67-00 Athletic Competition

General

Eligibility of Athletes*

Grants-in-Aid

Athletic Contests

Athletic Schedules

Delegation of Authority

1. General

The University Faculty Senate Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics (IA) shall have jurisdiction over all academic matters pertaining to intercollegiate athletics. The committee shall determine eligibility of athletes, approve athletic schedules, and take appropriate actions when student-athletes have violated the policies set forth in this rule. To assist the committee in discharging its responsibilities, a Faculty Athletic Representative to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is appointed by the President of the University. Authority granted this representative for University Park athletic programs and similar authority delegated to representatives of locations other than University Park is outlined in subsequent provisions of this rule. The committee shall have overall responsibility for enforcement of this rule. A student-athlete who violates any of the provisions of this rule shall be subject to appropriate action. In specific cases, the committee may delegate authority to the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled, to the executive officer of the Commonwealth College location, to the respective provost and dean of Penn State Erie, Penn State Capital College, Penn State Altoona College, Penn State Abington College and Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College.

2. Eligibility of Athletes*

1. Only full-time candidates for a baccalaureate degree are eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletic contests, with two exceptions. First, in their final semester, student-athletes may schedule fewer than the minimum requirements for full-time status if they need fewer than twelve credits to meet graduation requirements. Second, a full-time graduate student (attained a baccalaureate degree) with competive eligibility remaining may also compete. In addition, courses offered through correspondence study may not be used to establish the minimum requirements for full-time status. If a student-athlete drops below full-time status any time during the semester (except as noted above) that student will be immediately ineligible to compete.

   At the University Park Campus, provisional, non-degree regular and non-degree conditional students are not considered baccalaureate candidates. They are not eligible to practice or compete.

   At the campus college locations only full-time students (except nondegree) are eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletic contests. Exceptions to full-time status may also be made for associate degree students during their final semester if they need less than twelve credits to meet their graduation requirements. If a student-athlete drops below full-time status any time during the semester (except as noted above) that student will be immediately ineligible.
   

2. A student-athlete from the University Park campus shall represent the University in an intercollegiate athletic contest only if the student has acquired the designated number of credits at the beginning of the appropriate semester (in residence) as follows:
   
   

   Semesters in Residence	Minimum Number Credits Required
   2	9
   3	24
   4	38
   5	52
   6	67
   7	82
   8	97
   9	112

   A student-athlete from a campus location other than University Park shall represent the University in an intercollegiate athletic contest only if the student has acquired the designated number of credits at the beginning of the appropriate semester (in residence) as follows:

   Semesters in Residence	Minimum Number Credits Required
   2	9
   3	24
   4	36
   5	48
   6	60
   7	72
   8	84
   9	96

   
   
3. A student-athlete at any location is eligible to represent the University in an intercollegiate athletic contest only if the student meets the minimum cumulative grade point requirements at the beginning of the appropriate semester (in residence) as follows:
   
   

   Semesters in Residence	Minimum GPA
   2	1.80
   3	1.90
   4	1.90
   5	2.00
   6	2.00
   7	2.00
   8	2.00
   9	2.00

   
   
4. A student-athlete at University Park also must comply with the current eligibility requirements of the NCAA and the Big Ten Conference, Inc. A student-athlete at other campus locations must comply with current eligibility requirements of the NCAA and/or any other athletic conference that governs the athletic contests in which the student expects to compete.
   
   
5. Student-athletes transferring from another four-year institution to University Park shall not be eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletic contests until the students have completed a residence requirement of at least one full academic year, and one calendar year has lapsed since registering at the University. Exceptions may be granted as prescribed by the NCAA. However, a student who transfers to University Park from a junior college and did not fulfill the requirements of the NCAA bylaws concerning initial eligibility must complete one academic year (two semesters) and one calendar year must lapse before the student is eligible to compete. Student-athletes transferring to Penn State baccalaureate degree granting Campuses must comply with NCAA Division III regulations. A student-athlete transferring to other Penn State Commonwealth College locations must comply with the eligibility requirements that govern the athletic contests at that location.
   
   
6. A graduate student may be eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics if the student has completed a baccalaureate degree, has not exceeded the calendar-year limitations on competitive eligibility, and is a full-time student in a degree program.
   
   
7. A student at University Park who has participated in organized practice or competition during any academic term, and who has not continued in residence through that term, shall not become eligible until at least one calendar year has lapsed from that date of the student's re-entry according to Big Ten Conference academic eligibility rules.

*Detailed information about student-athlete eligibility may be found in the current NCAA Manual, for University Park the Handbook of the Big Ten Conference and for the Commonwealth Campuses the Athletic Conference Policy Manual.

Revised: 12/21/2005 (Approved by Senate 10/25/2005)
Revised: 1/19/2007 (Approved by Senate 12/5/06)

3. Grants-in Aid

1. A student-athlete may receive from the athletic department a grant-in-aid that includes all or part of the educational expenses associated with tuition, fees, room, board, and required course-related books. Student-athletes may not receive a grant-in-aid unless they are otherwise eligible for participation in intercollegiate athletics.

2. Grants-in-aid are awarded for one year or less and may not be cancelled during the award period unless one of the prescribed NCAA exceptions applies. In cases where a grant-in-aid is not renewed before the student completes his or her eligibility, the student-athlete may request the IA Committee to review the decision.

3. At other Penn State baccalaureate degree granting campuses, a student-athlete's financial aid must be consistent with NCAA Division III criteria.
4. At Commonwealth College Locations, no financial aid based on athletic talent may be awarded.

4. Athletic Contests

1. A student-athlete who represents the University in an athletic contest shall be excused from class and provided with an official excuse form.

2. No student-athlete shall be allowed to represent the University in an athletic contest unless the student has been officially approved for participation. A list of student-athletes expecting to participate in the contest must be submitted to the appropriate Faculty Athletic Representatives at least twenty-four hours in advance of the contest. Copies of the team lists shall be forwarded to the IA Committee.

5. Athletic Schedules

1. All schedules of athletic contests will be submitted to the IA Committee through appropriate Faculty Athletic Representatives for approval or modification before final arrangements or contracts are made. It is the responsibility of the IA Committee to ensure that all athletic schedules fall within established University regulations and policies. No regular-season athletic contests shall be scheduled during the final exam periods of the University.

2. Athletic teams or individual team members shall be allowed to be absent from the University for no more than seventy-five class periods in one semester. The number of class periods missed shall be kept on record by the IA Committee and the respective Athletic Departments. It shall be the joint responsibility of those bodies to enforce these limitations.

3. Participation in special events outside approved scheduled events by varsity teams or individual team members (such as football bowl games) must be approved by the IA Committee at least ten days prior to participation. As in all events, NCAA and/or other athletic conference regulations and University regulations will be followed.

Other special events are defined in two categories. The first category includes events that involve varsity teams or individual team members serving as official representatives of the University, that are usually scheduled annually, and that are typically included within the athletic schedule. Participation in these events must be approved at the time season schedules are approved by the IA Committee. Typical events include annual invitationals, regional conference tournaments, and NCAA regional and national championships.

The second category includes events such as Pan American Games, World University Games, U.S. Teams, and the Olympic Games, or their qualifying events, which do not occur annually and may involve one or more team members as official representatives of the University. Participation in this type of event usually occurs when an athlete's performance reaches a high degree of excellence and an invitation is extended for participation. The University Faculty Senate Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics must grant approval prior to a student-athlete's participation.

6. Delegation of Authority

a. At University Park:

The Faculty Athletic Representative (NCAA) will serve as an ex officio member of the IA Committee to represent the faculty for all matters related to varsity athletics at University Park. This representative will perform such duties as specified by the President and will act on behalf of the faculty to monitor eligibility, class absences, and athletic schedules, and to certify grants-in-aid to the controller. The representative will report a summary of his or her activities annually to the University Faculty Senate.

b. At locations other than University Park:

Faculty Athletic Representatives will be appointed as appropriate, following nomination by designated faculty organizations, by the highest ranking academic officer at the respective college. These representatives will have the same general duties and responsibilities as the Faculty Athletic Representative (NCAA) at University Park, will serve ex officio as members of the IA Committee, and will report a summary of their activities annually to the IA Committee.