NCAAInitial Eligibility

and theEligibility Center

What is this Eligibility Center thing?

The NCAA Initial Eligibility Center (formerly “Clearinghouse”) was established in the early 1990s to provide an unbiased assessment of all incoming student-athletes. In order to receive athletics aid, practice and compete during their freshman year, student-athletes must meet a basic level of academic ability.That academic ability is based on High School Core Course GPA and ACT or SAT test scores.

NCAA Eligibility Center

In November 2007, the Clearinghouse moved from Iowa City to Indianapolis and renamed the NCAA Eligibility Center.

The website: www.eligibilitycenter.org.

Core Course Definition

An NCAA Core Course must meet the following:

1. Recognized academic course which qualifies for high-school graduation credit in one or a combination of: English, math, science, social studies, foreign language, non-doctrinal religion, philosophy.

2. Course must be considered college preparatory for entrance into a four-year college.

3. Mathematics must be at the level of Algebra I or higher.4. Course must be taught by a qualified instructor.5. Failures of Core Courses may not be made up via summer

school as teacher contact is a requirement.

6. However, eSchool is an option, but with an additional cost.

NCAA Approved Core Courses:“48H Form”

All Core Courses are listed on Lafayette’s 48H form, which can be found at www.eligibilitycenter.org under “Resources”.

Use Lafayette’s school code to find the 48H form: 181-430.

A course will not count in a student-athlete’s GPA, or towards the required Core Courses, if it is not listed on this form.

Student-athletes should check with their guidance counselor early in the junior year to ensure that Core Courses listed on their transcript, and those planned for the senior year, are found on Lafayette’s 48H form.

16 Core Courses• 4 years of English• 3 years of Math (Algebra 1 or higher)• 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year with a lab if offered by

High School)• 1 year of additional English, Math, or Natural/Physical Science• 2 years of social science• 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign

language or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy.)

Core Courses

To View the Rules…

Go to www.eligibilitycenter.org.

Look for Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete under “Resources”.

This is also the site where student-athletes will register.

How to Proceed

Junior year Take the ACT and/or SAT test. Report scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center (code #9999). The Eligibility Center only accepts scores from the ACT or SAT testing

agency. Student-athletes save time and money by sending scores each time they take a test.

After Junior year Register online with the Eligibility Center.

www.eligibilitycenter.org Registration Fees (~$65 – U.S. Students)

Request the Registrar, Ms. Cathy Martin, to send sixth-semester official transcript to the Eligibility Center. Note: Transcripts sent before the end of the Junior year will not be

evaluated by the Eligibility Center until the 6th semester is shown.

Who Needs to Register?

A student who plans to attend a NCAA Division I or II institution

andwho wishes to participate in

intercollegiate athletics.

Amateurism Component

Starting with the graduating Class of 2007, the Eligibility Center will also require the completion of an Amateurism Questionnaire. Both the Amateurism and Initial Eligibility requirements will be addressed on the same web site.The questions are straight forward and user-friendly. An electronic signature is required before submitting the completed questionnaire.Both areas should be addressed when registering.

When Does a Student Receive a Preliminary Report?

The Eligibility Center prioritizes incoming information by the following categories:

Students who are being actively recruited by an institution and are on an institutional request list

Students with disabilities who have taken a nonstandard test or who have registered with NCAA disability services

Students who request a report.

For the Senior year……

During the senior year Continue to monitor course selection. Continue to update and/or complete the

Amateurism Questionnaire.After the senior year Registrar sends final, official transcript (with

proof of graduation) to the Eligibility Center.

Transcript Accuracy is Vital!!

Once the Eligibility Center receives a final transcript, a revised transcript will not be used.All transcript changes after graduation must be handled through the initial-eligibility waiver process.

What does the final report say?

QUALIFIEREligible for athletic aidEligible to practiceEligible for all team activitiesEligible for Competition

NON-QUALIFIERNot eligible for athletic aidNot eligible for practiceNot eligible for most team activitiesNot eligible for competition

What if eligibility is delayed?

Recruited students have 14 days to practice; non-recruited have 45 days.

After the time allotment is up, aid is withheld, and student is treated as if they are a non-qualifier.

Why would this happen?

Student’s High School fails to send final transcriptOfficial test scores are not sent directly to the Eligibility Center from the testing agencyDocuments are not sent according to NCAA Eligibility Center policyDiscrepancies between transcript and 48H

New Eligibility Requirements

Enrolling in college on, or after, August 1, 2016 means new Eligibility Requirements.– Full qualifier = competition, athletics aid (scholarship) and practice the first year.– Academic redshirt = athletics aid the first year, practice the first regular academic

term (semester or quarter).– Non-qualifier = no athletics aid, practice or competition the first year.

Minimum core-course GPA of 2.300 required.Ten core courses required before beginning the senior year and seven of them must be in English, Math or Science.These ten courses become “locked in” for the purpose of GPA calculation. Repeating a “locked in” course after the seventh semester begins will not result in a recalculation of the GPA.

A student-athlete’s best friends in this process…

High School Coach This is the person who knows the student-

athlete best. S/he will have the college athletic contacts.High School Counselor Sally Adams, Shaun Cook, Sarah Day, Arin

Leber, Tracey Lilly and Mark Roberts will work the academic/transcript end of the process with the student-athlete.