National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

May 25, 1998

Legislative assistance

1998 Column No. 21NCAA Bylaw 15.2.7, 15.2.7.1.1 --

Summer financial aid

NCAA institutions should note that pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 15.2.7, summer financial aid may be awarded only to attend the awarding institution's summer term, summer school or summer orientation program, provided the following conditions are met:

  • The student has been in residence a minimum of one term during the regular academic year;

  • The student is attending a summer term, summer school or summer orientation program and financial aid is administered pursuant to 15.2.7.1.1 for enrolled student-athletes or 15.2.7.1.2 for incoming student-athletes during the summer prior to their initial full-time collegiate enrollment; or

  • The student is a two-year or a four-year college transfer student and is receiving aid to attend the awarding institution's summer orientation program.

    Further, a student-athlete who is eligible for institutional financial aid during the summer is not required to be enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies; however, the student-athlete may not receive financial aid that exceeds the cost of a full grant-in-aid for attendance in that summer term.

    Finally, Division I institutions should note that pursuant to Bylaw 15.2.7.1.1, subsequent to initial full-time enrollment during a regular academic year, a student-athlete shall not receive athletically related financial aid to attend the institution's summer term or summer school unless the student-athlete received such athletically related aid from that institution during the student-athlete's previous academic year. Further, 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, except that this proportionality restriction shall not apply to a student-athlete who has exhausted his or her eligibility and is enrolled in a summer program of studies that will permit the student-athlete to complete his or her degree requirements.

    NCAA Bylaw 15.2.7.1.2 --

    Summer financial aid -- prior to initial, full-time collegiate enrollment

    NCAA member institutions should note that pursuant to 15.2.7.1.2, a member institution may award summer financial aid to an incoming student-athlete prior to initial enrollment to attend the institution's summer term, summer school or summer orientation, provided:

  • The recipient shall be admitted to the awarding member institution in accordance with regular, published entrance requirements;

  • The recipient, if recruited, is subject to NCAA transfer provisions pursuant to 14.5.2-(h);

  • During the summer term or orientation period, the recipient shall not engage in any organized athletics practice activities (see 17.02.1.1); and

  • The awarding institution certifies in writing that the student's financial aid was granted without regard in any degree to athletics ability. The written certification shall be on file in the office of the director of athletics and shall be signed by the faculty athletics representative and the director of financial aid. Additionally, a partial qualifier or nonqualifier in Division I would be permitted to receive financial aid for summer school preceding the freshman year; further, a partial qualifier or nonqualifier in Division I would not be permitted to receive training table expenses, unless the student-athlete pays the full or additional board costs for such a benefit.

    Further, during its April 23-25, 1990, meeting, the former NCAA Council adopted the following positions concerning permissible sources from which such financial assistance could be received:

    (1) Funds could be made available for use by student-athletes under the terms of this legislation if those funds are derived from institutional sources that are available on the same basis for student-athletes and students generally, and provided that the methodology for determining recipients of such assistance is the same for students and student-athletes.

    (2) No institutional funds (from athletics or any other source) could be set aside specifically for student-athletes under the terms of this legislation. It would be permissible, however, for athletics funds contributed to the institution's general scholarship fund to be awarded to student-athletes, provided those funds are awarded without regard to athletics ability and are available on the same basis for student-athletes and students generally.

    NCAA Bylaw 15.2.7.3 --

    Employment during the summer

    NCAA member institutions should note that pursuant to Bylaw 15.2.7.3, a student-athlete may receive legitimate summer employment earnings without any restriction on the amount of compensation received even if the student-athlete is attending summer school as a recipient of institutional financial aid. Further, such employment earnings are not considered in determining the amount of athletically related financial aid the student-athlete may receive for the summer term.

    This material was provided by the membership 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 Kristen L. Davis or Lisa Roesler, membership services representatives, at the NCAA national office. This information is available on the College Sports Network.