Division I International Student-Athlete Issues

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Division I International Student-Athlete Issues

• Frank Arredondo
• Academic and Membership Affairs
• Holly Smith
• NCAA Eligibility Center

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Overview

• How is Initial Eligibility Determined?
• Case Studies.
• Whats New?
• Who should you call?
• Resources.
• Questions.

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How Is Initial-Eligibility Determined?
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How is Initial-Eligibility Determined?

• The NCAA Eligibility Center is responsible for
  evaluating academic credentials for all incoming
  freshman and transfer students.
• Implement NCAA legislation dictating
  initial-eligibility requirements.
• Determine completion of core course requirements,
  grade-point average calculation and the
  establishment of a prospective student-athletes
  graduation date.

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How is Initial-Eligibility Determined? (continued)

• International academic documents, as listed in
  the Guide to International Academic Standards for
  Athletics Eligibility
• Category One
• Document satisfies the high school graduation and
  core-curriculum requirements.
• Russias Attestat o Srednom Obschem Obrazovanii.
• Brazils Certificado de Conclusao de Ensino Medio.

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How is Initial-Eligibility Determined? (continued)

• Category Two
• Document satisfies high school graduation, but
  not core-curriculum requirements Eligibility
  Center evaluates documents to determine if the 16
  core-course requirement is satisfied.
• United Kingdoms General Certificate of Secondary
  Education (GCSEs).
• Ontarios Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

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How is Initial-Eligibility Determined? (continued)

• Category Three
• Documents do not, by themselves, satisfy high
  school graduation may be combined with Category
  Two documents to determine if the core curriculum
  was satisfied.
• Australia capital territory grade 10 certificate.
• Alberta grade 9 transcript.

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How is Initial-Eligibility Determined? (continued)

• Category Four
• Documents indicate that the International
  student-athlete is a transfer and must meet those
  requirements instead of initial-eligibility
  regulations full-time attendance triggers the
  start of the five-year/10 semester period of
  eligibility.
• United Kingdoms Higher National Diploma
• Transcript from McGill University, Quebec

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Grade-Point Average Calculation

• Category One transcript and exam based
  credentials
• Evaluated by reviewing the grades of the core
  courses listed on the credential regardless of
  grades earned.
• Grades are weighted in accordance with the unit
  values credited on the credential if applicable.
• The core-course distribution does not have to be
  met as the academic rigor of the program of study
  is considered to be equivalent to the
  distribution.

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Example of Category One Transcript
BasedCredential Evaluation Brazil
Sample Calculation Portuguese A (4 quality
points) x .75 units 3 QP
GPA Total QP/Total Units
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Example of Category One Exam Based Credential
Evaluation - Serbia
Original Document
Translation
Core Course Exams
U.S. C (2QP) U.S. B (3QP) GPA 5 QP / 2 Units
2.5
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Grade-Point Average Calculation (continued)

• Category Two Exam based credentials
• Are evaluated by reviewing the core courses
  listed on the document credential. The
  core-course distribution does have to be met, as
  the academic rigor of the program of study is not
  automatically considered to be equivalent to the
  distribution.
• The top five academic subject passes that fit the
  distribution will be used, only if they are
  passed. No failing grades are used to calculate
  the grade-point average.

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Example of Category Two Exam Based Credential
Evaluation United Kingdom
GPA Calculation Course UK US QP Grade Grade Engli
sh C B 3 Math E C 2 Science D C 2 Soc.
Sci. C B 3 Additional C B 3 GPA 13 QP / 5
Units 2.6
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Grade-Point Average Calculation (continued)

• Category Two Transcript based credentials
• Are evaluated by reviewing the core courses
  listed on the document and weighted according to
  the units of credit listed on the credential.
  However, the core-course distribution does have
  to be met, as the academic rigor of the program
  of study is not automatically considered to be
  equivalent to the distribution.
• No failing grades are used in the grade-point
  average calculation.

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Example of Category Two Transcript Based
Credential Evaluation - Ontario
Numeric Equ. QP Grade U.S. Grade 80-100 A
4 70-79 B 3 60-69 C 2 50-59 D 1 (lowest
passing grade see page 5) 0-49 F 0
Simple Calculation English - B (3 Quality
Points) x 1 Unit 3 QP
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Core-Course Time Limitation

• Only courses completed in grades nine through 12
  will be considered.
• A prospective student-athlete who graduates from
  an international educational system within the
  prescribed timeframe may use one core-course or
  one subject pass (but not both) completed in the
  year after graduation (summer or academic year),
  but not later than the end of the academic year
  immediately after the high school graduation of
  the students class.

NCAA Division I Bylaws 14.3.1.2.1 and
14.3.1.2.1.1
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Core-Course Time Limitation (continued)

• May be completed at a location other than the
  high school from which the PSA graduated and is
  not required to stay within his or her home
  system.
• Example SA finishes grade 12 in Mexico and then
  moves to the United States for a course in summer
  school at a high school in Texas.

Bylaws 14.3.1.2.1 and 14.3.1.2.1.1
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Core-Course Time Limitation (continued)

• Important note
• If a student-athlete does not complete his or her
  secondary education within the prescribed
  timeframe, a Category One document could become a
  Category Two document.
• Example In France, the Baccalaureat General
  could become a Category Two document and the
  Eligibility Center will search for 16
  core-courses starting with grade 9 that fit the
  distribution.

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Whats New?
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Whats New?

• NCAA International Student Records Committee
  (ISRC) composition.
• Indias National Institute of Open Schooling.
• Updated grading scales for Scotland.
• European Baccalaureate categorization and grading
  scale.
• Portugal Category Two document and new grade nine
  grading scale.
• Guide Updates.
• BTEC/GNVQ reminder.

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ISRC Committee Composition

• With the adoption of NCAA Division I Proposal No.
  2009-91, the NCAA International Student Records
  Committee will consist of six members, including
  two Division I representatives, two Division II
  representatives and two representatives who may
  be from either Division I or Division II.
• Provides greater flexibility in the appointment
  process.
• Bylaw 21.6.3

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Indias National Institute of Open Schooling

• Senior Secondary School Certificate reflects
  grades 11 and 12 of secondary school.
• Will be a Category 2 document.
• May need an accompanying Category 3 document
  (year 10 certificate) to complete an
  initial-eligibility certification.

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Updated grading scales for Scotland

• The committee determined that for
  initial-eligibility certification, PSAs must
  present results from Standard, Intermediate 1 and
  2, Higher or Advanced Higher examinations.
• The committee also approved grading scales for
  standard, Intermediate 1 and 2, and Higher and
  Advanced Higher examinations.

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Updated grading scales for Scotland (continued)

• The committee determined only Scottish Credit and
  Qualifications Framework (SQCF) levels 4 or
  higher will be used to determine graduation of
  prospective student-athletes.
• In addition, the committee determined Foundation
  and Access levels are not acceptable.

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European Baccalaureate Categorization and Grading
Scale

• The committee determined the Eligibility Center
  shall consider the European Baccalaureate
  academic credential as a Category One document
• Approved a grading scale to be used immediately
  and will be added to the Guide to International
  Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility.

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Portugal Category Two Document and New Grade Nine
Grading Scale

• The committee determined that the Eligibility
  Center shall consider the Diploma Nivel
  Secundario de Educacao from Portugal to be a
  Category Two document.
• In addition, the committee approved a grade 9
  grading scale.

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United Kingdom and BTEC/GNVQ

• Currently, consideration for both
  initial-eligibility and amateurism is given to
  coursework completed toward a BTEC/GNVQ
  qualification.
• The committee determined that effective with
  prospects enrolling on or after August 1, 2010,
  all BTEC/GNVQ coursework will be considered
  category three documents and will not advance a
  prospective student-athletes high school
  graduation date, even if advances in the
  BTEC/GNVQ structure within the prescribed
  timeframe.
• International Student Records Committee is
  continuing to discuss.
• Delaying impact until at least 2010-11.

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Guide to International Academic Standards Update

• EC staff along with AMA have attempted to address
  some of the most often asked questions to EC and
  AMA staff.
• Guide updates aim at providing more insight into
  secondary education systems and country
  structure.
• Also, aim at providing more insight into a
  certification.

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Guide to International Academic Standards Update

• Online Guide is most recent and update version.
• Updated after every ISRC meeting and on an
  as-needed basis.
• Working towards a more transparent document.

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Who should you call?
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Who should you call?

• For inquiries regarding initial eligibility and
  application of legislation, please call Academic
  and Membership Affairs.
• For inquiries regarding specific international
  PSAs registered with the Eligibility Center,
  please call the Eligibility Center.
• For questions regarding how the Eligibility
  Center evaluates a certain country or graduation
  dates, please call the Eligibility Center.

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Resources
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Resources

• NCAA Web site www.ncaa.org
• NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards
  for Athletics Eligibility.
• American Association of Collegiate Registrars and
  Admissions Officers www.aacrao.org
• National Association of Foreign Student Advisors
  www.nafsa.org
• Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
  www.ucas.ac.uk
• United States Immigration and Customs
  Enforcement www.ice.gov/sevis

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Questions