Making the Grade Preparing for Intercollegiate Athletics

1
Making the Grade Preparing for Intercollegiate
Athletics

• MITCA Track Clinic
• February 8, 2008

2
General Overview

• NCAA Eligibility Center
• What is the Eligibility Center?
• Academic certification
• Amateurism certification
• Certification process

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General Overview

• Academic Eligibility Requirements
• Division I academic eligibility requirements
• Calculating grade-point average
• ACT/SAT
• Certification status Qualifier vs. Nonqualifier
• Students with learning disabilities
• Division II and III academic eligibility
  requirements
• High School Administrators Responsibility in
  Certification Process

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NCAA Eligibility Center

• Formerly known as the NCAA Initial-Eligibility
  Clearinghouse.
• Located in Indianapolis, IN.
• Responsible for all initial-eligibility
  certifications for prospective student-athletes
  entering Division I and II institutions.
• Initial-eligibility certification includes an
  academic AND amateur certification.

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NCAA Eligibility Center

• Academic Certification
• There are 3 components to academic certification
• College entrance examination score (ACT and SAT)
• High school core curriculum and grade-point
  average and
• High school graduation.

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NCAA Eligibility Center

• College Entrance Exam (ACT/SAT)
• Prospective student-athletes must submit ALL test
  scores directly to the Eligibility Center from
  the testing agency.
• Test scores submitted on high school transcripts
  will not be used to complete the prospects
  academic certification.
• The Eligibility Centers reporting code is 9999
  for both the ACT and SAT.

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NCAA Eligibility Center

• High School Core Curriculum and Grade-Point
  Average
• Prospective student-athletes must complete a
  minimum number of core courses (Division I 16,
  Division II 14).
• Grade-point average is based only on these core
  courses.

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NCAA Eligibility Center

• High School Graduation
• Prospective student-athletes must graduate from
  high school in order to be eligible to
  participate in intercollegiate athletics.
• The General Education Development (GED) test may
  satisfy the graduation requirement, provided the
  prospect earns a minimum average score of 45 (450
  on post-2001 exam). The GED will not satisfy the
  core course GPA or test score requirements.

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NCAA Eligibility Center

• Amateurism Certification
• Prospects begin the amateur certification process
  by answering a questionnaire found on the
  Eligibility Centers website.
• Prospects will receive a preliminary
  certification after answering the questions.
• Prospects will receive a final certification in
  the spring by affirming their responses. Students
  can request final certification on or after April
  7, 2008.

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NCAA Eligibility Center

• Academic and Amateur Certification Process
• Any student who wants to participate in Division
  I or II athletics as a freshman must register
  with the Eligibility Center.
• One-time registration fee.
• 50 for domestic students
• 75 for international students

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NCAA Eligibility Center

• Academic and Amateur Certification Process
• Students are encouraged to register after their
  junior year in high school. Please note
• The student must register BEFORE he/she can make
  an official visit to a Division I institution.
• The student must register BEFORE he/she can
  receive a written offer of athletically related
  financial aid to a Division I institution.
• The student must register and be certified BEFORE
  he/she can receive an athletics scholarship,
  practice or compete at a Division I or II
  institution during the first year of enrollment.

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NCAA Eligibility Center

• Academic and Amateur Certification Process
• Prospective student-athletes are required to
  complete the Student Release Form (SRF) online.
• Prospects must have an official transcript sent
  directly to the Eligibility Center from the high
  school. Transcripts CANNOT be faxed or submitted
  online.
• A student who attends multiple high schools must
  submit an official transcript to the Eligibility
  Center from each high school. Transcripts can
  come directly from each school or from the high
  school from which the student is graduating.
• Students must have their test score(s) sent
  directly to the Eligibility Center from the
  testing agency (code 9999).
• Students must complete the amateurism
  certification questions.

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NCAA Eligibility Center
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NCAA Eligibility Center
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NCAA Eligibility Center

• NCAA Eligibility Center
• PO Box 7136
• Indianapolis, IN 46207-7136
• Website www.ncaaclearinghouse.net or
• https//web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/in
  dex.html
• Customer Service Hours 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (EST)
  Monday-Friday
• U.S. Callers (Toll-Free) 877.262.1492
• International Callers (Toll-Free) 317.223.0700
• Fax Number 317.968.5100

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Division I Academic Eligibility Requirements
• Prospects enrolling on or after August 1, 2008
  must complete a minimum of 16 core courses.
• High schools list of approved core courses (48H)
  is available on the Eligibility Centers website.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Division I Academic Eligibility Requirements
• List of approved core courses (48H)

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Division I Academic Eligibility Requirements
• High schools list of approved core courses (48H)

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Division I Academic Eligibility Requirements
• A core course must
• Be an academic course in one of the following
  areas English, mathematics, natural/physical
  science, social science, foreign language,
  nondoctrinal religion or philosophy. Vocational,
  band, art, drama, choir and physical
  education/activity courses are NOT core courses
• Be four-year college preparatory
• Be at or above the high schools regular academic
  level (no remedial, special education or
  compensatory courses) and
• Be completed no later than the high school
  graduation date of the students class as
  determined by the first year of enrollment in
  high school (ninth grade) or the international
  equivalent.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Division I Academic Eligibility Requirements
• Only courses completed in grades 9-12 will count
  as core courses for Division I.
• Prospects must complete core courses no later
  than the high school graduation date of the
  prospects class (as determined by the first year
  of enrollment in the high school 9th grade).
• If a prospect repeats a year in high school, a
  collegiate institution may apply for a waiver of
  this rule with the Eligibility Center.
• If a prospect graduates on time the prospect may
  use one core course completed in the year after
  graduation (summer or academic year) to meet
  academic eligibility requirements.
• The core course may be completed at any high
  school, non-traditional school or post-secondary
  school.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Calculating Grade-Point Average
• Only the best grades will be used.
• Credit is based on high schools grading system
• 1 quarter 0.25 units
• 1 trimester 0.33 units
• 1 semester 0.50 units
• 1 year 1.0 unit
• The following values (i.e., quality points) are
  assigned to each letter grade
• A 4 points
• B 3 points
• C 2 points
• D 1 point

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Calculating Grade-Point Average
• If a high school uses numeric grades (e.g., 92,
  93) those grades will be changed to reflect a
  letter grade. The high schools grading scale is
  available on the schools list of approved core
  courses.
• Plus or minus grades are not used when
  calculating core course GPA. For example, B
  and B are each worth 3 quality points.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Calculating Grade-Point Average
• If a high school normally weights honors or
  advanced courses, these weighted courses must be
  identified as such on the list of approved core
  courses.
• For example
• Honors A 4.5 points
• Honors B 3.5 points
• Honors C 2.5 points
• Honors D 1.5 points

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Calculating Grade-Point Average
• To obtain the students core course GPA
  Attachment A Division I and II Worksheets
• List courses, grades and credits. Only include
  courses on the high schools list of approved
  core courses.
• Determine the quality points for each course.
• Multiply the quality points for the grade by the
  amount of credit earned.
• Divide the total number of quality points for ALL
  core courses by the total number of core course
  units completed.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Calculating Grade-Point Average

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Calculating Grade-Point Average
• Finalize GPA calculation
• Quality points/Number of core courses Core
  course GPA
• 48 quality points/16 core courses 3.00 GPA

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• ACT and SAT
• Students must achieve the required test score
  (based on a sliding scale) BEFORE full-time
  collegiate enrollment.
• The required SAT or ACT score must be achieved
  under national testing conditions on a national
  testing date. A state administered ACT may be
  used to meet the test score requirement.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• ACT and SAT
• Test scores are calculated by adding up each
  subscore.
• ACT Math, Science, English, Reading
• SAT Math, Critical Reading
• The writing component of the ACT and SAT will not
  be used to determine a students initial
  eligibility certification.
• Note Collegiate institutions may or may not
  require the writing component. Students are
  encouraged to take the writing portion of the
  ACT/SAT.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• ACT and SAT
• Tests may be taken more than one time.
• The Eligibility Center will use the best subscore
  from each test to meet the minimum test score
  requirement.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• ACT and SAT
• ALL SAT and ACT scores must be reported to the
  Eligibility Center directly from the testing
  agency.
• Test scores will NOT be accepted if reported to
  the Eligibility Center on a high school
  transcript.
• Code 9999

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Academic Eligibility Requirements
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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Division I Certification Status
• Division I certification is based on high school
  graduation, completion of 16 core courses, and
  core course grade-point average and test score
  sliding scale.
• Attachment B Division I Core GPA and Test Score
  Sliding Scale

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Division I Certification Status
• QUALIFIER
• Meets the academic requirements (high school
  graduation, 16 core courses, GPA/test score
  requirement).
• May practice, compete and receive athletics aid
  first year of college.
• Has four seasons of eligibility, provided student
  maintains eligibility year to year.
• Example Student completed 16 core courses with a
  core GPA of 2.900 and a SAT score of 675. 2.900
  GPA SAT 660 or ACT 54

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Division I Certification Status
• NONQUALIFIER
• Does not meet one or more of the academic
  requirements (high school graduation, 16 core
  courses, GPA/test score requirement).
• May not practice, compete or receive athletics
  aid first year of college (student may receive
  need-based financial aid).
• Has three seasons of eligibility remaining. May
  earn a fourth season provided student meets NCAA
  progress toward degree requirements.
• Example Student completed 16 core courses with a
  2.725 GPA and ACT score of 56. 2.725 GPA SAT
  730 or ACT 59

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Division I Certification Status
• NONQUALIFIER
• A nonqualifier has two options regarding Division
  I eligibility
• Serve a year in residency at the DI institution
  (no athletics aid, practice or competition).
  Eligible for athletics aid, practice and
  competition second year of enrollment, provided
  student meets institutional, conference and NCAA
  academic requirements.
• Enroll in a two-year college. To be immediately
  eligible for athletics aid, practice and
  competition upon transfer to a DI institution,
  student must earn AA degree, complete 48/72 hours
  of transferable degree credit with a 2.000 GPA
  and complete a minimum of 3 semester/4 quarters
  (summers excluded) at the two-year college.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Students with Learning Disabilities
• A student with a disability must meet the same
  academic requirements (e.g., high school
  graduation, core course, test score) as all other
  students.
• A student with a disability may receive the
  following accommodations
• Use courses for students with disabilities that
  are designated on the high schools list of
  approved core courses.
• Use approved core courses taken before the
  student enrolls in college (including courses
  taken the summer after high school graduation).
• Take a nonstandard ACT/SAT on a date other than a
  national testing date.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Students with Learning Disabilities
• In order to use core courses taken after eight
  semesters of high school to satisfy Division I
  academic eligibility requirements, students must
  submit the following documentation to the NCAA
  Eligibility Center
• Signed copy of the most recent professional
  evaluation report diagnosing the disability,
  including the diagnostic test results (completed
  within the last three years).
• Copy of the most recent Individual Education Plan
  (IEP), Section 504 Plan, or for private high
  schools, a statement on the schools letterhead
  describing the accommodations, if any, received
  by the student because of the disability
  (completed within the last three years).

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Divisions II and III Academic Eligibility
Requirements

• Division II
• Graduate from high school.
• Complete 14 core courses. All core courses
  completed before full-time enrollment may be used
  by the Eligibility Center.
• Earn a 2.00 GPA in core courses.
• Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or ACT sum score
  of 68. There is no sliding scale in DII.

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Divisions II and III Academic Eligibility
Requirements

• Division II Certification Status
• QUALIFIER
• Meets the academic requirements (high school
  graduation, 14 core courses, GPA, test score).
• Can practice, compete and receive athletics aid
  during first year of college.
• Has four seasons of eligibility, provided student
  maintains eligibility from year to year.

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Divisions II and III Academic Eligibility
Requirements

• Division II Certification Status
• PARTIAL QUALIFIER
• Does not meet all the academic requirements, but
  has graduated from high school AND meets one of
  the following
• Combined SAT score of 820 or ACT sum score of 68
  OR
• Completion of 14 core courses with a 2.000 core
  course GPA.
• Can practice and receive athletics aid during
  first year of enrollment. Cannot compete during
  first year.
• Has four seasons of eligibility remaining,
  provided student maintains eligibility from year
  to year.

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Divisions II and III Academic Eligibility
Requirements

• Division II Certification Status
• NONQUALIFIER
• Does not graduate from high school, or, if the
  student graduated and is missing both the core
  courses GPA or minimum number of core courses and
  the required ACT or SAT scores.
• Cannot practice, compete or receive athletics aid
  during the first year of enrollment. Student can
  receive need-based financial aid.
• Has four seasons of eligibility remaining,
  provided student maintains eligibility from year
  to year.

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Divisions II and III Academic Eligibility
Requirements

• Division III Certification Status
• Division III does not use the NCAA Eligibility
  Center. Students should contact the Division III
  college regarding its policies on admission,
  financial aid, practice and competition.

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High School Administrators Responsibility in
Certification Process

• The primary responsibility of a high school
  administrator in relationship to freshman
  certification is to make sure the schools list
  of approved core courses is accurate and up to
  date.
• It is the high schools responsibility to have an
  administrator check the content of each course
  for compliance with NCAA standards of
  acceptability.

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High School Administrators Responsibility in
Certification Process

• On the Eligibility Center website high school
  administrators can
• View high schools list of approved core courses
  (48H).
• Submit core courses (additions, deletions,
  changes).
• Update high schools Eligibility Center contact
  information.
• Print graduation lists for mailing of final
  transcripts.
• Contact the Eligibility Center via e-mail.
• Submit online fee waiver verification for
  eligible students.

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High School Administration Information Page
Eligibility Center Website
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High School Administrators Responsibility in
Certification Process

• Students must understand that high school
  graduation requirements may differ from NCAA
  academic eligibility requirements and college
  admissions requirements.
• Students and high school administrators should
  note that the NCAA academic eligibility
  certification process is separate from college
  admissions. Each institution makes its own
  admissions decisions based on established
  admissions criteria. Just because a student is
  certified as a qualifier by the Eligibility
  Center does not mean the student will be admitted
  into college.
• Step by step checklist (Attachment C).

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Summary

• All students planning to participate in Division
  I or II athletics as a freshman must register
  with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Students must receive both an academic AND
  amateurism certification.
• Division I High school graduation, 16 core
  courses, core GPA/test score sliding scale.
• Division II High school graduation, 14 core
  courses, 2.00 core GPA, 820 SAT or 68 ACT
• Division III Students are not certified by
  Eligibility Center.
• Division I, II and III Academic Eligibility
  Requirements (Attachment D).

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Helpful Information

• Eligibility Center website www.ncaaclearinghouse.
  net or https//web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/com
  mon/index.html
• NCAA website www.ncaa.org
• Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
  (available on NCAA website)
• Transfer Guide for Divisions I/II/III (available
  on NCAA website)
• MSU Office of Compliance Services website
  www.msu.edu/user/msuncaa/

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Helpful Information

• Contact Information
• Holly Baumgartner
• Compliance Coordinator
• Michigan State University
• 223 Jenison Field House
• East Lansing, MI 48824
• [phone]
• baumgarh_at_ath.msu.edu

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Questions
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THE END