NCAA Rules Pertaining to Faculty Involvement with Student-Athletes and Prospective Student-Athletes

The NCAA has strict guidelines pertaining to faculty interaction with currently enrolled student-athletes as well as prospective student-athletes being recruited to UA-Fayetteville. It is very important that university faculty be informed of the basics of these rules to ensure that no violations occur that might affect the reputation of the university and jeopardize any student’s educational and athletic endeavors. As a basic principle, enrolled student-athletes are not permitted to receive any extra benefits from faculty or other university employees. The NCAA defines an extra-benefit as any special arrangement by an institutional employee provided to an enrolled student-athlete (or a student-athlete’s relatives or friends) that is not available to the general student body of that institution. Examples of arrangements that may be extra benefits include, but are not limited to: • Special arrangements for late assignments or make-up exams if these arrangements are not available to the class as a whole; • Allowing student-athletes to miss classes if these arrangements are not available to the class as a whole; • The use of a copying machine or typing services that are not available to the general student body; • Preferential grading for student-athletes; • Special arrangements for extra credit work that are not available to the class as a whole; or • Providing transportation or the use of an automobile to an enrolled student-athlete. As a general rule, a professor or other instructor should not make any arrangements with a student-athlete that he or she would not make for other students in that particular class. In the case of prospective student-athletes, (meaning those who are being recruited for Arkansas athletics) faculty members are not permitted to recruit off-campus on behalf of the University. Faculty members are permitted to have on-campus contact with recruits, and may write or telephone a prospect about academic progress or issues. Faculty members should, however, notify the Department of Athletics about any contact they have with prospective student-athletes. It is never permissible for any university employee to provide prospects with any improper benefit or inducement to attract them to UA-Fayetteville. The Department of Athletics has a strict policy prohibiting coaching staff members from contacting university faculty. This includes, but is not limited to, facilitating the registration and enrollment of prospective or currently enrolled student-athletes and checking on the academic progress of student-athletes. These activities must be conducted through the academic department liaisons in Academic Support Services and the Compliance Office. Any faculty member who is approached by a coach should notify the Department of Athletics.
NCAA Rules Pertaining to Faculty and Non-Athletic Department Staff Member’s (F/SM) Role in Recruiting Prospective Student-Athletes Many UA-Fayetteville faculty and staff members (F/SM) are asked to assist in the recruitment efforts of prospects due to their academic expertise and enthusiastic support of our athletics program. Therefore, the Athletic Compliance Office is charged with making sure they are aware of NCAA recruiting regulations so as to avoid any potential for inadvertent institutional violations. Please take a moment to review the following NCAA rules relative to faculty and staff member’s involvement in recruiting: • F/SM may have only on-campus contact with prospects. Unavoidable, incidental off-campus contact is permissible provided no discussion relevant to UA athletics takes place. • F/SM may telephone prospects, in sports other than football, subject to institutional limits (e.g., one telephone call per week following July 1 of the prospect’s junior year in high school). The institution’s coach is responsible for assuring that this limitation is not exceeded. • F/SM may not be present at dinner with a prospect unless it is on-campus or, on only one occasion during the visit, in the home of an institutional staff member. • F/SM may write prospects, in sports other than football, following September 1 of the prospect’s junior year in high school (following September 1 of the prospect’s sophomore year for men’s basketball recruits). • F/SM may send pre-enrollment information regarding orientation and academics provided the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent with UA or has been officially accepted for enrollment by UA. Non-athletics institutional publications available to all prospective students, such as official academic, admissions and student-services publications may be provided to prospects after September 1 of their junior year in high school (following September 1 of the prospects sophomore year for men’s basketball recruits). If you have any questions regarding these rules or any other situation regarding UA-Fayetteville student-athletes, please feel free to contact the Compliance Office at (479) 575-6536.