View Complete Document as a PDFSTATE OF CONNECTICUT ACT REQUIRING FULL DISCLOSURE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES BEING RECRUITED TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
In accordance with legislation passed by the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut (PA 11-92- SHB 5415), all institutions of Higher Education sponsoring an athletics program must disclose relevant information to prospective student-athletes.
The printable document in PDF form can be located at the following web address:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/act/pa/2011PA-00092-R00HB-05415-PA.htmSUMMARY:
This bill requires Connecticut colleges and universities with intercollegiate athletic programs to disclose certain information to recruited student athletes. Beginning January 1, 2012, any institution with an intercollegiate athletic program that recruits student athletes by soliciting them to apply to, enroll in, or attend the institution for the purpose of participating in intercollegiate athletics must (1) provide a hyperlink entitled "Student Athletes' Right to Know" on the front page of its official athletics website and (2) include a direct link to its web page in any written materials regarding the athletic program that are provided to student athletes. The hyperlink must link to a web page that contains information regarding (1) athletic scholarships, (2) the renewal of and release from scholarships, and (3) sports-related medical expenses.
The bill defines student athletes as individuals who attend a primary or secondary school program of education or an institution of higher education and participate in any interscholastic athletic program in Connecticut, regardless of whether or not they receive a scholarship for doing so.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2011
(1) Athletic scholarship information, including, but not limited to:
(A) The most recent cost of attendance expenses as published by the institution of higher education's financial aid office for the academic year and for the summer school session.
SCSU Financial literacy link (Cost of Attendance) as provided through the link below. This information is always available at www.scsu.edu. Summer session costs are based on per credit (in state, out of state, online or on campus). The sum of the expenses is calculated by the Office of Financial Aid as set by the Board of Regents.
http://www.southernct.edu/financial-advising/financial-literacy-news.html(B) The sum of expenses identified in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision that are prohibited from inclusion in a full grant-in-aid athletic scholarship pursuant to the NCAA's rules and regulations.
Grant-in-aid – A full grant-in-aid is financial aid that consists of tuitions & fees, room & board, and required course-related books (NCAA By-law 15.02.5). It does not include other items that institutions typically use to calculate the cost of attendance, such as transportation and miscellaneous personal expenses. An institution may only provide financial aid to student-athletes for such expenses if the provision of aid is unrelated to athletic ability (NCAA By-law 15.1).
Those costs associated with the Cost of Attendance such as transportation to and from school, required sickness insurance, health services prescriptions and other personal miscellaneous expenses are NOT INCLUDED in a full grant in aid. Additionally, student-athletes are reminded that costs such as lost library books, parking tickets, bills for dorm damage, lost or stolen ID cards are also NOT INCLUDED in a full grant in aid.
(C) The policy of the institution of higher education's athletic program regarding whether student athletes will receive athletic scholarships for summer school sessions, and, if so, whether such scholarships are proportional to athletic scholarships received during the regular academic year.
Summer School –
1. Grants-in-Aid are available for summer school on a limited basis. The award must be approved by the head coach and the Director of Athletics. (NCAA By-law 15.2.8)
(D) The full grant-in-aid athletic scholarship payment received by all student athletes who live on campus during the academic year and off campus during summer school session.
The full grant-in-aid athletic scholarship payment received by all student-athletes who live on campus during the academic year is comprised of tuition/fees, standard room, standard board and loan of required books. This award is posted to their account through the Office of Financial Aid and paid by the Bursar’s office accordingly.
(E) The following information relating to NCAA scholarship rules: (i) A verbal commitment is not binding on either the student athlete or the institution; (ii) the National Letter of Intent is a binding agreement between a prospective student athlete and an institution of higher education in which the institution agrees to provide a prospective student athlete, who is admitted to the institution and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules, athletics aid for one academic year in exchange for the prospective student athlete's agreement to attend the institution for one academic year; (iii) the National Letter of Intent must be accompanied by an institutional financial aid agreement; and (iv) if the prospective student athlete signs the National Letter of Intent but does not enroll at that institution for a full academic year, such student athlete may be subject to specific penalties, including loss of a season of eligibility and a mandatory residence requirement.
NCAA rules regarding the National Letter of Intent (NLI) -
a. A verbal commitment is not binding on either the prospective student-athlete or the institution.
b. The NLI is a binding agreement between the prospective student-athlete and an institution of higher education in which the institution agrees to provide a prospective student-athlete, who is admitted to the institution and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules, athletics aid for one academic year in exchange for the prospective student-athlete’s agreement to attend the institution for one academic year.
c. The NLI must be accompanied by an institutional Tender of Athletics Grant-in Aid.
d. If the prospective student-athlete signs the NLI but does not enroll at the institution for a full academic year, such student-athlete may be subject to specific penalties, including loss of a season of eligibility and a mandatory residency requirement.
a. It is the responsibility of the prospective student-athlete to complete all necessary documentation to the Office of Athletic Compliance and the National Letter of Intent Office to begin the process of asking to release from his/her National Letter of Intent.
You may view additional information regarding the National Letter of Intent by clicking on the link below:
Click here(2) Athletic scholarship renewal information, including, but not limited to:
(A) The NCAA's policy regarding scholarship duration.
Period of Award - The period of an award begins when the student-athlete receives any benefits as a part of the student’s grant-in-aid on the first day of classes for a particular academic term, or the first day of practice, whichever is earlier, until the conclusion of the period set forth in the financial aid agreement.
An athletics grant-in-aid shall not be awarded in excess of one academic year (NCAA By-law 15.02.6).*
The renewal of any athletic grant in aid is not automatic and it is based on the recommendation from athletics to financial aid that the aid be renewed in any given year.
All athletes will be notified not later than July 1 prior to the upcoming academic year whether the grant has been renewed or not renewed for the ensuing academic year
When athletics grant in aid has been reduced or cancelled, the student athlete is entitled to an appeal/hearing opportunity (NCAA Blyaw 15.3.2.4).
(B) The policy of the institution of higher education's athletic program concerning the renewal or nonrenewal of an athletic scholarship, including circumstances in which a student athlete in good standing suffers a temporary or permanent sports-related injury, there is a change in coaching, or a student athlete's athletic performance is deemed to be below expectations.
Any student-athlete who is considered to be in good standing (i.e., eligible under all Southern Connecticut State University, Northeast-10 Conference and NCAA rules and in compliance with the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct, SCSU Code of Conduct as well as any written or agreed upon team rules as set forth by the Coaching staff and Director of Athletics) shall be considered for renewal on an annual basis.
The Student-Athlete Handbook is reviewed and updated on an annual basis and is provided hard copy to all student-athletes at the beginning of each academic year at the first team meeting.
Please follow the link below to the full 2015-16 Student-Athlete Handbook:
Click here(3) Athletically-related medical expenses information, including, but not limited to:
(A) The NCAA's policy regarding whether athletic programs are mandated to pay for athletically-related medical expenses.
NCAA Institutions must certify insurance coverage for medical expenses resulting from athletically related injuries sustained by student-athletes while participating in a university sponsored and/or sanctioned game or practice (conditioning, weight training, team travel, etc).
(B) The policy of the institution of higher education's athletic program regarding whether such program will pay for a student athlete's athletically-related medical expenses, including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, or any such medical expenses that exceed any maximum insurance coverage limits.
All Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) student-athletes must provide evidence of primary insurance coverage that includes coverage for athletically-related injuries. Each student must provide coverage upon entrance to SCSU as part of their registration each semester.
(C) The policy of the institution of higher education's athletic program regarding who is required to pay for any required athletically-related insurance premiums for student athletes who do not have insurance coverage.
Southern Connecticut State University requires all registered students to either purchase the University Insurance or provide proof of insurance through their parent or self.
(D) The duration of time the institution of higher education's athletic program will continue to pay for athletically-related medical expenses after a student athlete's athletic eligibility expires.
Following the departure of a student-athlete, coverage will be based on appropriate insurance company information. Please click on the link provided to see when coverage through the accident insurance at SCSU will cease:
https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/schools/scsu/brochure1112.pdf(E) Whether or not an athletic program's medical policy covers expenses associated with attaining a second medical opinion for an athletically-related injury from a physician who is not associated with the athletic program, and whether the athletic program provides coverage for services provided by such a physician.
No, unless covered by any of the four insurance stages as designated by the University. Each athlete must properly correspond with the Athletic Training staff in cases where he/she would like to seek an opinion of another physician.
(4) Athletic release information, including, but not limited to:
(A)The NCAA's policy regarding whether an athletic program may refuse to grant an athletic release to a student athlete who wishes to transfer to another institution of higher education.
An athletics program may refuse to grant a release to a student-athlete, if they do they must adhere to the following policy as dictated by NCAA rules:
If the student’s request for a release is denied, the institution shall inform the student-athlete in writing that he or she, upon written request, shall be provided a hearing conducted by an institutional entity or committee outside of the athletics department.
The institution shall conduct the hearing and provide written results of the hearing to the student-athlete within 14 business days (see NCAA Bylaw 14.02.2) of receipt the student-athlete’s written request for a hearing. The student-athlete shall be provided the opportunity to actively participate (e.g., in-person, via telephone) in the hearing.
(B) The policy of the postsecondary educational institution's athletic program regarding whether it may refuse to grant an athletic release for a student athlete who wishes to transfer to another institution of higher education.
The policy at Southern Connecticut State University regarding a decision to refuse to grant an athletic release for a student athlete who wishes to transfer to another institution is such that the University will consider the totality of the circumstances, including, but not limited to the following: the timeliness of the request, the manner in which the request was received, whether a student-athlete is on scholarship or not on scholarship, the selection of school to transfer to and any Northeast Conference policies that may exist.
All athletes are encouraged to seek consultation with the Office of Compliance regarding transfer should they have specific questions.
http://www.southernctowls.com/sports/2007/12/27/Compliance.aspx?tab=compliance(C) Commencing January 1, 2012, an institution of higher education that provides, by any delivery method, written material regarding its athletic program to a student athlete shall include in such materials a direct link to such institution's Internet web page, where the student athlete shall have access to the "Student Athletes' Right to Know" hyperlink and all of the information regarding the institution's athletic scholarship program as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
