ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eligibility & Compliance:
Student-athletes will follow all eligibility guidelines that are set forth by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Sun Conference (TSC), whichever is most stringent, in addition to the University’s admissions requirements.Â
All first-time prospective student-athletes must go through the NAIA Eligibility Center to be cleared for participation. The NAIA Eligibility Center is responsible for determining the NAIA eligibility of first-time student-athletes. Any student playing NAIA championship sports for the first time must meet the eligibility requirements. Students must have their eligibility determined by the NAIA Eligibility Center, and all NAIA schools are bound by the center's decisions. To register for the NAIA Eligibility Center and to see more information click on: http://www.playnaia.org.
In addition to being cleared through the NAIA Eligibility Center, the following must be met to be eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics:
Prospective Student-Athlete Checklist
Early Decision Freshmen Requirements
*Entering Freshman
An entering freshman student must be a graduate of an accredited high school or be fully accepted as a regular student in good academic standing as defined by St. Thomas University. An entering freshman is defined as a student who upon becoming identified with an institution has not been previously identified with an institution(s) of higher learning for two semesters or three quarters (or equivalent). An entering freshman must meet two of the three entry level requirements to participate in athletics at St. Thomas University:
a. Achieve a minimum of 18 on the Enhanced ACT or 880 on the SAT. The ACT/SAT test must be taken on a national or international testing date and certified to the institution prior to the beginning of each term in which the student initially participates (residual tests are not acceptable). The SAT score of 880 or higher must be achieved on the Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT. The SAT score of 880 or higher must be achieved on the CRITICAL READING and MATH sections of the SAT. Scores must be achieved on a single test, and the test score must be sent directly from the testing center to the institution.
b. Achieve a minimum overall high school grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (the NAIA requires a 2.0 GPA)
c. Graduate in the top half of your high school graduating class
PLEASE NOTE: ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY ADMISSION STANDARDS MUST BE MET IN ORDER FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PARTICIPATION.
*Four –Year Completion
Student-athletes have 10 semesters (or terms of attendance) in which to complete four (4) athletic seasons in a sport, whichever comes first. Student-athletes will be charged a term of attendance upon enrollment in 12 or more institutional credit hours. Summer sessions are not included, but night school, extension or correspondence courses are applicable to this ruling. Student-athletes’ eligibility begins when a student first registers for 12 or more credits or when a student athlete first competes (practices, scrimmages or contests) at any two or four year collegiate institution. These years are continuous. A student-athlete may be granted an extra year of competition if they are ill or injured and meet the criteria of the NAIA medical hardship, only if the student-athlete has the eligible semesters and/or seasons remaining.
*Twelve Credit Rule
The NAIA and St. Thomas University require that a student-athlete must be a full-time student in order to participate. It must also be verified that the student-athlete is registered and fees are paid for at least 12 credits. Under University policy a student-athlete is ineligible to practice or compete during any time if:
1. He/she is registered for less than 12 credit classes
2. Registration or admission is canceled; or
3. Change in enrollment occurs
Changes in enrollment (e.g., petitions to add/drop courses, late enrollment, instructor drops, etc.) should be submitted prior to the published deadlines to ensure that records are accurate and complete. If a student-athlete drops a course, it costs credits toward graduation. A student-athlete is not permitted to drop a class without a signature from the Director of Athletics or Faculty Athletics Representative. This policy is designed to prevent a student-athlete from making changes in their academic schedule that may jeopardize their academic and/or eligibility status.
THE SUN CONFERENCE INTRA-CONFERENCE TRANSFER RULE
A student-athlete who participates in a sport (has been charged a season of competition) at a TSC institution is not permitted to be certified as eligible to compete in that same sport at another TSC institution for 365 days from the last date of attendance at the previous TSC institution.
A student-athlete who has not participated (has not been charged a season of competition) in a sport, however, has received athletic related financial aid for any sport must sit for 365 days from the last date of attendance at the previous TSC institution unless that student-athlete has received a written release (using approved conference form) from the previous institution's Athletic Director. A written release will apply to all other TSC institutions.
A student-athlete who has not participated in a sport and has not received any athletic related financial aid may play immediately upon transfer to another TSC institution.
Progress Reports and Mandatory Study Halls:
To ensure that student-athletes are making normal progress towards graduation, the Department of Athletics administers progress reports for all student-athletes at the mid-point of each semester. Upon return of the progress reports, coaches meet with student-athletes to review them individually. Reports are also generated throughout the semester via professors who deem students at risk. From these various reports coaches will mandate study hall.
Financial Aid/Grants/Scholarships:
Athletic teams are provided with a specific number of one-year renewable grants-in-aid (athletic scholarships) in accordance with budgetary restrictions and regulations. Athletic grants are awarded by the Office of Financial Aid upon the recommendation of the Head Coach and the approval of the Director of Athletics. Grant-in-aids are not reimbursements for services performed, but to help student-athletes with their educational expenses. An athletic and/or academic grant is restricted to covering educational expenses such as tuition, room/board and fees. All grants cover only a portion of the current academic year and do not include summer or mini-mester term classes. All grants have a minimum GPA and full-time status requirement to receive such grants. For more information, see the B.A.S.I.C. office. Athletic grants require certification of eligibility. If deemed ineligible, student athletes may lose their athletic grant (scholarship).
Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty is considered to be the representation of another’s work as one’s own, either directly or through complicity in falsification; cheating; plagiarism; facilitating academic dishonesty; or infringing on the academic rights of others.
Forms of dishonesty such as cheating, plagiarism, stealing or deceiving may be referred to the Coaches and Athletic Director. Any of these could result in the student athlete being removed from his/her sport and no longer being eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics. (For further information regarding the policy as it relates to the general student population, please see the St. Thomas University Student Handbook).
All forms of dishonesty such as cheating, plagiarism, stealing or deceiving will be referred to your Coaches and Athletic Director. If found guilty, according to the Academic Conduct Code, the Dean of the School in which the violation occurred will submit a report to the Provost. Upon recommendation, the Dean of the School and/or Provost will inform the Vice President of Planning and Enrollment of the outcome. It is at this point that the student-athlete will be immediately removed from his/her sport and will no longer be eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics.
Use the following as a guideline to make sure you are practicing proper conduct.
1. Prepare thoroughly all assignments.
2. Prepare thoroughly for all tests.
3. Do not let other students copy from your work or tests.
4. Discourage dishonesty among other students.
5. Refuse to assist dishonest students who cheat or plagiarize or are dishonest in other ways.
6. Know what academic dishonesty is and avoid any occurrence of it.
Department of Athletics Missed Class Policy
Student-athletes are not permitted to miss class time for sports practice at any point during the academic year. Student-athletes are not permitted to miss class time for competition or practice outside of the championship segment (the off season).
A schedule of games/competitions from the Faculty Athletics Representative will be emailed to all faculty for the fall, winter and spring sports indicating when student-athletes should be excused from class for games/competitions. It is still the responsibility of the student-athlete to communicate with each faculty member, in advance, regarding missed class time and the class work that should be completed.
