Eligibility 101 - The Basics Chesney Allen & Matt Hanson NAIA Legislative Services.

Eligibility 101 - The BasicsChesney Allen & Matt Hanson

NAIA Legislative Services

Today’s Focus: Fundamentals and Processes

Academic Eligibility Athletic Experience Transfer Situations Campus Responsibilities Eligibility Forms & Documents

Academic Eligibility

Terms of Attendance (TOA)

Limit of 10 semesters;

15 quarters

Athletic Eligibility

Seasons of Competition (SOC)

Limit of 4 seasons of

competition in a given sport

All first-time NAIA participants must register at www.playnaia.org

and receive an eligible determination prior to participating in any

contest (scrimmage, exhibition or regular season).

EC Reviews: Terms of Attendance Seasons of Competition Academic Eligibility Graduation

EC Does Not Review: Amateurism Transfer Releases Suspension Residency Eligibility Certification

http://www.playnaia.org/

Request for review: An internal review by Eligibility Center

management. Should be based upon the discovery of new information, or an

error in the determination.

Request for appeal: Review by a national committee (National

Eligibility Committee or Competitive Experience Committee). Can be based upon:

Misapplication of the rule; Decision was reached in an arbitrary or capricious manner; or There was bias or discrimination in the decision-making

process.

Eligibility Center:Reviews and Appeals

Academic Eligibility

An NAIA student may only compete during the first 10 semester

terms of attendance or 15 quarter terms of attendance.

TOA is any term (excluding summer sessions) in which the

student becomes identified with an institution.

Identification: An association between the student and

institution recognized by the NAIA. Participation in an intercollegiate contest Enrollment in 12 institutional credit hours as noted on the

student’s official transcript (Freshman Exception)

Academic Eligibility:Terms of Attendance

The impact of institutional credits on identification

Identification at one institution and then transfer to another

institution

Identification at one institution and then a total withdrawal Within 21 days of the start of classes Outside of 21 days from the start of classes

Tricks of the Trade:Terms of Attendance & Identification

To compete, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12

institutional credit hours. At least 9 institutional credit hours must be at the NAIA

institution Up to 3 institution credit hours from another institution -

with prior permission from NAIA registrar – will count

toward satisfying this rule.

If a student drops below 12 hours at any time, student must

immediately stop competing.

Academic Eligibility:12-hour Enrollment

Article V, Section C, Item 3

A student is considered an entering freshman until he/she has

identified with a post-secondary institution of higher education for

at least 2 semesters/3 quarters.

Freshmen must meet 2 out of 3 requirements: 2.0 Cumulative GPA Finish in top half of the student’s graduating class Minimum standardized test scores of:

18 on the ACT; or 860 on the SAT (Math & Reading only)

Early determination are available after a student’s 6th and/or 7th

semesters of high school.

Academic Eligibility:Entering Freshman Requirements


Home Schooled Students: Test score requirement: 20 ACT / 950 SAT; OR Individualized review by the NAIA Homes School Committee

Students with Learning Disabilities: Meet entering freshman eligibility requirements; OR Individualized review by the LDAC and NEC

Academic Eligibility:Freshman Exceptions

To participate in the student’s second TOA, the student must:

Have met entering freshman requirements (2 of 3); and

Have earned at least 9 credits prior to the second term

Can’t count pre-identification hours

Quarter School Note:

To participate in the student’s third quarter TOA, the student must

have earned 24 credits over the students first 2 TOAs.

Academic Eligibility:2nd Term Freshman


24/36-Hour Rule:

Passing coursework and earning credits in a manner

consistent with the expectations of a full-time student.

Considers terms of attendance and earning expected credits

over previous 2 semester/3 quarter TOAs

Progress Rule: Earning credits so that one’s academic achievement aligns

with one’s athletic experience Considers seasons of competition and earning expected

credits prior to the start of the next SOC

Academic Eligibility:Continuing Eligibility

To compete, a student must have earned:

24 credits during the student’s previous two semester TOAs; or

36 credits during the student’s previous three quarter TOAs.

This calculation may include: “Non-term” hours earned after the student’s 2nd most recent

TOA. No more than 12 non-term hours can apply to the calculation.

Academic Eligibility:24|36-Hour Rule


4thacademic

year


1st Academic Year:Fall – 12 creditsSpring – 12 credits

Meets 24/36-Hour Rule for Fall of the 2nd Academic Year


4thacademic

year



2nd Academic Year:Fall – 15 creditsSpring – 6 credits

Summer – 3 credits

Meets 24/36-Hour Rule for Fall of the 3rd Academic Year


4thacademic

year



2nd Academic Year:Fall – 15 creditsSpring – 6 credits

Summer – 3 credits

3rd Academic Year:Fall – 12 creditsSpring – Did not Identify (0 credits)

Does not meet 24/36-Hour Rule for Fall of the 4th Academic Year


To compete in a student’s 2nd SOC:

24 semester / 36 quarter institutional credits accumulated.

To compete in a student’s 3rd SOC:


To compete in a student’s 4th SOC:


48 semester / 72 quarter general education and/or major

institutional credits accumulated.

Academic Eligibility:Progress Rule


Junior academically and/or 3rd Season of Competition, or Senior Academically and/or 4th Season of Competition

Calculating GPA First TOA at your institution: cumulative GPA from all transcripts

Total Quality Points achieved

Total GPA Hrs. attempted

After initial TOA at your institution: use institution's cumulative

GPA policy for all students Retention/Graduation GPA is only used if it is the only GPA If multiple “cumulative GPAs” appear, use whichever GPA

institution uses to determine honors, graduation, etc.

Academic Eligibility:2.0 GPA Requirement

Article V, Section C, Items 8 & 9

Cum GPA =

Athletic Eligibility:Seasons of Competition

Article V, Section B, Item 18

A student may compete in 4 SOC that include a combination of:

Intercollegiate competition

Varsity and subvarsity (JV and/or freshman)

Transfer students’ previous SOC are determined by

previous athletic association

Non-intercollegiate competition (elite-level)

Participation in leagues or experiences that meet the

evaluative criteria for determining a chargeable league

PSAY – 12 month “grace period” after high school

Athletic Eligibility:Seasons of Competition


A student is charged one season of competition for any

participation in an exhibition or intercollegiate contest

One pitch, one play, one second

Medical Hardships

Season-ending injury verified by the treating physician

Student must not have exceeded competition limits

Injury cannot occur in last regular season or postseason

contest

Only restores intercollege SOC. Does not restore TOA.

Athletic Eligibility:Intercollegiate SOC

Article V, Section B, Item 18Article V, Section M

Coach / AD / FAR

must complete

portions 1-4

Transcript is required

Competition dates –

be prepared to submit

verifying stats

Signatures

PP

P

Article V, Section M

Athletic Eligibility:Hardship Waiver Forms

P PP

Doctor (M.D. or D.O only)

must complete portion 5

Answer and initial all

questions

Date for return must be

given – must be at least

specific to the month

Signature

P

Article V, Section M

Athletic Eligibility:Hardship Waiver Forms

Who is subject to a competitive experience review?

Eligibility Center Determinations

Any student who will enroll at an NAIA institution a year or

more after high school graduation.

Campus Certification

Any student with a break in full-time enrollment.

Any student who, while at a non-NAIA institution, was not

charged seasons of competition for every year of full-time

enrollment.

Athletic Eligibility:Non-Collegiate Competition

Article V, Section B, Item 18(b)

The Directory of Competition

within PlayNAIA Manager

allows institutions to see if a

league/event is chargeable as

elite-level competition.

NOTE: The Directory is not

exhaustive and only contains

those leagues evaluated by the

Eligibility Center.

Athletic Eligibility:Directory of Competition


Transfer RulesArticle V, Sections F-H

Definition of a Transfer

A student who becomes identified with an NAIA school after

having been previously identified with another institution.

General Transfer Residency Rule

A student with prior participation at a 4-year institution must

serve a 16-week residency period prior to NAIA participation.

Residency Rule Exceptions:

Most recent intercollegiate participation was at 2-year

institution

Did not participate at the most recent 4-year institution

Has both a 2.0 GPA and written release


Transfer student who represents 2 institutions in one academic

year can be charged 2 SOCs in a 12-month period

JuCo Exception: JuCo grad who participated at JuCO,

transfers to NAIA school in same sport season and is

otherwise eligible

Mid-Year Transfers and Spring Events

Student must be certified as eligible to participate in next SOC

Applies even for spring scrimmages, where student won’t be

charged a SOC


Tying it All Together

Required:NAIA Official Eligibility

CertificateNAIA Certificate of Clearance

When applicable:Transfer Eligibility StatementEligibility Certificate for

Entering FreshmenCompetitive Experience

Form

Students may not compete until all necessary forms

are completed and sent to conference

eligibility chair

Article V, Section J

Eligibility Certification Forms

Self Report Violation

Exception Request

Appeal of Previous Ruling

Article V, Section L; Article VI, Section B&E

Send to:Conference

Eligibility Chair

Send to:National

Office

NAIA Forms and Processes

Please submit your feedback via the

app!

Eligibility 101 - The Basics Chesney Allen & Matt Hanson NAIA Legislative Services.

Documents

Transcript of Eligibility 101 - The Basics Chesney Allen & Matt Hanson NAIA Legislative Services.