3.13 Athletic Financial Aid
Section 1. Statement of Principle
(a) The university believes in the principle of amateurism, that is, that
an amateur athlete is one who engages in athletics for the physical, mental,
social and educational benefits derived therefrom, and to whom the sport
is an avocation.
(b) The university recognizes that there is a legitimate need for institutional
grants-in-aid programs to include students of athletic ability, as well
as students possessing other abilities, so long as normal progress is one
of the basic principles of selection.
(c) It is the assumption of the university that athletic financial assistance
is awarded the student-athlete because the athlete has demonstrated that
he or she has an athletic quality that will enhance the development of the
athletic program and the athlete.
Section 2. NCAA Rules and Regulations Regarding Financial Aid
(a) When a student's athletic ability is taken into consideration in any
degree in the awarding of unearned financial aid, such aid shall not be
awarded for a period in excess of one academic year, and such aid combined
with that received from other sources may not exceed the amount defined
in the NCAA Constitution.
(b) The university is subject to all rules and regulations of the NCAA as
they pertain to financial aid to student-athletes and to the interpretations
issued by the NCAA in regard to such rules except when Mid-Continent Conference,
Association of Mid-Continent Conference and Gateway Collegiate Athletic
Conference rules are more restrictive.
(c) In the administration of financial aid to student-athletes, the university
shall follow the Principles Governing Financial Aid as set forth in the
NCAA Constitution, Article 3, Section 4.
(d) All student-athletes are subject to Article 3, Principle for the Conduct
of Intercollegiate Athletics, of the NCAA Constitution and to all interpretations
of this legislation.
(e) The university shall limit initial scholarship or grants-in-aid awards,
for which the recipient's athletic ability is considered in any degree,
to entering student-athletes who meet the requirements as set forth in Article
4 and Article 5, Eligibility Rules for NCAA Championships of the NCAA bylaws.
Section 3. Institutional Policy Governing Financial Assistance
(a) All entering freshmen and transfers (fall term) shall receive their
award for the academic year.
(b) Renewals will be made for an academic year unless the recipient is on
academic or athletic probation. Academic probation is defined by the faculty.
Athletic probation must be supported by a letter from the coach to the athlete
in question with a copy to the Athletic Director. Student-athletes on probation
shall be granted financial assistance on a semester basis.
(c) The student-athlete has an obligation to the university, and the university
has an obligation to the student-athlete. Should the student-athlete not
live up to his/her obligation, the coach of the respective sport has the
responsibility of notifying the athlete in an attempt to correct the situation.
The probationary letter is the first step in this direction. If all attempts
to correct the situation fail, financial aid non-renewal procedures will
commence (Section 5).
Section 4. Administrative Procedures for Recommendation and Approval
of Athletic Financial Assistance
(a) Each head coach or their designee must submit a written request (either
a formal letter or a Conference Tender of Financial Assistance) to the Athletic
Director or his designee nominating said athlete for financial assistance.
(b) The Athletic Director will approve or deny the request. If approved,
it will be forwarded to the Director of Financial Aids for final approval
and notification.
(c) Financial Aid Renewal Notification. An institution is obligated to send
notification to a student-athlete who received financial aid during the
previous semester or academic year on or before July 1 whether the financial
aid will or will not be renewed for the ensuing academic year. Such notification
shall come from the institution's regular financial aids authority.
Section 5. Administrative Procedures for Recommendation and Approval
of Non-Renewal of Athletic Financial Assistance
(a) To terminate award of financial aid, the head coach of the respective
sport must notify the student-athlete, in writing, that he or she is being
placed on athletic probation. Reasons for the probation must be clearly
identified in the letter. The probationary period will last at least one
semester. At the conclusion of the semester, appropriate action will be
taken. Anyone who has not received an academic or athletic probationary
letter shall not be subject to non-renewal of financial aid, unless ineligible
under NCAA Conference or institutional policy.
(b) Non-renewal of athletic aid can occur without a letter of probation
in the case of extreme circumstances involving a student-athlete as defined
in the NCAA Constitution, Section 4-C-2.
(c) If the student-athlete receives a non-renewal notification, he or she
shall be informed that if they believe the grant has not been renewed for
questionable reasons, they may request and shall have the opportunity for
a hearing before the institution's agency making the financial award.
(d) The institution is obligated to send notification to the student-athlete
who will not be renewed for financial assistance. The student-athlete shall
receive notification by July 1 for those on one year awards and January
1 or July 1 for those on semester awards.
Section 6. Appeals Procedure
(a) Any student-athlete who receives notification that their aid will not
be renewed can request and shall have the opportunity for a hearing before
the institution's regular scholarship awards authority.
(b) The scholarship awards authority shall appoint a standing appeals committee
consisting of: two students (one male and one female athlete, both on athletic
grants-in-aid), two faculty members, one administrator, one person from
the Office of Financial Aids and the Athletic Director or his designee (nonvoting).
This will be a standing committee on call at the discretion of the chairman
of the committee.
(c) The decision of the scholarship awards authority appeals committee shall
be final.
Vice-President for Administration and Finance
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