NCAA Initial Eligibility and the Eligibility Center

What is this Eligibility Center thing? The NCAA Initial Eligibility Center (formerly “ Clearinghouse ”) was established in the early 1990s to provide an unbiased assessment of all incoming student-athletes. In order to receive athletics aid, practice and compete during their freshman year, student-athletes must meet a basic level of academic ability. That academic ability is based on High School Core Course GPA and ACT or SAT test scores.

NCAA Eligibility Center In November 2007, the Clearinghouse moved from Iowa City to Indianapolis and renamed the NCAA Eligibility Center. The website:

Core Course Definition An NCAA Core Course must meet the following: 1.Recognized academic course which qualifies for high-school graduation credit in one or a combination of: English, math, science, social studies, foreign language, non-doctrinal religion, philosophy. 2. Course must be considered college preparatory for entrance into a four-year college. 3. Mathematics must be at the level of Algebra I or higher. 4. Course must be taught by a qualified instructor. 5.Failures of Core Courses may not be made up via summer school as teacher contact is a requirement. 6.However, eSchool is an option, but with an additional cost.

NCAA Approved Core Courses: “48H Form” All Core Courses are listed on Lafayette’s 48H form, which can be found at under “Resources”. Use Lafayette’s school code to find the 48H form: A course will not count in a student-athlete’s GPA, or towards the required Core Courses, if it is not listed on this form. Student-athletes should check with their guidance counselor early in the junior year to ensure that Core Courses listed on their transcript, and those planned for the senior year, are found on Lafayette’s 48H form.

16 Core Courses 4 years of English 3 years of Math (Algebra 1 or higher) 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year with a lab if offered by High School) 1 year of additional English, Math, or Natural/Physical Science 2 years of social science 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy.) Core Courses

IMPORTANT! Computer Science has been Eliminated! Computer science courses cannot be used for initial-eligibility purposes. Eliminated for both Division I and Division II. Effective August 1, 2005, for those first entering college on or after August 1, 2005.

To View the Rules… Go to Look for Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete under “Resources”. This is also the site where student-athletes will register.

How to Proceed Junior year 4Take the ACT and/or SAT test. 4Report scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center (code #9999). 4The Eligibility Center only accepts scores from the ACT or SAT testing agency. Student-athletes save time and money by sending scores each time they take a test. After Junior year 4 Register online with the Eligibility Center Registration Fees (~$65 – U.S. Students) 4 Request the Registrar, Ms. Cathy Martin, to send sixth-semester official transcript to the Eligibility Center. 4Note: Transcripts sent before the end of the Junior year will not be evaluated by the Eligibility Center until the 6 th semester is shown.

Who Needs to Register? A student who plans to attend a NCAA Division I or II institution and who wishes to participate in intercollegiate athletics.

Amateurism Component Starting with the graduating Class of 2007, the Eligibility Center will also require the completion of an Amateurism Questionnaire. Both the Amateurism and Initial Eligibility requirements will be addressed on the same web site. The questions are straight forward and user-friendly. An electronic signature is required before submitting the completed questionnaire. Both areas should be addressed when registering.

When Does a Student Receive a Preliminary Report? The Eligibility Center prioritizes incoming information by the following categories: 4 Students who are being actively recruited by an institution and are on an institutional request list 4 Students with disabilities who have taken a nonstandard test or who have registered with NCAA disability services 4 Students who request a report.

For the Senior year…… During the senior year 4 Continue to monitor course selection. 4 Continue to update and/or complete the Amateurism Questionnaire. After the senior year 4 Registrar sends final, official transcript (with proof of graduation) to the Eligibility Center.

Transcript Accuracy is Vital!! Once the Eligibility Center receives a final transcript, a revised transcript will not be used. All transcript changes after graduation must be handled through the initial-eligibility waiver process.

What does the final report say? QUALIFIER Eligible for athletic aid Eligible to practice Eligible for all team activities Eligible for Competition NON-QUALIFIER Not eligible for athletic aid Not eligible for practice Not eligible for most team activities Not eligible for competition

What if eligibility is delayed? Recruited students have 14 days to practice; non-recruited have 45 days. After the time allotment is up, aid is withheld, and student is treated as if they are a non- qualifier.

Why would this happen? Student’s High School fails to send final transcript Official test scores are not sent directly to the Eligibility Center from the testing agency Documents are not sent according to NCAA Eligibility Center policy Discrepancies between transcript and 48H

New Eligibility Requirements Enrolling in college on, or after, August 1, 2016 means new Eligibility Requirements. –Full qualifier = competition, athletics aid (scholarship) and practice the first year. –Academic redshirt = athletics aid the first year, practice the first regular academic term (semester or quarter). –Non-qualifier = no athletics aid, practice or competition the first year. Minimum core-course GPA of required. Ten core courses required before beginning the senior year and seven of them must be in English, Math or Science. These ten courses become “locked in” for the purpose of GPA calculation. Repeating a “locked in” course after the seventh semester begins will not result in a recalculation of the GPA.

A student-athlete’s best friends in this process… High School Coach 4 This is the person who knows the student- athlete best. 4 S/he will have the college athletic contacts. High School Counselor 4 Sally Adams, Shaun Cook, Sarah Day, Arin Leber, Tracey Lilly and Mark Roberts will work the academic/transcript end of the process with the student-athlete.

Important Telephone Numbers Clearinghouse Customer Service – Clearinghouse 24-Hour Automated Line – Clearinghouse Fax – NCAA National Office – NCAA Fax – NCAA Hotline –