POL - 60.00.3 Policy Statement on Intercollegiate Athletics

1. Introduction 

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has delegated responsibility for the establishment and supervision of intercollegiate athletics to the Chancellor of each constituent institution, subject to policies established by the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees. 

2. Scope  

Following are policies to guide the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the academic components of North Carolina Central University in the governance of intercollegiate athletic programs.  

3. Mission and Athletic Policy 

3.1 Intercollegiate athletics play an important role in fulfilling the University's purposes, both by contributing to the education of individual athletes and by enriching the University environment. Through training and competition students gain discipline, stamina and high standards, lessons that sustain personal development.

3.2 Success in North Carolina Central University athletics shall be evaluated within the context of the educational mission of the institution and measured by the personal development of student-athletes and the program's contribution to the University.

3.3 The philosophy of the athletics program is to support the development of student- athletes as whole individuals and to develop and reinforce their goals and achievements in every facet of life. Physical stamina contributes to mental discipline and achievement. Intellectual rigor and precision contribute to athletic skills and judgment. The social aspects of athletic competition, including leadership and cooperative experience, contribute to students' moral development and high standards.  

4. Athletic Policies and Regulations 

4.1 The Chancellor's responsibility for the University's intercollegiate athletic programs, as delegated by the Board of Governors, includes overseeing the personnel and financial affairs associated with intercollegiate athletics and for upholding University policies. The Chancellor has the responsibility and authority for defining the responsibilities of the Director of Athletics, to approve the annual operating budget(s) for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and to monitor institutional compliance with University of North Carolina, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and NCAA regulations.

4.2 The Director of Athletics reports to the Chancellor and manages the department within the guidelines outlined by Trustee policies, University administrative procedures, and all NCAA and MEAC regulation on intercollegiate athletics. An Athletics Council, composed of faculty, staff, and students, advises the Chancellor on matters related to intercollegiate athletics, including compliance with national and conference athletic regulations, and provides liaison among the parties it represents.

4.3 Together, the Chancellor, Director of Athletics, and the Athletics Council shall ensure compliance with the standards and regulation of The Board of Governors, Board of Trustees, and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), including (but not limited to) those regulations governing recruiting, athletic eligibility and the respective responsibilities of coaches and student-athletes. In addition, University and athletic administrators are responsible for adhering to all policies of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and other groups to which the University belongs. All practices shall be evaluated according to these standards.  

5. Admission, Eligibility and Academic Progress of Athletes 

5.1 All student-athletes, including those considered for grants-in-aid, shall be submitted to North Carolina Central University using the same standards and requirements established for other students. In cases of applicants with marginal academic credentials, the Provost, Associate Provost and Director of Admissions shall make the final admissions decisions after reviewing the applications and all supporting credentials and, when deemed appropriate, after interviews with the applicants.

5.2 National letters of intent shall not be signed until after the admissions review has been made and communicated to the Director of Athletics and appropriate coach. In cases where signings are permitted at the beginning rather than at the end of the high school senior year, letters of intent may be signed after the reviews cited above, on a conditional basis, namely that the applicant will meet admissions standards by the end of the senior year. Failure to meet these standards will result in voiding the agreement.

5.3 The decision about freshman year eligibility shall be made by the Provost, Associate Provost, and Director of Admissions on the basis of the original limits established by Section 5-1-(j) of the NCAA Manual. Eligibility will be awarded only to students who meet NCAA standards.

5.4 Prospective student-athletes who are admitted to the University but who are ineligible for intercollegiate competition during their freshman year will participate in University-sponsored programs, which have been designed to help academically marginal students achieve success during their freshman year, whether or not they are athletes.

5.5 Continuing enrollment at the University requires students to make measured progress toward their degrees. Student-athletes are subject to both University and NCAA regulations regarding academic progress. Continuing eligibility for intercollegiate athletic competition shall be determined by the Athletics Council in a manner consistent with University academic standards and NCAA regulations.  

6. Grants-in-Aid 

6.1 The Department of Athletics currently provides grants-in-aid to selected student-athletes who have demonstrated exceptional skills in particular sports. These awards may pay full or partial educational expenses and are administered by the department under NCAA guidelines. Under these guidelines, grants-in-aid are awarded only one year at a time. However, students accepting scholarships shall be informed that University policy encourages provision of aid through the completion of an undergraduate degree within the time limits prescribed by the NCAA.

6.2 The number of grants-in-aid to be awarded in each sport shall conform to the number permitted by NCAA regulations. Coaches will recommend grant-in-aid recipients to the Director of Athletics, who has the authority to recommend approval of each award. The University financial aid officer shall send?official?notification to the recipient. Any alteration or cancelation of an award for continuing student-athletes is recommended by the Director of Athletics to the financial aid officer, who reviews the recommendations and shall take action in accordance with guidelines set forth by the University Committee on Scholarship and Student Aid.

7. Drug Education

7.1 The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics shall conduct a comprehensive drug education/chemical dependency prevention program to assist student-athletes understand the problems and effects associated with drugs.

7.2 The overall objective of the NCCU program shall be first to deter involvement, and second to recommend counseling and treatment for student-athletes involved with drugs. 

8. Relation with Non-Athletic Department Personnel

8.1 The Director of Athletics shall notify in writing all Eagle Club members, active and lifetime, and others as specified by the NCAA bylaws governing contact with student-athletes or prospective student-athletes. This policy states that, "All contact in person with a prospective student-athlete or the prospect's relatives or legal guardian for purposes of recruitment shall be made by institutional staff members. Such contact, as well as, correspondence and telephone calls, by representatives of an institutions athletics interests is prohibited."

8.2 No guest benefits may be extended by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics on a recurring basis to members of the NCCU faculty or academic staff, with the exception of Athletics Council members, who may receive two complimentary season tickets to athletic events. 

9. A Firm Commitment

9.1 North Carolina Central University is committed to a competitive, broad-based intercollegiate athletics program for men and women in both revenue and non- revenue-producing sports.

9.2 It is the mission of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics to operate an athletics program that is open, respectful of University purposes, committed to the development of athletes intellectually, morally, and physically, and is consistent with policies and regulations of the University, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and the NCAA.