NCAA Update: Improving the Academic Performance of Transfer Student-Athletes

1. NCAA Update: Improving the Academic Performance of Transfer Student-Athletes Andrew Cardamone National Collegiate Athletic Association 2013 Transfer AACRAO Conference

2. Session Overview • Division I • Review of the Basics – New Standards Versus Old Standards. • Physical Education Activity Credits. • Transferability of English, Math and Science. • 4-2-4 Interpretations. • GPA Calculation. • Division II • Division II Proposed Concepts • Best Practices.

3. Learning Objectives • Identify changes to legislation and effective date. • Recognize two year core course requirements and potential issues in regards to transferability. • Increase confidence in calculating transfer GPA and identify resources available. • Apply 2-4 transfer legislation to complex cases.

4. Division ITwo-Year College Transfer Requirements

5. Requirements – Qualifier: Old Rule • Initial full-time enrollment prior to August 1, 2012. • One full-time semester or quarter in residence. • Minimum 2.000 GPA. • Completed 12 hours of transferable credit per full-time term of enrollment. NCAA Bylaw 14.5.4.1

6. Requirements – Qualifier: New Rule • Initial full-time enrollment after August 1, 2012. • One full-time semester or quarter in residence. • Minimum of 2.500 transferable GPA; and • Complete an average of 12 hours of transferable degree credit for each full-time term of enrollment. • Limit of two credit hours of physical education activity courses for GPA calculation and transferable degree credit. Bylaw 14.5.4.1

7. Requirements – Not a Qualifier: Old Rule • For those entering college August 2009 or after. • Graduated with an Associate of Arts degree (A.A.). • 48-semester hours/72-quarter hours of transferable credit and cumulative GPA of 2.000. • Six-semester/eight-quarter hours of English. • Three-semester/four-quarter hours of math. • Three semesters/four quarters in residence. Bylaw 14.5.4.2

8. Requirements – Not a Qualifier:New Rule • Initial full-time enrollment after August 1, 2012. • Eligibility for competition. • Graduate from the two-year college; • Complete a minimum of 48-semester or 72-quarter hours of transferable degree credit, including English (6/8), math (3/4) and natural/physical science (3/4); • Full-time attendance at the two-year college for a minimum of three semesters or four quarters; and • Minimum of 2.500transferable GPA. • Limit of two credit hours of physical education activity courses for GPA calculation and transferable degree credit. Bylaw 14.5.4.2.1

9. Requirements – Not a Qualifier:New Rule • Initial full-time enrollment after August 1, 2012. • Eligibility for financial aid and practice. • All of the same requirements as the requirements for eligibility for competition, except for: • Minimum of 2.000 transferable GPA. Bylaw 14.5.4.2.2

10. Summer Courses • For nonqualifiers. • No more than 18/27 transferable hours earned during total summer terms. • No more than 9/13.5 transferable hours earned during summer immediately prior to transfer. Bylaw 14.5.4.2.3

11. Requirements – 4-2-4 Transfer:Old Rule • Initial full-time enrollment prior to August 1, 2012. • One calendar year elapsed from departure from four-year institution; • Completed an average of 12 transferable hours earned per term at two-year institution with a 2.000 GPA; and • Graduated from two-year college. Bylaw 14.5.6

12. Requirements – 4-2-4 Transfer:New Rule • Initial full-time enrollment after August 1, 2012. • Distinction between qualifiers and nonqualifiers. • One calendar year elapsed from departure from four-year institution; • Completed an average of 12 transferable hours earned per term at two-year institution with a 2.500 GPA; and • Graduated from two-year college. Bylaw 14.5.6

13. Requirements – 4-2-4 Transfer:New Rule - Nonqualifiers • 4-2-4 nonqualifiers must also meet 2-4 “core” requirements. • Six-semester/eight-quarter hours of English; • Three-semester/four-quarter hours of math; and • Three-semester/four-quarter hours of natural/physical science credits. • May use credits earned at previous four-year and two-year institutions. Bylaw 14.5.6.2

14. Requirements – Academic Redshirts • Eligibility for competition. • Same as the requirements for nonqualifiers. • AA Degree. • 48 Transferable credits, with required amounts in English, math and science. • 2.500 GPA. • Minimum three semesters of full-time enrollment. • Limit on physical education credits.

15. NCAA Division I Proposal 2012-12 • Adopted in January. • Clarifies that an academic redshirt is eligible for athletically related financial aid and practice in the first academic year in residence without having to satisfy the two-year college transfer requirements.

16. Physical Education Activity Courses • 2-4 and 4-2-4 transfers cannot count more than two credits of physical education activity courses to meet applicable transfer requirements. • Credit hour and GPA requirements. • Qualifiers and nonqualifiers. Bylaw 14.5.4.5.4

17. Physical Education Activity Courses • Exception. • For SAs who enroll in a physical education degree program or education program that requires physical education activity courses. • May count the minimum number of activity credits required for the specific degree program.

18. Physical Education Activity Courses • Research two-year college transcripts and catalog to determine the extent to which physical education activity is a requirement for course credit. • Note: Coaching theory, first aid and game officiating may not be considered physical education activity courses by your institution.

19. 2-4 “Core Requirements” Analysis • How do I determine what transferable credit meets the core? • Math. • English. • Natural and physical sciences. • Credits must transfer to the certifying institution as specific English, math or science credit, regardless of how the courses are identified on the two-year college’s transcript.

20. 2-4 “Core Requirement” Analysis • Step One: Where was the credit earned? • Must be earned at two-year institution. OR • Part-time hours earned from four-year institution that are placed on two-year transcript; Bylaw 14.5.4.5.2

21. 2-4 “Core Requirement” Analysis • Step One: Where was the credit earned? • Hours earned from four-year institution, continued. • (If not using student transcript) Any other official document utilized by the two-year college including the official seal of the two-year college; • Signed by the appropriate academic official of the two-year college; and • Is forwarded directly from the two-year college to the appropriate admissions official of the certifying institution. Bylaw 14.5.4.5.2

22. 2-4 “Core Requirement” Analysis • Step One: Where was the credit earned? • Hours earned after two-year graduation. • May use hours earned at the four-year institution after graduation from the two-year college to meet the transfer requirements provided: • Credits were earned during part-time enrollment; and • Courses would have been accepted by the two-year college and placed on the SA’s transcript except for the fact that the SA already had graduated from the two-year college.

23. 2-4 “Core Requirement” Analysis • Step One: Where was the credit earned? • Credits earned after two-year graduation, continued. • No courses taken and used for credit at the two-year college were repeated at the four-year institution; and • Academic officials at the two-year college provided documentation with the official seal of the two-year college that verified the institution normally would have accepted the courses.

24. 2-4 “Core Requirement” Analysis • Step Two: Are the credits transferable? • Toward any baccalaureate program at certifying institution. • Remedial hours will not meet the transferable core requirement.

25. 2-4 “Core Requirement” Analysis • Step Three: Understanding your institution’s English, math or science designation. • What office evaluates transfer credit and classifies what the course equates to? • Not required to have specific course “MATH”, “ENGL”, “PHYS”, or “CHEM” designation to be acceptable transferable credit. • Not required to have a course number or a specific (e.g., CHEM 9999, ENGL ELEC or MAT XXX) designation.

26. 2-4 “Core Requirement” Analysis • Step Three: Understanding your institution’s English, math or science designation. • Who makes the call? • Your registrar and/or your academic departments. • If the English, math or natural/physical science department determines the credit to fulfill an English, math or natural/physical science credit requirement in any degree program at the institution, it meets the legislation. Educational Column September 19, 2011

27. 2-4 “Core Requirement” Analysis • Best Practices. • Develop relationships with admissions, department chairs and registrar’s office. • Collect course descriptions, syllabi and course equation policies and procedures of your institution. • In some cases, institutions have appellate opportunities. • Document how your institution came to the conclusion. • NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program Data Review Process will check.

28. Case Study: Aaron - Football Nonqualifier

29. Case Study: Aaron - Football Nonqualifier

30. Case Study: Aaron - Football Nonqualifier • What is the initial evaluation of the transfer requirements? • New requirements, fall 2012, initial enrollee. • 54 total transferable credits earned. • Six English, three math and three science transferred. • Four-year courses transferability back to two-year institution. • Graduation Requirement and 2.5 G.P.A.

31. Calculating GPA • Grades earned in all courses that are normally transferable must be considered, even if the institution limits the number of transferable credits that may be acceptable from the two-year institution. • Regardless of the grade earned and whether the grade would make the course nontransferable. • Last grade earned in repeated course used for calculation. Bylaw 14.5.4.5.3.2 and 03/04/2011 official interpretation

32. Case Study: Aaron - Football Nonqualifier • Deficiencies. • Transferable hours requirement. • Total of 21 summer hours, three over the limit. • 18 summer hours in summer prior, nine over the limit. • Legislated transferable total 45 hours.

33. Summer Coursework – Midyear Enrollee • The nine-semester or 13.5-quarter hours of transferable degree credit restriction for the summer would be applicable to a midyear two-year college transfer. 01/10/1996 official interpretation

34. Do Not Forget Summer Aid Legislation • Condition (e) to the awarding of athletically related financial aid to PSA to attend summer school prior to initial full-time enrollment at certifying institution. • Summer coursework is not used for the purpose of completing transfer eligibility requirements.   Bylaw 15.2.8.1.4

35. Division IITwo-Year College Transfer Requirements

36. Qualifier With No Previous Four-year Attendance In order to be eligible for competition, practice and athletics aid a transfer student must: • Have attended the two-year institution for at least one regular full-time term; • Completed an average of at least 12-term hours of transferable degree credit for each full-time term of attendance; and • Have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.000. Bylaw 14.5.4.1

37. What About All Other Two-year Transfers? In order to be eligible for competition, practice and athletics aid a transfer SAmust: • Have attended the two-year institution for at least two regular full-time terms; and either • Graduated from the two-year institution; or • Completed an average of at least 12-term hours of transferable degree credit for each full-time term of attendance with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.000. Bylaw 14.5.4.2

38. Additional Credit Requirements for Partial and Nonqualifiers In addition to the requirements in 14.5.4.2, a partial or nonqualifier shall have a minimum of: • Six semester or eight quarter hours of transferable English; and • Three semester or four quarter hours of transferable math. Not applicable if the transfer graduates from the two-yearinstitution. If previously attended a four-year full-time, may use transferable English and math. Bylaws 14.5.4.2.1, 14.5.4.2.1.1 and 14.5.4.2.1.2

39. Path to Graduation Update Two-Year College Transfers

40. *For a student-athlete who meets all the two-year transfer requirements EXCEPT the 2.20 GPA but has a minimum 2.00 GPA, the student-athlete is eligible for practice and financial aid.

41. Two‐Year Transfers Concept • Practice and financial aid available for nonqualifierwho meets all the two-yeartransfer requirements EXCEPT the 2.200 GPA but has a minimum 2.000 GPA. • Exception to physical education activity requirements if enrollingat four‐year institution in physical education degree or degree in education with activity course requirement.

42. Effective Date • Effective August 1, 2016, for student athletes initially enrolling in a Division II institution on or after August 1, 2016. • Waivers of the transfer year in residence for two-year transfers to be evaluated by the Academic Requirements Committee instead of the NCAA Division II Committee for Legislative Relief.

43. Rationale • GPA and science are predictive of first-year academic success. • Physical education activity credits have significant negative relationship. • Aligns GPA requirements for all two-year transfers with initial-eligibility requirements.

44. Rationale (continued) • Maintains access for student-athletes who earn an Associate of Arts degree. • Waivers of two-year transfer requirements moved to committee with academic focus. • Effective date provides opportunity for education without requiring institutions to provide separate standards based on a student-athlete’s date of initial collegiate enrollment.

45. Next Steps • Additional feedback opportunities with membership and two-year community in spring 2013. • Feedback will be reviewed during the June 2013 task force meeting. • Formal legislative recommendations for the 2014 Convention will occur at the June 2013 task force meeting.

46. Best Practices • Transcripts, transcripts, transcripts. • Update all 2-4 transfer evaluation forms with science, physical education and GPA. • Limit offers of aid to transfers until a preliminary evaluation is complete (using transcripts). • Provide a preliminary transfer evaluation in writing to the coaching staff and the SA.

47. Best Practices • Complete a final transfer evaluation in writing to the coaching staff and the SA before the SA triggers transfer status to the certifying institution. • Be aware of the end dates of nontraditional coursework being completed by SA. • Should be complete before SA triggers transfer. • Registrar’s office has access to National Student Clearinghouse to verify prior enrollment at other institutions. • Get read-only access to institutional database for transfer course equation.