Division I Advanced Progress Toward Degree

1. Division I AdvancedProgress Toward Degree Andy Louthain and Katy Yurk

2. Overview • Progress-toward-degree (PTD) principles. • Recent interpretations. • Advanced concepts. • Case studies. • Best practices.

3. PTD Principles NCAA Division I Bylaw 14.4

4. PTD – Fundamental Principles • Appropriate minimal progress during traditional academic year. • Student-athletes (SA) must be “students.” • Progression toward a degree within five years of full-time enrollment. • Transfers should assimilate as quickly as possible.

5. Full-Time Terms of Enrollment • All terms for which the SA initially enrolled full time must be counted in determining the percentage of degree and grade-point average requirements the SA must meet. • Terms for which a medical absence or international competition waiver was granted do not have to count. Bylaw 14.4.3.6 Staff interpretations [9/14/2005, 12/7/1990]

6. Recent Interpretations 2009-10

7. Fourth Season of Eligibility for Nonqualifier in a Five-Year Program • A fourth season may be granted to a nonqualifer in a five-year program of studies, provided: • The designated degree program is identified as a five-year program in the institution’s official catalog; or • Requires at least 150-semester or 225-quarters hours; And • The student-athlete has successfully completed at least 67 percent of the designated degree at the beginning of the fifth academic year following the SA’s initial, full-time collegiate enrollment. Bylaws 14.3.3.1 and 14.4.3.2.1 Staff Interpretation [9/17/09]

8. GPA Requirement of Transfer SA Returning to Original Institution • SA attends the certifying institution as a full-time student; • Transfers to another institution and later returns to the original institution; • SA is immediately subject to the fulfillment of minimum grade-point average requirements. Bylaws 14.4.3.3.1, 14.4.3.3.1.1 Official Interpretation (10/02/09)

9. Six-Hour Requirement For Eligible SA Who Transfers During an Academic Term • Only applies to those who transfer from one institution to another during the same academic term. • Not required to have completed six hours during the same term at the previous institution to be considered academically eligible had the SA remained. Bylaws 14.4.3.1, 14.4.3.1.2.1, and 14.5.5.2.10 Staff Interpretation [10/07/09]

10. Case Study – Six-Hour Requirement • Facts: • Jackson, a fencing SA, begins the 2009 fall term at the Shire State University. • Jackson is both academically and athletically eligible to compete at the beginning of the fall term. • Jackson has a “falling out” with the Coach Baggins after one week of school. • In his hastiness, Jackson quits the fencing team and withdraws from the Shire State University the next day.

11. Case Study – Six-Hour Requirement • Scenario One: • Jackson, after a moment of reflection, realizes he should be a “student” and PTD within five years of full-time enrollment. • Jackson decides that he can’t go back to the Shire State University and enrolls in the fall term at the University of the Shire the next day.

12. Case Study – Six-Hour Requirement • Scenario One: • Because Jackson enrolled at the University of the Shire during the same term he withdrew from the Shire State University (fall 2009) he does not need to have passed six hours at the Shire State University during the 2009 fall term to be eligible at the University of the Shire during the same fall term.

13. Case Study – Six-Hour Requirement • Scenario Two: • After a little convincing, Jackson decided to take the rest of the fall term off and go on a journey of self reflection and discovery and to try to save Middle Earth. • After his little adventure Jackson enrolled at the University of the Shire for the 2010 spring term.

14. Case Study – Six-Hour Requirement • Scenario Two: • Because Jackson waited to enroll until the next term, he is required to have passed six hours during the fall term at the Shire State University.

15. PTD Advanced Concepts Bylaws 14.1, 14.4 and Case Studies

16. PTD Advanced Concepts • Degree designation timing. • Advising to meet percentage-of-degree. • Between-term eligibility for SA’s who have graduated.

17. Degree Designation Timing • SA must designate degree program before participating in competition that occurs during or immediately before the third year of enrollment (fifth semester or seventh quarter). • Applies to all SA’s, including two- and four-year college transfers. • Designated degree program as of the beginning of year must be used to certify the SA's percentage-toward-degree requirements for that term. • Bylaw 14.4.3.1.6 • Educational Column [3/22/10]

18. Degree Designation Timing • Case Study Facts: • Veronika is a softball SA entering her third year of enrollment. • Her team’s first date of competition is October 7. • The first day of class is August 29. • Veronika designated a bachelor’s degree in business administration in April but is not meeting the 40% requirement in that program at the start of the academic year. • Over the summer she has decided she wants to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology. She is meeting 40% in biology.

19. Degree Designation Timing • Question: • Can Veronika change her designated degree before October 7 and be certified using the newly designated degree? • Answer: • Veronika must be certified using the academic record in existence at the beginning of the academic year. If she changes the designated degree prior to the start of the year, then that will be the degree used to certify her eligibility. If she changes after the start of the academic year, then business administration must be used.

20. Degree Designation Timing • Question: • What if Veronika has no degree designated before October 7? • Answer: • Veronika has until the start of competition to designate a degree. If she has not previously designated a degree, then she must be certified using the degree designated by the date of the team’s first competition. Her eligibility will be assessed using the academic record in existence at the start of the academic term.

21. Advising to Percentage of Degree • SA entering third year of enrollment shall have completed successfully at least 40% of the course requirements in the student's degree program. • Student-athlete entering 4th year of enrollment shall have completed successfully at least 60% of the course requirements in the student's degree program. • SA entering 5th year of enrollment shall have completed successfully at least 80% of the course requirements in the student's degree program.  • - Bylaw 14.4.3.2

22. Advising to Percentage of Degree Question: • What is included in the denominator for calculating percentage of degree? Answer: • All courses that fulfill a requirement in that SA's specific degree program. • General education requirements. • Major courses. • Electives (major or free). • Required minor (if included in the total number of credit hours required for the degree).

23. Advising to Percentage of Degree Questions: • If the PTD calculation results a fraction (e.g., 39.9%), can that be rounded up? • Can the number of credit hours required to meet percentage of degree be rounded (e.g., 40% of 128 = 51.2; can the requirement be met with 51 credit hours)? Answer: • No rounding to meet the requirement. • SA entering third year of enrollment has designated a degree that requires 128 credit hours. • SA has completed 51 credit hours. • 51/128 = 39.8 percent of degree completed. SA is deficient meeting 40%. • 40% of 128 credit hours is 51.2 credit hours. Unless there is a way for the SA to obtain.2 credit hours, he/she will need 52 credit hours to meet the requirement.

24. Advising to Percentage of Degree • Case Study No. 1: • Michael is a baseball SA pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sociology. • Transferred from 2-year institution after 2 years of enrollment with 60 credit hours. • Sociology program is 120 credit hours: • General education courses – 52 credit hours. • Electives - 37 credit hours. • Major courses – 31 credit hours.

25. Advising to Percentage of Degree Case Study No. 1: • Michael’s transfer evaluation: • General education – 24 credit hours. • Electives – 30 credit hours. • Major courses – 6 credit hours. • Michael is required to have completed 40% of the degree at the start of the fall term. • 40% of 120 = 48 credit hours.

26. Advising to Percentage of Degree Case Study No. 1: • Michael is meeting the 40% requirement. • Michael’s remaining courses are as follows: • General education – 28 credit hours left. • Electives – 7 credit hours left. • Major courses – 25 credit hours left. • Michael has 60 hours to complete toward his degree. Any additional credit hours will be above and beyond what is required for the degree and will not be part of the percentage-of-degree calculation.

27. Advising to Percentage of Degree Question: • What if Michael transferred after spending three years at the 2-year institution? • He completed 84 credit hours but the institution has a cap on the number of credits that can be transferred in from a two-year institution (60).

28. Advising to Percentage of Degree Answer: • Michael would have to meet 60% upon his enrollment at the certifying institution. • Michael is 12 hours short of meeting the 60 % requirement (72 of 120 credit hours). • The 60-credit hour cap makes it impossible for Michael to be eligible in any degree program at. • May be able to rectify with summer school at certifying institution.

29. Advising to Percentage of Degree Case Study No. 2: • Martha is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business. • Program is 120 credit hours: • Specified pre-requisites – 21 credit hours. • Specified nonbusiness courses – 54 credit hours. • Specified business courses – 45 credit hours (includes approved electives.)

30. Advising to Percentage of Degree • Denominator is 120 – the minimum number of credit hours required to obtain this degree. • First two years of enrollment, SA may use credit hours that apply toward any degree to meet PTD requirements; should be enrolled in general education credits that would apply to many degrees. • Business program requires first year to be spent on pre-requisites.

31. Advising to Percentage of Degree • Martha is an international SA. • The institution requires that she complete a 9-credit hour intensive English program during her first term of enrollment. • Question: • Are the nine intensive English credits part of Martha’s 120 credit-hour degree program? Will they be used to determine if she is meeting percentage of degree?

32. Advising to Percentage of Degree • Answer: • The intensive English credits can be used as part of the 120-credit hour business program only if they fulfill some component of the program. If not, they are hours that are above and beyond the hours required for the degree. • They will not count toward percentage of degree.

33. Advising to Percentage of Degree • Calculus 101 is the prerequisite math that is part of the 120 credits required for the business degree. • Martha does not do well on the math placement exam and must take the institution’s college algebra course. This is not a remedial course. • Question: • Does the college algebra course count toward the 120 credits on which percentage of degree is calculated? • Should Martha's denominator be modified to 123 credit hours?

34. Advising to Percentage of Degree • Answer: • While the college algebra course is required for Martha according to her math placement test, it is part of the 120-credit hour business program only if it fills some component of the program. If not, those credit hours are beyond the hours required for the degree. • The denominator cannot be increased.

35. Competition after Graduation • SA Completing Final Term: • May compete in postseason competition that occurs after the end of the SA’s final term, provided: • The competition is within 60 days of the end of the final term. • The student-athlete has time left on the five-year clock. Bylaw 14.1.8.2.1.3

36. Competition after Graduation • Postbaccalaureate SA: • May compete in postseason competition that occurs after the end of the SA’s term, provided: • The competition is within 60 days of the end of the final term. • The SA has time left on the five-year clock. Bylaw 14.1.9.3

37. Competition after Graduation • Regular Season Competition: • SA’s who meet either Bylaw 14.1.8.2.1.3 or Bylaw 14.1.9.3 may compete in regular season competition leading up to the postseason competition provided: • The postseason competition is within 60 days of the end of the final term. • The SA has time left on the five-year clock. 6/30/1992 Official Interpretation

38. Best Practices Certification of Eligibility and PTD Waivers

39. Best Practices – Certifying Eligibility • Required to determine eligibility for practice and competition. • Develop procedures for documenting academic eligibility for competition. • Develop procedures for documenting academic eligibility for NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate. • Earning of “E” point.

40. Best Practices – PTD Waivers • Complete all sections of the waiver application. • Include a completed grid. • Number of hours that are degree applicable each term. • Whether the SA competed each term. • Official transcripts are required (copies are OK). • Grades for most recent term completed must be included.

41. Best Practices – PTD Waivers • Include an academic recovery plan that the SA can successfully follow, with references to academic support and any accommodations. • Include an institutional recovery plan in case of misadvisement. • Include documentation to support mitigation (e.g., education impacting disability documentation). • Submit requests in a timely manner once it is determined a waiver is necessary.

42. Best Practices – Urgent Cases • Follow directions above. • Clearly indicate when the waiver is needed (next date of competition?) • Staff will prioritize the review of waivers based on: • Date of the next contest. • Order in which the case was received. • Date the institution determined a waiver was necessary. • Staff generally needs at least a day to complete a thorough review of the information presented.

43. PTD Waivers – Staff Analysis • How close is the SA to meeting the requirement for which the waiver is requested? • Is the SA still in a position to graduate within five years? • Quality point analysis. • Academic recovery plan. • Appropriate academic support/accommodations. • What has changed for the SA? • Does the SA have a strong overall academic record?

44. PTD Waivers – Staff Analysis • What documented mitigating circumstances affected the SA’s academic performance. • Has the SA previously received a PTD waiver?

45. Questions? Thank you for attending!