Road Map to NCAA Initial Eligibility Standards Overview

Road Map to NCAA Initial Eligibility Standards

Overview • What is the NCAA Eligibility Center? • Initial Eligibility Checklist • Initial Eligibility Rules – Divisions I, II, and III • Frequently Asked Questions • Navigating the NCAA Process • Resources

NCAA Eligibility Center

NCAA Eligibility Center • Evaluates and certifies prospective studentathletes for collegiate competition at Division I and II schools • Students need to meet: – Academic initial-eligibility requirements; and – Amateurism requirements • Preliminary amateurism certification occurs after registration • Students can request final amateurism certification beginning April 1 of their senior year

Initial Eligibility Checklist

Initial Eligibility Checklist GRADE 9 GRADE 10 • Start planning now • Students should continue • Students should work with to work with their guidance counselor to ensure they are taking the appropriate NCAA core courses and are courses making progress towards • If a student falls behind NCAA initial eligibility academically, he or she requirements should work with their • Determine whether guidance counselor for help additional coursework is finding approved core necessary (e. g. , summer courses school, online) to meet initial eligibility requirements

Initial Eligibility Checklist GRADE 11 • • • Students should register with the Eligibility Center Students should check with their guidance counselor to make sure they are on track to complete the required number of NCAA approved courses and core course progression requirements (10/7) Take the ACT or SAT and submit scores directly to the Eligibility Center using code 9999 At the end of the year, ask guidance counselor to upload an official transcript to the Eligibility Center Official transcripts and/or grade reports must be sent for all high schools or programs the student attended Determine whether additional coursework is necessary (e. g. , summer school, online) GRADE 12 • • • Students should continue to take the ACT or SAT if necessary The student should continue to review NCAA initial requirements and ensure they are taking the appropriate coursework to meet the requirements Students must request final amateurism certification from Eligibility Center [April 1 for fall enrollees, October 1 for winter/spring enrollees] After graduation, have final official transcript with proof of graduation uploaded to the Eligibility Center Determine whether additional coursework is necessary to meet NCAA initial eligibility requirements (e. g. , plus one coursework)

Initial Eligibility Rules

Initial Eligibility Rules • What is initial eligibility? – Academic requirements that a college-bound student-athlete must meet in order to: • Practice; • Compete; and • Receive athletics aid his or her first year of enrollment at a Division I or II institution – Subsequent years of eligibility are governed by NCAA progress-toward-degree academic requirements

Division I Initial Eligibility Rules

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I ü Graduate high school on time ü Complete 16 NCAA approved core courses (from high school’s list of approved and archived core courses) • Must complete 10 core courses prior to the start of 7 th semester • 7 of the 10 courses must be English, Math, or Natural/Physical Science ü GPA/Test Score sliding scale • Minimum core course GPA = 2. 300

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION • Graduate from high school on time • Students who graduate on time may use up to one core course completed in the year after graduation to meet eligibility requirements (plus one) • Students who graduate early must still meet core course requirements

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • CORE COURSE REQUIREMENTS • Complete 16 core courses – Only courses completed in grades 9 -12 will count • Courses completed in 8 th grade can be used provided course is listed on high school transcript and grade and credit is assigned – Must meet 10/7 core course progression prior to start of 7 th semester • 10 core courses become locked in for the purpose of GPA calculation – Plus one coursework • Cannot replace locked in courses 16 Core Course Requirements 4 years of English 3 years of Math (Algebra I or higher) 2 years of Natural or Physical Science (including 1 lab if offered) 1 additional year of English, Math or Natural or Physical Science 2 years of Social Science 4 years of additional coursework from any of the categories above or foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • CORE COURSE REQUIREMENTS • High school’s list of core courses is available on the Eligibility Center website: www. eligibilitycenter. org – Approved core courses – Archived core courses – Denied core courses and reason for denial

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • CORE COURSE GRADE-POINT AVERAGE • Only those courses listed on the high school’s list of approved and archived core courses will be used in the GPA calculation • Best grades will be used in each subject area – Exception: The 10 core courses completed prior to the student’s 7 th semester will be locked in for GPA purposes – Use of plus one courses cannot be used to improve core course GPA • Core course GPA is different than the student’s high school GPA and GPA used in the college admissions process

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • TEST SCORE REQUIREMENT • SAT and ACT – Eligibility Center will use the student’s best score • ACT sum score • SAT combined score • Writing component is not used in certification process – ACT and SAT Eligibility Center code: 9999 – Students may take the SAT or ACT as many times as they wish prior to full-time college enrollment

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • SAT MATH VERBAL/CRITICAL READING TOTAL SCORE SAT (8/18) 350 470 820 SAT (12/18) 420 440 860 Scores Used 420 470 890

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • SAT – Students will need to apply the College Board’s concordance table to their score SAT Reported Score 890 Concorded Score 810

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • ACT ENGLISH MATH READING SCIENCE SUM SCORE ACT (9/18) 14 16 13 14 57 ACT (10/18) 17 15 18 17 67 ACT (12/18) 15 15 16 19 65 Scores Used 17 16 18 19 70

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • GPA/TEST SCORE SLIDING SCALE Qualifier 2. 300 and above Academic Redshirt 2. 000 to 2. 299 GPA New SAT Concorded Score 3. 550 & above 400 37 --- --- 2. 300 980 900 75 2. 299 990 910 76 --- --- 2. 000 1100 1020 86 ACT *Sliding scale matches test score and GPA to determine eligibility*

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • ACADEMIC CERTIFICATION STATUS • Qualifier ü Meets the standards of: ü 16 core courses ü 10/7 core course progression üMinimum core course GPA of 2. 30 üCombined test score that matches core course GPA on sliding scale ü May practice, compete, and receive athletics aid the first year of full-time enrollment

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • Academic Redshirt o Did not meet the standards of qualifier o Meets the standards of: o 16 core courses o Minimum core course GPA of 2. 000 to 2. 299 o Combined test score that matches core course GPA on sliding scale o Students may continue to retake courses during academic year if they failed to meet the required 10 courses prior to senior year o May receive athletics aid and practice first year of enrollment but may not compete o Must pass 9 credit hours first academic term of enrollment to continue practicing the rest of the academic year

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division I • Nonqualifier W Does not meet qualifier or academic redshirt standards W May not practice, compete, or receive athletics aid the first year of full-time enrollment

Division II Initial Eligibility Rules

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division II ü Graduate from high school on time ü Complete 16 NCAA approved core courses ü Earn a minimum core course GPA of 2. 200 ü Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches core course GPA on the sliding scale üSAT/ACT calculation is the same as in Division I

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division II • CORE COURSE REQUIREMENTS • Complete 16 core courses – All courses completed prior to full-time collegiate enrollment may be used 16 Core Course Requirements 3 years of English 2 years of Math (Algebra I or higher) 2 years of Natural or Physical Science (including 1 lab if offered) 3 extra years of English, Math or Natural or Physical Science 2 years of Social Science 4 years of additional coursework from any of the categories above or foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division II • ACADEMIC CERTIFICATION STATUS • Qualifier üMeets the standards of: ü 16 core courses üMinimum core course GPA of 2. 200 üCombined test score that matches the core course GPA on the full qualifier sliding scale üMay practice, compete, and receive athletics aid the first year full-time enrollment

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division II Full Qualifier Sliding Scale GPA New SAT Concorded Score 3. 300 & above 400 37 3. 275 410 38 3. 250 430 420 39 --- --- 2. 225 910 830 69 2. 200 920 840 & above 70 & above ACT

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division II • Partial Qualifier o Did not meet the standards of qualifier o Meets the standards of: o 16 core courses o Minimum core course GPA of 2. 000 o Combined test score that matches the core course GPA on the partial qualifier sliding scale o May receive athletics aid and practice first year of enrollment but may not compete

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division II Partial Qualifier Sliding Scale GPA New SAT Concorded Score 3. 050 & above 400 37 3. 025 410 38 3. 000 430 420 39 --- --- 2. 025 890 810 67 2. 000 900 820 & above 68 & above ACT

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division II • Nonqualifier W Does not meet the qualifier or partial qualifier standards W May not practice, compete, or receive athletics aid the first year of college

Division III Initial Eligibility Rules

Initial Eligibility Rules – Division III • Division III institutions determine their own eligibility for: – Admission; – Financial aid; – Practice; and – Competition • The Eligibility Center does not perform certifications for Division III college-bound student-athletes • Resources – Eligibilitycenter. org: Create a profile page – ncaa. org/d 3: Learn more about Division III institution

QUESTIONS SO FAR?

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions • Courses Taken Before High School – Can be used to meet core course requirements – Course must be listed on high school’s list of approved core courses (e. g. , Algebra I, Spanish I) – Course must be listed on high school transcript – Course must be assigned a grade and credit • If a grade is not on transcript (e. g. , CR), the lowest passing grade for the school will be assigned

Frequently Asked Questions • College Courses, Dual-Enrollment Courses, and Dual. Credit Courses – Courses may be used to meet initial eligibility requirements – Course must be awarded grade and credit by the high school for any student AND meet all other requirements for core courses – Course must be placed on the high school transcript with clarification of college completion – Courses completed at a college should not be submitted on your high school’s list of NCAA courses – Dual-enrollment courses that meet core course requirements and are taught by your high school instructors should be submitted for inclusion on the high school’s list of NCAA courses

Frequently Asked Questions • Nontraditional and Online Courses – To count as an approved course, the course must meet ALL of the following requirements: • Course must be on the school’s list of approved and archived courses; • Must have regular instructor-led interaction for the purpose of instruction, evaluation, and assistance for the duration of the course; • Must have a defined time period for completion; and • Course must be clearly identified as nontraditional on the student’s official high school transcript

Frequently Asked Questions • Nontraditional and Online Courses – Coursework completed prior to high school graduation must be placed on high school transcript and identified as nontraditional – Coursework completed after high school graduation does not need to be placed on high school transcript, unless the program does not award a grade and credit for the course

Frequently Asked Questions • Nontraditional and Online Courses – To find out if a nontraditional program or course is approved, go to eligibilitycenter. org/courselist to search the school or program’s list of NCAA approved courses – You will find information about any nontraditional programs or courses in the “Additional Information” box Additional Information Coursework from this school/program meets NCAA nontraditional core-course legislation.

Frequently Asked Questions • Multiple high schools – If a student attended more than one high school, or took courses from more than one program, the Eligibility Center needs an official transcript from each high school or program – The Eligibility Center will not accept grades from one high school/program transcribed on another high school’s transcript

Frequently Asked Questions • Students with Education-Impacting Disabilities – Must meet the same initial-eligibility requirements as all other students – Must submit EID information to Eligibility Center • www. ncaa. org/playcollegesports -> Education. Impacting Disabilities (located under Student-Athlete Pages) – Division I • May take up to three additional core courses (3. 0) after high school graduation but before enrolling full-time – Division II • May take an unlimited number of core courses before enrolling full time

Frequently Asked Questions • Early Graduation – Students who graduate from high school early (e. g. , December graduation) must meet the same initial eligibility requirements as all other students – May request final amateurism certification on or after October 1 of senior year – Final official high school transcript with date of graduation must be submitted to the Eligibility Center • Proof of Graduation Policy and Procedures available on Eligibility Center’s website

Navigating the NCAA Process

Student-Athlete Registration Process • Students can register with the Eligibility Center at any time – Certification Account vs Profile Page • Certification Account: Division I and II prospects – Registration fee: Domestic fee: $90/International fee: $150 • Profile Page: Division III prospects – No fee – Can transition to a Certification Account at any time – Students will not receive an academic or amateurism certification – Registration (i. e. , Certification Account) is required to go on an official recruiting visit to DI and DII institutions and for signing a National Letter of Intent • Official transcripts and grade reports from all high schools and programs attended should be sent to the Eligibility Center • All ACT/SAT scores must be sent directly to the Eligibility Center from the testing agency (code 9999) – Eligibility Center will not accept scores on a student’s high school transcript • The Eligibility Center will perform a preliminary certification using the student’s transcript beginning in November of the student’s senior year

Reminders • Academic initial-eligibility requirements are different for Divisions I, II, and III • It is possible for a student to be eligible in one division and not another • Eligibility Center certification is separate from the college admissions process • It is possible for a student to be certified by the Eligibility Center but not meet the institution’s admissions standards • In addition, a student could meet the institution’s admissions standards but not be certified by the Eligibility Center

Resources • Eligibility Center – www. eligibilitycenter. org – Twitter: @NCAAEC – www. ncaa. org/playcollegesports • NCAA Publications – www. ncaapublications. com – Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete – Two-Year College Transfer Guide – Four-Year College Transfer Guide • National Letter of Intent – www. nationalletter. org – Twitter: @NLIinsider

Resources • High School Portal – www. ncaa. org/eligibilitycenter – High School Newsletter – Guide for High School Counselors • NFHS NCAA Eligibility Course (Free) – https: //nfhslearn. com/courses/61131/ncaaeligibility – For students, coaches, parents, and administrators