The NCAA News - News and Features

April 28, 1997

Legislative assistance

1997 Column No. 17NCAA Bylaw 15.2.7.1.1

Enrolled student-athletes -- summer financial aid (Division I only)

NCAA Division I institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 15.2.7.1.1, subsequent to initial full-time enrollment during a regular academic year, a student-athlete may not receive athletically related financial aid to attend the institution's summer term or summer school unless the student-athlete received such athletically related financial aid from the institution during the student-athlete's previous academic year (as opposed to the institution's previous academic year). In addition, such aid may be awarded only in proportion to the amount of athletically related financial aid received by the student-athlete during the student-athlete's previous academic year.

During its April 26, 1991, telephone conference, the NCAA Interpretations Committee determined that an institution that awards athletically related financial aid to a student-athlete (who received athletically related financial aid during the previous academic year) to attend the institution's summer term may award such aid either on an element-by-element (i.e., tuition and fees, room and board, books) or equivalency (i.e., countable aid) basis. For example, a student-athlete who is enrolled as a full-time student for the entire academic year and receives an athletics grant-in-aid covering only tuition and fees for the entire year would be entitled to receive athletically related financial aid to cover the student-athlete's actual cost of tuition and fees for the institution's summer term or athletically related financial aid to cover the student-athlete's actual educational expenses for the summer term based on the student-athlete's equivalency value.

During its June 30, 1993, telephone conference, the Interpretations Committee determined that the provisions of Bylaw 15.2.7.1.1 are applicable to head-count sports. Thus, a student-athlete who participates in a head-count sport and does not receive the value of a full athletics grant during the previous academic year may receive athletically related financial aid to attend the institution's summer term or summer school only in proportion to the amount of athletically related financial aid received by the student-athlete during his or her previous academic year.

In addition, in accordance with Bylaw 15.2.7.1.1.3 (Pell Grant reduction), if an institution provides a student-athlete with a full athletics grant during the academic year but is required to reduce the grant in accordance with Bylaw 15.1.3 (reduction when excess aid is awarded) because the student-athlete is receiving additional Pell Grant or other noninstitutional assistance, the institution may provide the student-athlete full athletically related financial aid to attend the institution's summer term. Further, pursuant to Bylaw 15.2.7.1.1.4, a nonqualifier may receive athletically related financial aid to attend an institution's summer term or summer school subsequent to the first academic year in residence under the following conditions:

1. The student-athlete has satisfied the NCAA satisfactory-progress requirements and, thus, would be eligible for competition for the upcoming academic year (i.e., the student-athlete must have completed successfully 24 semester or 36 quarter hours during the previous academic year and have a grade-point average that places the student-athlete in good academic standing at the institution).

2. The student-athlete has been awarded athletically related financial aid for the upcoming academic year.

3. The student-athlete receives athletically related financial aid to attend the institution's summer term or summer school only in proportion to the amount of athletically related financial aid that the student-athlete will receive for the upcoming academic year.

Finally, once a student-athlete has exhausted his or her eligibility, an institution may award financial aid to attend the institution's summer term or session that exceeds the proportion of athletically related financial aid received by the student-athlete during the previous academic year, provided the student-athlete is enrolled in courses that will allow the student-athlete to complete his or her degree requirements at the conclusion of that summer term.

This material was provided by the legislative services staff as an aid to member institutions. If an institution has a question or comment regarding this column, such correspondence should be directed to Richard C. Perko, legislative assistant, at the NCAA national office. This information is available on the Collegiate Sports Network.