Bylaw 14 Part Two FullTime EnrollmentGraduate Student Eligibility

Bylaw 14 Part Two Full-Time Enrollment/Graduate Student Eligibility Chris Brown and Jeff Myers

Agenda • Full-time enrollment; • Exceptions to full-time enrollment; • Eligibility in-between terms; • Postseason events within 60 days of degree completion; and • Graduate transfers.

Full-Time Enrollment • In order to be eligible for practice and competition, an SA must be enrolled in at least a minimum full-time program of studies. • Minimum of 12 hours per term. Bylaw 14. 1. 8. 1

Exceptions to Full-Time Enrollment

Final Semester or Quarter Exception The SA may practice or compete while enrolled in less than a fulltime course load during the final semester or quarter of his or her degree program if the SA is enrolled in the final credits necessary to complete the degree requirements. Bylaw 14. 1. 8. 1. 6. 1

Case Study 1 Facts: • Happy Gilmore is a 3 rd year football SA at Barker College. • At the end of the 2017 spring term, Happy will complete all the necessary requirements for graduation. • Happy still has one year of remaining eligibility and would like to remain at Barker College for the 2017 fall term.

Case Study 1 (CONT'D) Points of analysis: • Rather than enroll in a second baccalaureate or graduate program, Happy would like to enroll part time and take prerequisite courses for medical school in the fall. • Can Happy forgo "graduating" in the 2017 spring term and instead use the final term exception?

Case Study 1 (CONT'D) Answer: No. Since Happy has completed the necessary requirements for graduation during the 2017 spring term, he would not be permitted to use the final term exception to enroll part time during the 2017 fall term.

Case Study 1 Options: • Enroll in a graduate program; • Second baccalaureate; or • Waiver. (CONT'D)

Eligibility Between Terms To be eligible between terms the SA should: • Have been registered in a full-time course load at the end of the term immediately before the competition (continuing students only); or • Be accepted for enrollment as a regular full-time student for the next regular term (continuing students or enrolling students). Bylaw 14. 1. 8. 1. 6. 6

CHANGE IN ELIGIBILITY STATUS • When eligibility changes at the end of a term, the SA becomes eligible or ineligible on the date that specific SA's eligibility is officially certified. • Certification of eligibility does not have to occur on the same day for all SAs. Bylaw 14. 1. 10 Staff Interpretation, January 8, 2003

Case Study 2 Facts: • Billy Madison is a swimming and diving SA; • Following the 2017 fall term, Billy only passed two out of four courses, rending himself on academic probation; • The next academic term begins on January 9 th, 2018; and • The university has two swim meets between now and the start of the term.

Case Study 2 (CONT'D) • Can Billy continue to practice with the swimming and diving team in-between the end of the term and start of the next term? • Can Billy compete with the team in-between the end of the term and start of the next term? • At what point must Billy cease participation in competition?

Eligibility After Completion of Degree Requirements

Eligibility After Completion of Degree Requirements There are three ways to remain eligible after completing degree requirements: • Postseason event begins within 60 days. • Early graduation. • Graduate/postbaccalaureate participation. The SA must have been eligible during the term to continue participating in athletics. Bylaw 14. 1. 8. 1. 6. 7

Postseason Events Within 60 Days of Degree Completion The "60 -Day" Rule: • The SA may continue participation in athletics through the conclusion of the season if a postseason event begins within 60 days after the end of the term and the SA was eligible during the term. Bylaw 14. 1. 8. 1. 6. 7 -(a)

Postseason Events Within 60 Days of Degree Completion (CONT’D) • The SA must have been eligible during the final term. • A postseason event must begin within 60 days of the final day of the term, or the SA must stop participating on the last day of the term. • Conference championships are not considered postseason competition. • Continued participation includes any practice activities or regular season competition preceding the event.

Early Completion of Degree • The SA who completes the requirements for the degree in less than four consecutive years is allowed to continue participating through the conclusion of the season. • The SA must have already triggered use of a season. Bylaw 14. 1. 8. 1. 6. 7 -(b) Official Interpretation November 17, 2016

Case Study 3 Facts: • Bobby Boucher is a track and field SA at Touchstone University; • Following the 2016 fall term, Bobby completed all of his degree requirements; • The track and field outdoor championships take place on May 25, 2017.

Case Study 3 (CONT'D) Point of analysis: • Bobby would like to participate in outdoor track and field during the 2017 spring term while not enrolled at the institution; • Is this permissible? • Do we have all the information necessary to make the determination?

Case Study 3 (CONT'D) What else do we need to know? • Is the end of the term within 60 days of the track and field championship? – No, the term did not end within 60 days of the championship. • Did Bobby complete his degree requirements in fewer than four consecutive years? – No, Bobby finished his degree in 4. 5 years.

Case Study 3 (CONT'D) Answer: Impermissible. Options: • Enroll in a graduate program; or • Second baccalaureate.

Waiver Opportunity

Waiver Guidelines The NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief Guidelines can be found at: http: //www. ncaa. org/sites/default/files/2017 DIIISLR_Guidelines_20 170321. pdf

Waiver Guidelines (CONT’D) • Personal hardship; • Restrictive degree program; • Education-impacting disability; • Misadvisement or lack of advisement; and • Other extenuating or extraordinary circumstances.

Graduate Participation

Graduate Participation • Philosophy statement. • Review of legislation. • Waiver guidelines and direction. • Proposal No. 2017 -2. • Discussion.

Graduate Participation Division III institutions primarily focus on intercollegiate athletics as a four-year, undergraduate experience. Division III Philosophy Statement Bylaw 20. 11 -(d)

Graduate Participation (CONT'D) Attending the institution undergraduate. most recently attended as an • Yes. Attending an institution other than most recently attended as an undergraduate. • Would need a waiver. Bylaw 14. 1. 9

Waiver Opportunity

Waiver Guidelines and Directives • Compelling and exemplary academic success. • Other extenuating or extraordinary circumstances. • Military involvement.

Compelling and Exemplary Academic Success • Graduate ahead of schedule. • Continuous full-time enrollment. • 3. 0 GPA or better.

Other Extenuating Circumstances Case-by-case review. • Circumstance outside the SA's control. • If injury or illness, then two missed participation opportunities. What is not considered. • Unavailability of degree program at the previous institution. • Nonparticipation in athletics.

Military If an SA does not satisfy the other guidelines, but was involved in military duty during his or her undergraduate enrollment, the Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief has granted NCAA staff the autonomy to consider on a case-by-case basis, whether relief is appropriate.

Proposal No. 2017 -2 To permit a graduate student to participate in intercollegiate athletics at the institution of his or her choice. Defeated. • 175 for; • 291 against; and • 14 abstain.

Status of Waivers Last three years: • 44 waivers. • 31 approved. • 13 denied.

Where are they coming from? Division/Association Number of student-athletes Online School 2 NAIA 1 NCAA Division I 18 NCAA Division II 9 NCAA Division III 14