The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- March 1, 1999

Interpretations

Conference No. 4
November 3, 1998

Acting for the Division II Legislation Committee, the Interpretations Subcommittee issued the following interpretations:

Financial Aid/Athletics Ability

1. Certification of Institutional Aid Unrelated to Athletics Ability (Division II). 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 to athletics ability (even if the student-athlete lists athletics participation or achievements as part of his or her extracurricular activities), provided that the institution can document that such factors were not taken into consideration in awarding the institutional aid to the student-athlete. [References: 15.2.5.2.1 (athletics participation or achievement as part of extracurricular activities), 15.5.1.2.3 (sports other than football and basketball) and 15.5.1.3.3 (certification--Division II).]

Promotional Activities

2. Use of Student-Athlete's Number Accompanied by a National Recognition Award Slogan (Division II). 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 (for example, the Harlon Hill 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 (advertisements and promotions subsequent to enrollment) and 12.5.2.2 (use of a student-athlete's name or picture without knowledge or permission).]