3C4A – April 2012
Academic Standard Update
Diane Dickman, NCAA
Jennifer Fraser, NCAA
Topics
 Initial-eligibility academic standards.

Newly adopted Division I standards.

Upcoming increase in Division II standards.
 Two-year college academic transfer standards.
 Issues under review, input, discussion and
questions.

Initial-eligibility requirements.

Two-year college transfer requirements.
Division I Initial-Eligibility
Standards:
Academics as a First Expectation
Timeline for Implementing New Standards
 New Division I initial-eligibility standards are
effective for students entering any collegiate
institution full time on or after of August 1, 2015.
[Note: This effective date might be amended to
2016…..stay tuned.]
New Division I Initial-Eligibility Standards
Three Possible Outcomes
1. Full qualifier = competition, athletics aid, and
practice in first year.
2. Academic redshirt = athletics aid in first year,
practice in first regular term.
3. Nonqualifier = no athletics aid, practice or
competition in first year.
NCAA Division I Full Qualifier
Students will need to meet the following requirements
to receive athletics aid, practice and compete their
first year:
 Sixteen core courses.
 Minimum required GPA of 2.300 in those 16 core
courses.
NCAA Division I Full Qualifier
 New competition sliding scale.

Minimum sum ACT or SAT (critical reading and
math only) score that matches the 16 core-course
GPA. Examples of coordinates are:
•
2.300 core-course GPA requires 1080 SAT or
93 sum ACT.
•
2.500 core-course GPA requires 1000 SAT or
85 sum ACT.
•
2.950 core-course GPA requires 820 SAT or
68 sum ACT.
NCAA Division I Full Qualifier
 Core-course progression.



Must complete 10 core courses before seventh
semester of high school (e.g., senior year).
Of the 10 core courses completed, seven must be in
the area of English, math, or science.
These 10 core courses become “locked in” for the
purpose of GPA calculation.
•
A repeat of one of the “locked in” courses will not
be used if taken after the seventh semester begins.
Division I: Academic Redshirt
Requirements for Athletics Aid and Practice



Sixteen core courses.
Minimum required GPA.

Minimum GPA of 2.000 in 16 core courses.
Academic redshirt sliding scale.

Minimum sum ACT or SAT score (critical reading/math
only) that matches the 16 core-course GPA.
Examples of coordinates are:
•
•
2.500 core-course GPA requires SAT of 820 or ACT
sum of 68.
2.000 core-course GPA requires SAT of 1020 or ACT
sum of 86.
Division I: Academic Redshirt
Requirements for Athletics Aid and Practice
If a college-bound student-athlete meets these requirements,
he/she can receive an athletics scholarship during his/her
first year at an NCAA Division I college or university.
If he/she meets these requirements, he/she can practice
during his/her first term (e.g., semester, quarter) at a Division I
college or university.
 In order to continue to practice after the first semester/quarter,
the student must successfully complete nine semester/eight
quarter hours each term.
What If A Student Does Not
Meet Either Set of Requirements?
If a college-bound student-athlete does not meet
either set of requirements, he/she is a nonqualifier.
A nonqualifier:
 Cannot receive athletics aid during the first year at
an NCAA Division I college or university.
 Cannot practice or compete during the first
year at a Division I college or university.
Division II Increase in
Initial-Eligibility Standards
Division II Initial-Eligibility Requirements
 Increase to 16 core courses for initial-eligibility
requirements.
 Effective August 1, 2013, for all students enrolling
at a Division II institution on or after August 1, 2013.
 The increase appears in the areas of additional
English, math or natural/physical science and
additional academic courses.
Division I Two-Year College
Transfer Standards:
Academic Success as a First
Expectation
Two-Year College Transfers - Timeline for
Implementing New Division I Standards
 New two-year college transfer requirements
effective for students initially enrolling full time in
any college on or after August 1, 2012.
 Full time.
 Any college.
 On or after August 1, 2012.
Division I: Two-Year College Transfers
New Requirements for QUALIFIERS
 To COMPETE at time of transfer:



Must have a 2.50 or better transferable GPA. (This is an increase
from the current 2.0 requirement.)
May use a maximum of two physical education activity credits in
ALL sports (currently applies only to men’s basketball).
All other current requirements would remain in effect (e.g., spent
at least one full-time semester/quarter at two-year college,
completed an average of 12 semester/quarter hours of
transferable degree credit for each term of full-time attendance).
Division I: Two-Year College Transfers
New Requirements for QUALIFIERS
 To PRACTICE AND RECEIVE ATHLETICS AID at
time of transfer:

Athletics aid and practice permissible on transfer
based on qualifier status.
Division I: Two-Year College Transfers
Changes for NONQUALIFIERS
 Increase transferable GPA from 2.000 to 2.50 for competition
purposes only.
 Expand physical education activity course limit of two credits
to ALL sports (currently applies only to men’s basketball).
 Require completion of transferable core credits as follows:
three semester/four quarter hours of math, three semester/four
quarter hours of natural/physical science, six semester/eight
quarter hours English.

Science would be the new requirement.
Division I: Two-Year College Transfers
Changes for NONQUALIFIERS
 All other transfer requirements remain in place:

Attend two-year college full-time for at least three
semesters or four quarters.

Earn an AA or equivalent degree.
Division I: Two-Year College Transfers
Changes for NONQUALIFIERS continued
 Transfer at least 48 semester or 72 quarter credit
hours.
 Must include a core curriculum of transferable credits:

Six semester/eight quarter hours of English; and

Three semester/four quarter hours of math.
Review of NCAA Division II
Legislation Applicable to Two-Year
College Transfer Students
Division II Two-Year College
Transfer Requirements
Division II Overview
 Transfer triggers.
 Qualifier with no previous attendance at a fouryear collegiate institution (Bylaw 14.5.4.1).
 All other qualifiers, partial qualifiers and
nonqualifiers (Bylaw 14.5.4.2).
 Newly adopted legislation.
 Questions.
Division II Transfer Triggers
 Full-time student and attends a class;
 Reported for a regular squad practice;
 Participates in countable athletically related activities even
though they are enrolled part time;
 Student-athlete receives athletics aid while enrolled in a summer
term or summer school. Regular student enrolled full time at
night school.
 Attendance at a branch school:

With no athletics and previously enrolled elsewhere; and

With athletics and transfer to a school other than parent school.
Division II Qualifiers with No Previous FourYear College Attendance



Attend the two-year college as a full-time student for at
least one full-time semester or one full-time quarter;
Complete an average of 12 semester or 12 quarter
hours of transferable credit; and
Present a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000.
Division II Qualifiers with No Previous FourYear College Attendance – Application


All transferable credit hours shall be used when determining
the transferable degree credit hours and GPA.
Determining the transferable credit GPA:

Calculation must include all courses that are normally
transferable to an institution.

Regardless of the grade earned or if that grade makes the
course unacceptable for transferable credit.

Only the last grade earned in a repeated course may be used
in the calculation.
Division II All Other Qualifiers, Partial
Qualifiers and Nonqualifiers


Attend the two-year college as a full-time student for at
least two semesters or three quarters (excluding
summer); and
Satisfy one of the following:

Graduate from the two-year college; or

Complete an average of at least 12 semester or 12
quarter hours of transferable degree credit with a
minimum GPA of 2.000.
Division II All Other Qualifiers, Partial
Qualifiers and Nonqualifiers – Application


All transferable credit hours shall be used when
determining the transferable degree credit hours and
GPA for a two-year college.
Only credit hours earned at two-year college(s)
attended since the last four-year college attendance
shall be used.

Division II Additional Transferable Degree Credit
Two-year college transfers who are not qualifiers
must meet additional transferable degree credit
requirements.

In addition to the current requirements, must
also have successfully completed the following:
 Six semester or eight quarter hours of
English; and
 Three semester or four quarter hours of math.
Division II Additional Transferable Degree Credit

Application:

English and math hours required for partial and
nonqualifiers only.

Credits must be transferrable to any baccalaureate
degree program at the certifying institution.

Remedial courses may not be used to satisfy the
requirement.
Effective: August 1, 2011, for student-athletes
initially enrolling full time in a collegiate
institution on or after August 1, 2011.
Division II Additional Transferable Degree Credit

A partial or nonqualifier who graduates from the twoyear institution is not required to meet the English and
math requirement.
Division II 4-2-4 Transfer Exception

Exception for "4-2-4" transfers who graduate from
the two-year institution to be immediately eligible.

Old rule: Must have attended the two-year institution for at
least two semesters or three quarters and graduates.

New rule: Attends the two-year institution for only one
semester or one quarter and graduates.
NCAA Division II Proposal No. 2011-20
 Application:

Not subject to the 25% credit-hour requirement for graduation
from two-year college.

Exception not applicable when a transfer attends the two-year
college for more than one semester or one quarter.
Effective: August 1, 2011, for a two-year college transfer
student-athlete with previous four-year collegiate attendance
enrolling at a Division II institution on or after August 1, 2011.
Ongoing Review of Two-Year
College Transfer Requirements –
Division I
Division I: Year of Academic Readiness
 This proposal has been “tabled” and is under further
review.
 The concept is as follows:



Year must be at two-year institution and be during
initial year of collegiate enrollment, whenever that
takes place.
No competition during this year.
NCAA “clock” would not start until after year of
academic readiness.
Division I: Year of Academic Readiness
 Trigger for use of the year of academic readiness would
be status as a nonqualifier.
 Must attend two-year institution(s) full time for minimum
five full-time semesters/seven quarters prior to transfer
to the Division I institution.
 At time of enrollment at an NCAA institution, studentathlete will have maximum of two seasons of
competition.

Extenuating circumstances (e.g., injury) could be
considered in waiver process.
Working Group Created to Continue Year of
Academic Readiness Discussions
 Working group established to further consider year
of academic readiness concept.
 Two-year college members serve on the group,
including: Mary Ellen Leicht (NJCAA); President
Brian King (Cabrillo College) and Carlyle Carter
(CCCAA).
 June in-person meeting.
Ongoing Review of Two-Year
College Transfer Requirements –
Division II
Division II: Two-Year College Transfer
Requirement Concepts Under Discussion
 Recommend changes to the current two-year
college transfer standards:
 For qualifiers:

GPA requirement of 2.300; and

Physical education activity credit limits.
Division II: Two-Year College Transfer
Requirement Concepts, continued

For partial qualifiers and nonqualifiers not meeting the
Associate of Arts (A.A.) or equivalent degree requirement:

GPA requirement of 2.300;

Physical education activity credit limits;

Additional transferable core-curriculum requirement in
natural or physical science; and

Athletics aid and practice for nonqualifiers if they meet all
other requirements and have a GPA at or above a 2.000.
Division II: Two-Year College Transfer
Requirement Concepts, continued
 Additional requirements for those partial qualifiers
and nonqualifiers who earn an A.A. or equivalent
degree.
 Completion of a core-credit curriculum; and
 A 2.300 GPA in all otherwise transferable hours.

A nonqualifier able to receive athletics aid and
practice during their first year of academic
residence with a GPA at or above 2.000.
Timeline for Review
 Concepts developed, and feedback sought, by Task Force
throughout 2012-13.

2013 NCAA Convention educational session.

2013 Division II Chancellor and President Summit.
 Proposed legislation for the 2014 NCAA Convention.
 Additional feedback and questions regarding concepts are
welcomed and may be sent to
diiacademicreview@ncaa.org.
Resources


www.eligibilitycenter.org

Initial Eligibility: The full sliding scale can be found
under Resources tab.

Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete.
www.ncaa.org

Transfer Guide.
Feedback and Comments
 Thank you.
 Comments may be directed to:

Jennifer Fraser (jfraser@ncaa.org)
OR

Diane Dickman (ddickman@ncaa.org)
Questions?