The NCAA News - News and Features

October 6, 1997

Division I interpretations

Conference No. 1
September 9, 1997

Acting for the NCAA Division I Management Council, the Legislative Review/Interpretations Subcommittee of the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet issued the following interpretations:

Financial Aid/ Off-Campus Housing Stipend

1. Calculating Student-Athletes' Off-Campus Housing Stipend. When determining the permissible off-campus stipend that may be provided to a student-athlete who lives and eats in noninstitutional facilities, an institution that has more than one official on-campus room rate listed in its catalog must use the average of the room costs of all students living on campus (based on a weighted average for all students who reside in on-campus facilities). [Reference: NCAA Bylaw 15.2.2.1 (off-campus room and board stipend)]

Academic Career Counseling

2. Fee for Job-Placement Services. An institution that charges all students a fee for specific job-placement services may pay such a fee for its student-athletes, provided the service is made available to all student-athletes. [References: 15.2.1.2 (optional fees), 16.3.2-(d) (academic and other support services -- permissible) and NCAA Interpretations Committee minutes 12/17/96, Item No. 1]

Recruiting/Permissible Recruiters

3. Coaches' Observation of Spouse in Game-Related Activities. Recruiting contact and evaluation limitations do not apply to a coaching staff member who observes a contest in which his or her spouse is involved in any legitimate noncoaching game-related activities (e.g., cheerleading coach, band director), provided the attendance by the coaching staff member at such a contest does not involve any personal contact with any other prospect participating in the contest. [References: 13.1.2.3-(c) (coach who is prospect's parent or legal guardian) and Interpretations Committee minutes 11/16/89, Item No. 3]

Hardship Waiver

4. Administration of Hardship Waiver. For purposes of administering the hardship waiver, the calculation for percentage of completed contests or dates of competition for a Division I transfer student-athlete may be based on the method that would be most beneficial to the student-athlete (i.e., the rule applicable to the division where the injury or illness occurred or the Division I rule). [Reference: 14.2.5 (hardship waiver)]