Do student-athletes have to meet UM academic standards?
Yes, student-athletes must be registered as full-time students and meet the same GPA and graduation requirements just as all other students do. In addition, student-athletes must meet requirements as established by the Big Sky Conference and the NCAA.
Must student-athletes make progress toward a degree while they are competing for UM?
Yes. According to NCAA rules, a student-athlete must be enrolled in a degree program that he or she can complete within five years of initial enrollment.
During the first year, student-athletes must complete 24 credits at UM. To continue to be eligible to compete, student-athletes must have completed the following:
- Entering the 3rd year, 40% of degree requirements.
- Entering the 4th year, 60% of degree requirements.
- Entering the 5th year, 80% of degree requirements.
Student-athletes must also earn at least 6 credit hours the previous term to be eligible to compete the next term. Football student-athletes have an additional requirement in that they must successfully earn at least 9 credits each fall term in order to be eligible to compete the following fall football season.
Student-athletes are required to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours to be eligible to compete and practice. If they drop below 12 hours, they are immediately ineligible to practice or compete and they risk the chance of losing their athletics scholarship.
Do all courses student-athletes take count toward a degree?
No. The same rules apply for student-athletes as apply to other students at UM. The following are the specific guidelines:
- Remedial, tutorial, or non-credit coursework: After the first year of enrollment, a student athlete may no longer use such credits toward meeting degree requirements.
- Excessive “free electives” are not considered degree credits. If the credits cannot be applied to the degree program, the credits are not degree credits. However, those credits do count towards a student’s GPA.
- Credits that exceed a maximum limitation set by the college or department are not considered degree credit.
- Credits that are in a second major are not considered degree credits. (In some cases such credits may fit into the “free elective” category).
Who determines if a student-athlete is making progress toward a degree at UM?
The Academic Eligibility Committee (AEC), which is comprised of the Faculty Athletic Representative, all Athletic Academic Services staff and Senior Associate Athletic Director, and the Office of the Registrar certify each term that a student-athlete is making progress in a degree program.
At what rate do student-athletes graduate from UM?
The percentage of student-athletes who graduate in six years is 68%. This is compared to the federal graduation rate of all students at 48%. In addition, UM has a GSR (Graduation Success Rate) of 80%.
What is a Graduation Success Rate?
The GSR is the NCAA’s method of effectively monitoring graduation success while also reflecting the mobility of students. The GSR includes student-athletes who have transferred into an institution. The GSR also allows universities to subtract transfers who leave prior to graduation as long as they were academically eligible at that point in time.
Can coaches contact a faculty member about a student-athlete’s progress in a class?
No. If a coach needs information from an instructor or an advisor regarding a student-athlete, the following process must be applied:
1. The coach contacts the academic coordinator for the team, and the coordinator may ask for the information.
2. If the coordinator is unavailable or does not respond in a reasonable amount of time, the coach may contact the Senior Associate Athletic Director.
Who advises student-athletes?
All student-athletes are advised by their declared major advisors. Student-athletes also meet with advisors in Athletic Academic Services to ensure they are meeting NCAA progress-towards-degree requirements. NCAA bylaws require that academic support services (such as tutoring and advising) be provided to student-athletes.
NCAA GPA requirements:
To be eligible, student-athletes must earn the following:
- Entering the 2nd year, a cumulative GPA of at least 1.8
- Entering the 3rd year, a cumulative GPA of at least 1.9
- Entering the 4th year, and thereafter, a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
University GPA requirements:
UM requires all students to maintain a 2.0 GPA. If a student falls below a 2.0 term GPA they are placed on academic probation. If the GPA does not improve to 2.0 the next semester they will be placed on academic suspension. If a student-athlete is suspended, they are no longer eligible to compete.
Can faculty or staff members give student-athletes “extra benefits?”
No. Extra benefits are not allowed. If a benefit is not available to all students, it cannot be given to a student-athlete. If, however, a benefit is available to all students, it may be given to a student-athlete. (Academic exceptions must be documented in the course syllabus.)
Examples of extra benefits:
- Permit a procedure not generally available to all students (i.e., retake exam or do extra work for extra credit)
- Preferential grading for student-athletes
- The use of a copier or computer services that are not available to the general student body
- Give or loan cash or sign/cosign for a loan
- Offer any gift (i.e., birthday, graduation/holiday gift)
- Provide use of an automobile
- Provide free or reduced rent or housing
What constitutes an extra benefit?
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or booster to provide a student-athlete, prospect or their relatives or friends a benefit not authorized by NCAA legislation.
Is allowing a student-athlete to make up work for missed class-time an extra benefit?
No, if the missed class falls within the recommended guidelines of University policy, which allows student-athletes to miss class for competition or for travel associated with competition. Missed classes for practices, team meetings, or individual meetings with coaches are not allowed.
Can faculty or staff members buy or make a student-athlete a meal?
You may provide an occasional meal to a student-athlete provided it is at your home and restricted to infrequent or special occasions. Student-athletes are allowed a maximum of four such meals per semester. This meal cannot be made available to the student-athlete’s friends or family, and cannot be at a restaurant or a tailgate. The only permissible meal at a local restaurant is if it is provided to a whole team. All such meals must be pre-approved by the Compliance Office.
How will an instructor know whether a student- athlete is missing for a sponsored event or is just not coming to class?
At the beginning of each semester, instructors are provided an email from Athletic Academic Services that includes all potential travel dates for that semester. It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to meet with each of his/her instructors to discuss missed academic work due to travel.
What should one do if one suspects that a violation of rules has occurred?
The University affirms that all Athletics department staff members, student-athletes, and UM employees are obligated to report any violation or possible violation of which they are aware. Any individual may report the alleged, rumored or suspected violation verbally or in writing, and it may be reported anonymously. Alleged violations may be reported to the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, Athletic Director or the Faculty Athletics Representative.
What is the role of faculty representatives?
Faculty Athletics Representatives (FAR’s) are tenured faculty members selected by the President to represent the University and its faculty in the University’s relationships with the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference.
What is Intercollegiate Athletics Compliance?
The University of Montana is a member of the Big Sky Conference and the NCAA, both of which require the University to comply with numerous rules and regulations. Compliance staff help the university and its athletic department interpret these rules. The office also serves as a liaison between the University and the Big Sky Conference and the NCAA. The Compliance office is responsible for educating, monitoring and enforcing NCAA and Big Sky rules and regulations.
Where can I find more information on NCAA rules and regulations?
For more information on NCAA rules and regulations visit Inside Athletics - Compliance on our website at www.gogriz.com.
This guide was developed to offer a general overview of NCAA legislation regarding the relationship between UM faculty/staff and student-athletes. This is not a comprehensive guide. If you have specific questions, please contact the Compliance Office.
Intercollegiate Athletics Compliance
406-243-5370
jean.gee@mso.umt.edu