NCAA Compliance and Eligibility

 

"Division III athletics features student-athletes who receive no financial aid related to their athletic ability and athletic departments are staffed and funded like any other department in the university.  Division III athletics departments place special importance on the impact of athletics on the participants rather than on the spectators.  The student-athlete's experience is of paramount concern." 
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

While it is well known that NCAA Division III student-athletes are not able to earn athletic scholarships, there are still many misunderstandings about what Division III institutions and their athletic programs are and are not allowed to do.  For instance, student-athletes at Division III insitutions can and do receive financial aid and scholarships based upon financial need, academic merit, and leadership and service.

Eligibility

Eligibilty for participation of intercollegiate athletic competition at the varsity level at Saint Mary's College is goverened jointly by the rules and regulations established by the NCAA, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), and the College.

In order to be eligible, a student-athlete must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by Saint Mary's while carrying at least 12 credit hours per semester to hold "full-time student" status.

 

Compliance

The NCAA has put into place several rules and policies to keep the needs and experience of the student-athlete at the forefront of Division III athletics.  The recruitment of prospective student-athletes by Division III institutions is one area of emphasis focused on by the NCAA.

Some of the major rules about recruiting prospective student-athletes at Division III institutions include the following:

  • NCAA Division III does not require Clearinghouse registration.
  • Prospects may receive printed materials at any time from NCAA Division III coaches.
  • There is no limit on number or timing of phone calls or e-mails at the NCAA Division III level and the prospect may make calls to the coach at their own expense.
  • The use of text messaging, instant messaging, or social networking Web sites by or on behalf of a member institution's athletic department staff at the NCAA Division III level for the purposes of recruitment of prospects is prohibited.
  • NCAA Division III college coaches may begin to have contact with the prospect and the prospect's parents/legal guardians off the college's campus after the prospect's junior year.
  • There is no National Letter of Intent program for NCAA Division III.