all courses necessary to complete degree requirements but have an outstanding experiential learning requirement.

24. 2019-6 (Cont'd) • SA is permitted to practice and compete while less than FT provided: • In final term carrying all courses needed to graduate, other than experiential learning requirement. • To remain eligible a SA must participate in experiential learning requirement not later than the following term.

25. 2019-6 (Cont'd) • Experiential learning requirement is defined by each institution. • Examples include internships, co-op, practicum, student-teaching. • Bylaw 14.1.8.1.6.4 (Cooperative Education Work Experience Program).

26. How does this work? • SA needs six credit hours and an experiential learning requirement (considered FT) to complete degree: Term A Term B Six hours Exp. learning

27. How does this work? • SA needs 6 credit hours and an experiential learning requirement (not considered FT) to complete degree: Term ATerm B Six hours Exp. learning plus credits

28. Case Study • SA needs six credit hours to complete all course work for degree. The SA would then need four terms of clinical classes to complete their degree. • Would the SA be eligible to practice and compete if enrolled in just the six hours before starting clinicals?

29. Answer • The SA must enroll full-time in last term of regular course work. • Intent was for SA to enroll in an experiential learning requirement in their final term.

30. Change in Eligibility

31. Change in Eligibility • If a SA's eligibility changes at the end of a term: • The SA shall become eligible or ineligible to compete on the date their eligibility is officially certified by the appropriate institutional authority. • The earliest date on which the student can become eligible to compete is the day after the date of the last scheduled examination listed in the institution's official calendar for the term that is ending. • The student becomes ineligible, the ineligibility shall become effective not later than the first day of classes of the following semester or quarter. Bylaw 14.1.10

32. Case Study • If a spring sport SA is declared ineligible at the conclusion of the spring semester when grades have been recorded, which is prior to the conference tournament, is the SA still eligible to compete in the conference tournament?

33. Answer • Once officially declared ineligible, the SA must stop competing immediately and would not be eligible for any remaining contests. • Change to eligibility takes place on whichever day the official certification occurs. • Only exception is when NCAA championship starts.

34. Case Study • Is it permissible for a SA to participate in practice and/or competition between terms if the SA was enrolled FT in the first semester, but is now academically suspended for the upcoming semester?

35. Answer • No. The SA would not be eligible to practice or compete between semesters. Since the SA has been academically suspended, this would mean the SA was officially certified as ineligible. The SA's eligibility changes at that point in time.

36. Case Study • Institution now offers numerous seven-week courses during its traditional 14-week semester. Could a SA who is ineligible due to a low GPA at the start of the semester restore eligibility upon completion of the seven-week course and the grade is officially posted to the SA's record?

37. Answer • It is not permissible for a SA to become eligible immediately after completing the seven-week course. Bylaw 14.1.10 requires a change in eligibility to be certified not earlier than the day after the institution's last scheduled final for the term.

38. Case Study What is the impact of an incomplete grade from the fall term on a student-athlete's eligibility for the spring term?

39. Answer It would be permissible for the student-athlete to finish the incomplete grade during the spring and be certified as eligible provided the SA completes the course before competing in outside competition and the grade received would positively change his academic record from the fall.  If the completion of the incomplete grade renders the student-athlete ineligible, the SA would need to immediately stop competing.  Once officially declared ineligible, the SA has to stop competing immediately and would not be eligible for any remaining regular contests, the conference tournament, the NCAA championships or any other competition.

40. Questions?

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