Student-Athletes` Right to Know Act
Transcription
Student-Athletes` Right to Know Act
Saint Mary’s College of California Department of Athletics and Recreational Sports “Student-Athletes’ Right to Know” Information Sheet In compliance with California’s “Student-Athletes’ Right to Know Act” (AB 2079), the following provides prospective student-athletes and current student-athletes with essential information regarding their recruitment in addition to relevant Saint Mary’s College athletic program policies. I. SCHOLARSHIP ISSUANCE What is the Most Recent Cost of Attendance estimate for SMC students? Per NCAA bylaw 15.1 (Maximum Limit on Financial Aid – Individual), a student-athlete shall not be eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics if he or she receives financial aid that exceeds the value of the cost of attendance as defined by Bylaw 15.02.2. A student-athlete may receive institutional financial aid based on athletics ability (per Bylaw 15.02.4.2) and educational expenses awarded per Bylaw 15.2.4 up to the value of a full grant-in-aid, plus any other financial aid up to the cost of attendance. (See bylaws 15.01.6.1, 16.3 and 16.12.) 2016-17 Cost of Attendance On-Campus Tuition (and fees) 44,210 Student Activity Fee 150 Room 8,020 Board 6,860 Books/Supplies 1,107 Personal 1,800 Transportation 900 TOTAL 63,047 Off-Campus 44,210 150 7,605 3,663 1,107 1,800 1,170 59,705 Commuter 44,210 150 0 4,518 1,107 2,565 1,125 53,675 * Some additional required fees are included for student-athletes on a Full Grant-in-Aid. First year, first term students (other than Summer session) will also have a $250 Orientation Fee and a $30 Registration Fee. Per NCAA Bylaw 15.2.1.4, if the prospective student-athlete enrolls and is awarded financial aid covering institutional fees, some fees may be rebated as a part of the institution’s regular fees. Source: Saint Mary’s Financial Aid Office http://www.stmarys-‐ca.edu/financialaid Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 1 2016 Summer Session Cost of Attendance Tuition (and fees)* Room Board (meals) TOTAL $3,200 $385 $408 $3,993 * Some additional required fees are included for student-athletes on a Full Grant-in-Aid What COA expenses are NOT included in the full grant-‐in-‐aid (GIA) athletic scholarship, and what is the difference in amount between COA and GIA? Pursuant to NCAA bylaw 15.02.5, a full GIA athletic scholarship includes only tuition and fees, room and board, and required course-related books. The following chart outlines the differences in amount between COA and GIA. Grant-in-Aid Scholarship 2016-17 Tuition Student Activity Fee Room Board Books 44,210 150 8,020 6,860 800 TOTAL 60,040 What is SMC’s Summer Session Policy? Saint Mary’s College of California may provide athletics grants-in-aid awards for summer school to student-athletes who need summer academic work and who meet the conditions described below. Summer session is not guaranteed for any student, and athletic grants-in-aid are awarded only when funding is available. The College provides these awards in order to assist student-athletes in meeting expected graduation dates and in meeting all NCAA academic eligibility requirements. Per NCAA regulations, summer athletic grants-in-aid are only available to student-athletes who received athletic aid during the previous academic year or if an incoming student-athlete has a signed athletic grant-in-aid agreement from the College. In addition, summer athletics grants-in-aid cannot exceed the proportion in which athletics aid was received during the previous academic year or will be awarded the following academic year. In order for a student to be considered for summer session athletics grants-in-aid, the following criteria apply: Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 2 1. The student-athlete must be registered as a full-time student and receiving athletic aid during the current academic year. For incoming student-athletes, they must be registered as a full-time student and receiving athletics aid for the next fall term. 2. The student-athlete must complete and submit an application form for summer session athletic grants-in-aid. Summer school athletic grants-in-aid are limited, so it is likely that not all requests can be met. 3. All College business office registration holds must be reconciled prior to submission of the application. 4. The summer course(s) must be taken at Saint Mary’s College of California, courses taken online or at other institutions are not covered by athletics grants-in-aid. Aid will be awarded to student-athletes at the discretion of the Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports and the College’s Office of Financial Aid. Priority will be given in the following circumstances: • • • • At the request of the Assistant Director of Athletics for Student Support Services, the student-athlete needs summer school in order to meet NCAA eligibility requirements for the ensuing academic term. The student-athlete needs summer session credits in order to move off the College academic probation list. The student-athlete needs summer session credits in order to graduate with their designated class during the current summer or upcoming academic year. The student-athlete was recommended for summer session by a faculty member, dean, and/or head coach. Summer session athletic grant-in-aid is generally not available to student-athletes for the reason of pursuing a second major, minor, or study abroad. All applications will be reviewed by the Faculty Athletics Representative, Assistant Director of Athletics for Student Support Services, Senior Woman Administrator, and Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance. Final recommendation for granting athletic grant-in-aid aid to the College’s Office of Financial Aid will be made by the Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports. Student-athletes receiving summer session athletics grants-in-aid may NOT withdraw from the summer course without the approval of the Assistant Director of Athletics for Student Support Services. Withdrawal from the course without approval will render a student ineligible for any future summer athletics aid. In addition, any summer course that is not completed with a passing grade will render a student ineligible for any future summer athletics aid. Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 3 Applicable NCAA Bylaws 15.2.8 Summer Financial Aid. Summer financial aid may be awarded only to attend the awarding institution’s summer term or summer-orientation program provided the following conditions are met: a) The student has been in residence a minimum of one term during the regular academic year; b) The student is attending a summer term, summer school or summer-orientation program and financial aid is administered pursuant to Bylaw 15.2.8.1.2, 15.2.8.1.3 or 15.2.8.1.4; or c) The student is a two-year or four-year college transfer student and is receiving aid to attend the awarding institution’s summer-orientation program. 15.2.8.1 General Stipulations. A student-athlete who is eligible for institutional financial aid during the summer is not required to be enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies. However, the student-athlete may not receive financial aid that exceeds the cost of attendance in the summer term. A student-athlete may receive institutional financial aid based on athletics ability (per Bylaw 15.02.4.1 and 15.02.4.2) and educational expenses awarded (per Bylaw 15.2.6.4) up to the value of a full grant-in-aid, plus any other financial aid up to the cost of attendance (See bylaws 15.01.6.1, 16.3, 16.4 and 16.12). 15.2.8.1.2.3 Exception for First-Time Recipient in the Next Academic Year. A studentathlete who has not received athletically related aid from the certifying institution during a previous academic year may receive athletically related financial aid to attend the institution’s summer term or summer school a) Provided he or she has been awarded athletically related financial aid for the following academic year. 15.2.8.1.4 Prior to Initial, Full-Time Collegiate Enrollment – Athletics Aid. The following conditions apply to the awarding of athletically related financial aid to a prospective studentathlete (including a prospective student-athlete not certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center as a qualifier) to attend an institution in the summer prior to the prospective student-athlete’s initial, full-time collegiate enrollment at the certifying institution: a) The recipient shall be admitted to the awarding member institution in accordance with regular, published entrance requirements; b) The recipient is enrolled in a minimum of six hours of academic course work (other than physical education activity courses) that is acceptable degree credit toward any of the institution’s degree programs. Remedial, tutorial and noncredit courses may be used to satisfy the six-hour requirement, provided the courses are considered by the institution to Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 4 be prerequisites for specific courses acceptable for any degree program and are given the same academic weight as other courses offered by the institution; c) The recipient, if recruited (per Bylaw 15.02.8) is subject to NCAA transfer provisions pursuant to Bylaw 14.5.2-(h) unless admissions to the institution as a full time student is denied; d) During the summer term or orientation period, the recipient shall not engage in any countable athletically related activities except for those activities specifically permitted by Bylaws 13 and 17; and e) Summer coursework is not used for the purpose of completing initial-eligibility or continuing eligibility (transfer eligibility; progress toward degree) requirements. However, the hours earned during the summer prior to initial full-time enrollment at the certifying institution may be used to satisfy the applicable progress-toward-degree requirements in following years (see Bylaw 14.4.3). What is the average monthly full GIA athletic scholarship payment received by student-‐athletes? SMC student-athletes living off-campus receive a stipend for living expenses (room & board) at the beginning of each month during the academic year, starting with the first date of classes. All other scholarship payments for the regular academic year are disbursed through the SMC Business Office’s standard disbursement procedures. Per NCAA bylaw 15.2.2.1 (Off-Campus Room and Board Stipend), if a student-athlete lives and eats in noninstitutional facilities, the institution may provide the student-athlete an amount equal to the institution’s official on-campus room allowance as listed in its catalog, the average of the room costs of all of its students living on campus or the cost of room as calculated based on its policies and procedures for calculating the cost of attendance for all students. The institution also may provide the student-athlete an amount that is equivalent to the value of the maximum meal plan available to all students or the cost of meals as calculated based on its policies and procedures for calculating the cost of attendance for all students, excluding those meals provided as part of the training table. Meals provided on the training table shall be deducted at the regular cost figure from such a student-athlete’s board allowance. • 2016-17 On-Campus Monthly Stipend: $0 • 2016-17 Off-Campus Monthly Stipend: $1,653 What is the difference between a verbal commitment and a signed NLI? Pursuant to NCAA rules, a verbal commitment is not binding on either the student athlete or the institution. The National Letter of Intent is a binding agreement between a prospective student athlete and an institution in which the institution agrees to provide a prospective student athlete Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 5 who is admitted to the institution and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules athletics aid for one academic year in exchange for the prospective student athlete’s agreement to attend the institution for one academic year. The National Letter of Intent must be accompanied by an institutional financial aid agreement. If the prospective student athlete signs the National Letter of Intent but does not enroll at that institution for a full academic year, he or she may be subject to specific penalties, including loss of a season of eligibility and a mandatory residence requirement. II. SCHOLARSHIP RENEWAL What is NCAA’s policy on scholarship duration? Prior to 2012-13, NCAA bylaw 15.3.3.1 (One Year Period), provided that if a student’s athletics ability is considered in any degree in awarding financial aid, such aid shall neither be awarded for a period in excess of one academic year nor for a period less than one academic year (see Bylaw 15.01.5). a) Exceptions to One Year Period: Per NCAA bylaw 15.3.3.1.1, an institution may award athletically related financial aid to a student-athlete for a period of less than one academic year only under the following circumstances: § Midyear enrollment § Final Semester/Quarter § Graduated During Previous Academic Year and Will Exhaust Eligibility During the Following Fall Term § One-Time Exception § Eligibility Exhausted/Medical Noncounter Starting in 2012-13, this bylaw now states that if a student’s athletics ability is considered in any degree in awarding financial aid, such aid shall neither be awarded for a period less than one academic year nor for a period that would exceed the student’s five-year period of eligibility. What is SMC’s policy on scholarship duration? SMC Policy on Scholarship Duration: Generally, where a student’s athletic ability is taken into consideration in awarding financial aid, such aid shall not be awarded in excess of one academic year. However, due to the change in NCAA bylaws, multi-year awards may be permitted on a case-by-case basis. What is the NCAA’s Renewal/Nonrenewal policy? Renewal/Nonrenewal Policy: Per NCAA bylaw 15.3.7.1, the renewal of institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability shall be made on or before July 1 prior to the academic year in which it is to be effective. The institution shall promptly notify in writing each Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 6 student-athlete who received an award the previous academic year and who has eligibility remaining in the sport in which financial aid was awarded the previous academic year (under Bylaw 12.8) whether the grant has been renewed or not renewed for the ensuing academic year. Notification of financial aid renewals and non-renewals must come from the institution’s regular financial aid authority and not from the institution’s athletics department. A staff member may inform a prospect that the athletics department will recommend to the financial aid authority that the prospect’s financial aid be renewed each year for a period of four years and may indicate that the authority always has followed the recommendations in the past. However, the prospect must be informed that the renewal will not be automatic. Each year the agreement must be renewed for the agreement to be valid. At Saint Mary’s College, the agreement will automatically be renewed each year for four years unless the grant-in-aid has been cancelled or the student-athlete is deemed ineligible according to NCAA and/or West Coast Conference bylaws. The grant-in-aid is for Fall Semester, January Term, Spring Semester, renewable provided the following requirements are met: a) The student-athlete maintains his/her eligibility to represent the College in inter collegiate competition under all the applicable provisions of the constitution and bylaws of the NCAA and West Coast Conference. The student must abide by the rules and regulations of Saint Mary’s College of California, as well as the Department of Athletics and Recreational Sports. b) The student-athlete must attend all scheduled practices and competition and display an honest effort to perform to the best of his/her ability. c) The student-athlete files an executed copy of this agreement with the Athletic Office within 14 days after it has been signed by the Director of Athletics or designee. • • • Medically Exhausted Student-Athletes: It is not permissible for an institution to assure the prospect that it automatically will continue a grant-in-aid past the one-year period if the recipient sustains an injury that prevents him or her from competing in intercollegiate athletics, but an institutional representative may inform the prospect of the regular institutional policy related to renewal or continuation of aid past the one-year period for recipients who become ill or injured during their participation. Coaching Change: A student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent for the upcoming school year should understand that they have signed the NLI with the institution and not for a particular sport or coach. If a coach leaves the institution or the sports program (e.g., not retained, resigns), the student-athlete remains bound by the provisions of the NLI. They should understand that it is not uncommon for a coach to leave his or her coaching position. Following their initial year at the institution, they are subject to the general renewal/nonrenewal policy of the NCAA for one-year grant-in-aid agreements. Student-Athlete’s Athletic Ability is Deemed Below Expectations: Per NCAA bylaw 15.3.4.3, institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability may not be reduced or canceled during the period of its award: a) On the basis of a student-athlete’s athletics ability, performance or contribution to a team’s success; Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 7 • b) Because of an injury, illness, or physical or mental medical condition (except as permitted pursuant to Bylaw 15.3.4.2); or c) For any other athletics reason. Reduction or Cancellation of Athletic Award (NCAA bylaw 15.3.4.2): Institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability may be reduced or canceled during the period of the award if the recipient: • Renders himself or herself ineligible for intercollegiate competition; or • Fraudulently misrepresents any information on an application, letter of intent or financial aid agreement; or • Engages in serious misconduct warranting substantial disciplinary penalty; or • Voluntarily withdraws from a sport at any time for personal reasons; however, the recipient’s financial aid may not be awarded to another student-athlete in the academic term in which the aid was reduced or cancelled. III. MEDICAL EXPENSES What is the NCAA’s policy on an institution’s financial obligations for athletically related medical expenses? NCAA Policy on Athletically Related Medical Expenses: Per NCAA Bylaw 3.2.4.8 (Certification of Insurance Coverage), an active member institution must certify insurance coverage for medical expenses resulting from athletically related injuries sustained by the following individuals while participating in a covered event: a) A student-athlete participating in a covered event in an intercollegiate sport as recognized by the participating institution; and b) A prospective student-athlete participating in a covered event who has graduated from high school and signed a National Letter of Intent or an institution’s written offer of admission and/or financial aid to participate in an intercollegiate sport at a participating institution. o NCAA Bylaw 3.2.4.8.1 acknowledges the amount of coverage insurance. Such insurance coverage must be of equal or greater value than the deductible of the NCAA catastrophic injury insurance program and may be provided through the following sources: a) Parents’ or guardians’ insurance coverage; b) Participant’s personal insurance coverage; or c) Institution’s insurance program. o 3.2.4.8.2 Athletically Related Injuries. For purposes of this bylaw, athletically related injuries are injuries that are a direct result of participation in a covered event. o 3.2.4.8.3 Covered Event. A covered event includes the following: a) Any intercollegiate sports activity, including team travel, competition, practices and conditioning sessions during the playing season (as defined in Bylaw 17.1.1); b) An NCAA-sanctioned competition in which the insured person is an official competitor; or Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 8 c) Practice and conditioning sessions that are authorized, organized or directly supervised by athletics department personnel at the member institution other than during the playing season. Such sessions must occur on campus or at approved off-campus facilities as part of an intercollegiate athletics activity. For insured student-athletes or prospective studentathletes who compete in individuals sports, off-campus intercollegiate athletics activities must be authorized by athletics department personnel at the participating school and take place at approved locations. What is the NCAA’s policy on an institution’s financial obligations for athletically related medical expenses? SMC Policy on Athletically Related Medical Expenses: The medical care of all sport related injuries or illnesses are coordinated through the Saint Mary’s College Sports Medicine staff. In the event of any injury, the Department of Athletics and Recreational Sports carries a secondary insurance policy to help cover the cost of injuries incurred while participating in intercollegiate athletics for Saint Mary’s College. Therefore, it is important to identify and understand the extent of the medical coverage provided and the procedure, which must be followed in the event of an injury or illness. All students at Saint Mary’s College are required to have primary health insurance, either through an outside policy or by insurance purchased through Saint Mary’s College. Failure to have an ACTIVE primary insurance policy results in failure of Saint Mary’s College to assist in medical expense coverage, even those related to athletic activity. Complete primary medical insurance information must be on file in the Athletic Training room. Changes in Health Insurance information must be submitted immediately to the Athletic Training room. Failure to do so may result in incorrect billing, or non-coverage through primary insurance. If proper notice is not given in writing via mail or fax within seven days of the change, Saint Mary’s College may not be held responsible for bills or charges related to lack of notification. In the event of sport related injury or illness, the primary insurance will be billed directly from the information provided to the Athletic Training room. If student-athletes utilize an HMO, like Kaiser Permanente, or other insurance with restrictions on locations of service, only the facilities approved by their provider can be used. The Saint Mary’s College secondary athletic insurance can be billed for portions of medical care bills not covered by the primary insurance on any athletically related injury or illness, only after the primary insurance has been billed. The policy as stated here does not guarantee coverage, however. The Athletic Training room staff must approve use of the secondary insurance policy. Saint Mary’s College financial responsibility is limited to those cases in which medical care is authorized or recommended by the Athletic Training staff or its designees. Failure to discuss, in Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 9 advance, medical care requiring the use of Saint Mary’s College secondary insurance may result in a loss of benefits. Furthermore, if a student-athlete or student-athlete representative chooses to receive medical care outside of, or in addition to the recommendations made by the Athletic Training staff and Sports Medicine providers, they MUST do so at their own expense, as the secondary coverage will not provide assistance in those cases. If a student-athlete receives medical care as a result of an athletic injury, they MUST submit all explanations of benefits (EOB’s) from their insurance carrier to the Athletic Training room IMMEDIATELY. Bills, EOB’s, and other insurance and medical paperwork will often be sent to the permanent address or local address of the student-athlete or guardian. If the primary insurance does not send an EOB, the student-athlete must contact them and request it. The Athletic Training room does not get copies of these bills. Failure to notify the Athletic Training staff of bills may result in failure to assist with bill payment and lead to a collection agency, for which we will not be responsible. Please be advised that all medical expenses incurred while participating in collegiate athletics are the sole responsibility of the student-athlete. Saint Mary’s College, the Department of Athletics, and the Athletic Training staff are not responsible for any outstanding balances. Our secondary insurance provider will only assist with medical bill payment for up to one year from the date of injury. After that time period, the financial responsibility is then passed to the student-athlete. Furthermore, in the event of an orthopedic rehabilitation, our insurance provider will allow a fixed dollar amount of outside physical therapy costs above and beyond the coverage of primary insurance. This amount is fixed and cannot be exceeded. The student-athlete is responsible for verifying the amount with their Athletic Trainer, and may only exceed this amount if they are willing to assume financial responsibility for such services. Saint Mary’s College Athletics will not be responsible for non-sports related injuries. To help clarify situations in which we are or are not responsible for providing secondary insurance coverage, consider the following examples: Example A: Knee ligament tear during intercollegiate practice session Decision: Athletic Injury, secondary coverage offered Example B: Strep throat requiring antibiotic treatment, athlete is in or out of season Decision: Care offered through student health center. If the student-athlete chooses to go off campus for care, no secondary coverage offered Example C: Ankle sprain during Physical Education Class, not intercollegiate activity Decision: Not related to sports activity, no secondary coverage offered Example D: Car accident, broken wrist required x-ray, casting and physician care Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 10 Decision: Not related to sports activity, no secondary coverage offered Example E: Tooth knocked out during athletic practice, dental work required Decision: Athletic Injury, secondary coverage offered Source: IV. 2016-‐17 Saint Mary’s College Student-‐Athlete Handbook RELEASE & TRANSFER POLICIES What is the NCAA’s policy on granting an athletic release to a student-‐athlete who wishes to transfer to another institution? NCAA Policy Regarding Athletic Release Refusal: Per Bylaw 13.1.1.3.1 (Hearing Opportunity), if the institution decides to deny a student-athlete’s request to permit any other institution to contact the student-athlete about transferring, the institution shall inform the student-athlete in writing that he or she upon request, shall be provided a hearing conducted by an institutional entity or committee outside of the athletics department (e.g., the office of student affairs; office of the dean of students; or a committee composed the faculty athletics representative, student-athletes and non-athletics faculty/staff members). The institution shall conduct the hearing and provide written results of the hearing to the student-athlete within 15 business days (see Bylaw 13.02.1) of receipt of the student-athlete’s written request for a hearing. The student-athlete shall be provided the opportunity to actively participate (e.g., in person, via telephone) in the hearing. If the institution fails to conduct the hearing or provide the written results to the student-athlete within 15 business days, permission to contact the studentathlete shall be granted by default and the institution shall provide written permission to the student-athlete. o 13.02.1 Business Day. A business day is any weekday that is not recognized as a national holiday, including any weekday during which an institution is closed for other reasons (e.g., holiday break). What is SMC’s policy on granting athletic releases for students-athletes who wish to transfer? SMC Policy Regarding Athletic Release Refusal: If a student-athlete would like to transfer to another four-year institution, they will need to request permission from the College before they speak to the other institution. The student-athlete should request a meeting with the head coach and inform the coach of their decision to transfer. The Head Coach will notify the Office of Compliance of the student-athlete’s request to transfer and the student-athlete will be issued a Squad List Removal Form for them to sign in their JumpForward account. This form requests the student-athlete conduct exit meetings with their sport supervisor, the Athletic Training Department, and the Office of Compliance (in that order). Once each entity has signed and Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 11 approved the form, the release will be given. A general release restricts transfer within the West Coast Conference. However, additional transfer restrictions can be applied. If a student-athlete is denied a release, the following procedures are in place for submitting a grievance: Appeal of Release 1. Appeal to the head coach. If the student-athlete protests a decision to deny his or her release to another institution, he or she should request a meeting with the head coach. 2. Appeal to the Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports. If no solution is reached between the head coach and student-athlete, he/she may request a meeting with the Director of Athletics. 3. Request a review of circumstances by an Appeal Panel. If no agreement is reached with the Director of Athletics, the student-athlete may then request in writing to the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance for a hearing before an Appeal Panel. The Appeal Panel Procedure I. Composition The Appeal Panel will consist of: a. Director of Articulation and Transfer b. The Faculty Athletic Representative c. One faculty or non-athletics staff members II. Hearing Procedure a. The Appeal Panel shall hold a formal hearing to receive evidence and listen to testimony on the matter. The parties may appear at the hearing and may be assisted and/or represented by an advisor of their choosing who is a member of the Saint Mary’s College community. The advisor may not be a parent, relative, or attorney. b. The Appeal Panel shall be the judge of the relevancy and materiality of the evidence presented. c. Within 10 days after the conclusion of the hearing, the Appeal Panel shall render a decision, by a majority vote of its members. This decision shall be reported to the parties in writing within 15 business days of receipt of the student-athlete’s written request for a hearing. The decision of the Appeal Panel will be final. Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 12 Source: 2016-‐17 Saint Mary’s College Student-‐Athlete Handbook Last Updated 07/18/16 Student –Athletes’ Right to Know Information Sheet 13