The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- September 28, 1998

Division I -- Interpretations

Conference No. 10

August 27, 1998

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/Athletics Ability

1. Certification of Institutional Aid Unrelated to Athletics Ability. An institution is not permitted to certify that a student-athlete's institutional financial aid is unrelated in any degree to athletics ability if the student-athlete's athletics participation or achievements are criteria specifically requested as part of the application process for such aid. The subcommittee noted that an institution could certify that the student-athlete's aid is unrelated in any degree to athletics ability (even if the student-athlete lists athletics participation or achievements as part of his or her extracurricular activities), provided such factors were not taken into consideration in awarding the institutional aid to the student-athlete. The subcommittee noted that the above-mentioned standard differs from the standard applicable to certifying outside aid unrelated to athletics ability, which prohibits athletics participation or achievements from being included on the application form for such aid. [References: NCAA Bylaws 15.2.5.2.1 (athletics participation or achievement as part of extracurricular activities), 15.5.1.2.1 (Division I football or basketball, varsity competition), 15.5.1.2.3 (sports other than football and basketball) and 15.5.1.3.2 (certification -- Division I).]

Financial Aid/Off-Campus Board Allowance

2. Off-Campus Board Allowance in Excess of Maximum Board Plan. The subcommittee recommended to the Committee on Financial Aid to consider sponsoring legislation to permit an institution to provide student-athletes with a board plan that consists of three meals per day, even if the institution's maximum permissible board allowance for all students represents a lesser cost figure. [References: 15.2.2 (room and board) 15.2.2.1 (off-campus room and board stipend), 15.2.2.1.2 (determination of off-campus board costs) and 15.2.2.5 (Sunday evening meals).]

Pregame or Postgame Meal/Snack

3. Student-Athletes Receiving Pregame and Postgame Meal/Snack on Competition Day. If an institution provides its student-athletes a pregame meal as a substitute for one of the student-athlete's regular meals (e.g., lunch, dinner), it is permissible for the student-athlete to also receive a postgame meal or snack on competition day. Further, an institution, at its discretion, may provide student-athletes with cash in an amount equal to the cost of a postgame meal or snack following home and away-from-home contests in lieu of the postgame meal or snack that is normally provided by the institution. The subcommittee recommended that the Committee on Financial Aid further review this issue to determine if it wishes to recommend the establishment of an appropriate cash limitation on the value of such a meal or snack. [Reference: 16.5.1 (housing and meals -- permissible -- meals incidental to participation).]

Promotional Activities/Commercial Endorsements

4. Use of Student-Athlete's Number Accompanied by a Heisman Trophy Slogan. A noninstitutional commercial entity may produce and sell a commercial item that includes a current student-athlete's jersey number accompanied by a slogan promoting the student-athlete's candidacy for a national recognition award (e.g., Heisman trophy) without jeopardizing the student-athlete's eligibility, provided the item does not contain the student-athlete's actual name (or nickname) or picture (or likeness). [References: 12.5.2.1 (nonpermissible -- advertisements and promotions subsequent to enrollment) and 12.5.2.2 (nonpermissible -- use of a student-athlete's name or picture without knowledge or permission).]

Printed Recruiting Materials

5. Electronic Mail Attachments. An institution may not include color attachments with electronic-mail messages sent to prospective student-athletes, inasmuch as attachments to general correspondence may include materials printed only on plain white paper with black ink. [Reference: 13.4.1 (Divisions I and II -- printed recruiting materials -- correspondence -- electronic transmissions).]