Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost
Information for Faculty and Staff on Student Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics
Do student-athletes have to meet University of Minnesota academic standards?
Yes, student-athletes must be registered as full-time students and meet the same grade point average (GPA) and graduation requirements as all other students. In addition, student-athletes must meet requirements as established by the Big Ten and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which are often more stringent than the University’s standard.
Must student-athletes make progress toward a degree while they are competing for the University?
Yes. According to Big Ten 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 a minimum of 12 credits per semester at the University. To continue to be eligible to compete, student-athletes must have completed the following:
- Entering the second year, 24 credits
- Entering the third year, 51 credits
- Entering the fourth year, 78 credits
- Entering the fifth year, 105 credits
In addition, in order for a student-athlete to be eligible to compete the student-athlete must pass at least 6 credits each semester and at least 18 credits over the previous two semesters.
Do all courses student-athletes take count toward a degree?
No. The same rules apply for student-athletes as apply to other students at the University. The following are the specific guidelines:
- Remedial, tutorial, or noncredit coursework: After the second year of enrollment, a student-athlete may no longer use such credits toward meeting degree requirements.
- Credits exceeding maximum repeatable limits of a course (e.g., PE credit, study skills credit) are not considered degree credits.
- Excessive “free electives” are not considered degree credits. If the credits cannot be applied to the degree program, the credits are not degree credits.
- Credits that exceed a maximum limitation set by the college or department are not considered degree credits.
- Credits that are in a minor or second major and that fall outside the degree requirements 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 the University?
The Office of the Registrar and the student-athlete’s college of enrollment must certify each year that a student-athlete is making progress in a degree program and can complete the program in five years.
What are the GPA requirements for student-athletes to be eligible to compete?
Both the Big Ten and the University have established GPA requirements. If a student-athlete meets the Big Ten’s requirement but not the University’s, the student may appeal to the Faculty Academic Oversight Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics (FAOCIA) to become eligible.
Big Ten GPA requirements:
During the first year, at the completion of fall semester, student-athletes must have a GPA of at least 1.65 (C-) to be eligible to compete spring semester. To continue to be eligible, student-athletes must have the following:
- Entering the second year, a GPA of at least 1.80
- Entering the third year, a GPA of at least 1.90
- Entering spring semester of the third year (and thereafter), a GPA of at least 2.00
University GPA requirements:
- To be eligible to compete, a student-athlete must finish the first year with a GPA of at least 2.00 and must maintain a 2.00 GPA thereafter.
- Transfer student-athletes must meet all GPA requirements at the time of transfer.
How are GPAs calculated for student-athletes?
Besides their University GPA, student-athletes have a Big Ten GPA.
- A student-athlete’s Big Ten GPA is calculated based on University standards, with the exception that ‘incompletes’ count as zero points until a change of grade is recorded by the Office of the Registrar.
Do student-athletes graduate at the same rate as other University students?
The percentage of student athletes who graduate in six years is higher than the percentage for the entire University:
- The six-year graduation rate for student-athletes who entered the University in 2000 was 62 percent.
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 adviser regarding a student-athlete, the following process must be used:
- The coach contacts the academic counselor for the team, and the counselor may ask for the information.
- If the counselor is unavailable or is unable to respond within a reasonable amount of time, the coach may contact the director of academics.
- If the director of academics is unavailable, the coach may contact the appropriate faculty representative.
Who advises student-athletes?
All student-athletes are advised both by collegiate advisers and by academic counselors in the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC). Collegiate advisers work with student-athletes as they do with other students. Academic counselors work with collegiate advisers to help student-athletes meet Big Ten and NCAA requirements and stay on track to graduate. The MAC provides tutoring and academic services to student-athletes, as do other offices on campus for special groups of students (e.g., collegiate honors programs, learning resource centers, mentoring programs).
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.
Examples of extra benefits that are impermissible:
- Permit a procedure not generally available to all students (e.g., retake exam or do extra work)
- Give or loan cash; sign or cosign for a loan
- Offer any gift (e.g., birthday/holiday gift)
- Provide use of an automobile; give a ride
- Provide free or reduced rent or housing
What else 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 expressly 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 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.
How many days per semester are student-athletes allowed to miss for University-sponsored competitions?
Student-athletes are allowed to miss up to nine class days per semester. (However, most student-athletes miss fewer class days.)
Who approves the schedules and the number of class days missed?
The Faculty Academic Oversight Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics reviews and approves the schedules for every team each semester. While the policy allows up to nine days per semester, schedules are generally planned to minimize the actual number of classes missed. However, if an instructor believes that the number of excused absences seems excessive and likely to have a negative impact on student performance, he/she should contact the Director of Academics to discuss the situation.
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, student-athletes are provided a letter to give to each of their instructors, advising the instructors of the policy. Attached to the letter is the student’s approved competition schedule.
What should one do if one suspects that a violation has occurred?
The University affirms that all athletics department staff members, student-athletes, and University employees are obligated to report any violation or possible violation of NCAA or Big Ten rules of which they are aware. An 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 any or all of the following:
- Director of athletic compliance
- Director of athletics
- Faculty athletics representatives
Suspected violations may also be reported through the University’s confidential reporting system found at the following site: www.Ureports.ethicspoint.com or by calling 1-866-294-8680.
What is the Office of Athletic Compliance?
The University is a member of the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA. The University must comply with numerous rules and regulations. The Office of Athletic Compliance helps the University and its athletics department interpret the rules. The office also serves as a liaison between the University and the Big Ten and NCAA. The Office of Athletic Compliance reports to the Office of the General Counsel.
What is the role of faculty athletics representatives?
Faculty athletics representatives (FARs) are tenured faculty members selected by the president to represent the University and its faculty in the University’s relationships with the NCAA, the Big Ten, and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In addition, FARs also play an important role on campus, working to ensure student athlete academic success and welfare. FARs serve as liaisons to the FAOCIA, ACA, the MAC, University administration, and the department of Intercollegiate Athletics management team and coaches, and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The FARs can also serve as resources for student athletes.
Is there faculty oversight of intercollegiate athletics at the University?
Yes, through the University Senate. Two faculty committees are responsible for intercollegiate athletics:
- The Faculty Academic Oversight Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics (FAOCIA). FAOCIA has academic oversight of intercollegiate athletics.
- The Advisory Committee on Athletics (ACA). ACA is responsible for student welfare, legislation, budgets, and the facilities.
University Senate policies on intercollegiate athletics:
http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/charges/faocch.html
2008-2009 Faculty Academic Oversight Committee (FAOCIA) on Intercollegiate Athletics
Timothy Johnson, chair, CLA
Linda Brady, CFANS
Andrew Flood, Public Health
Sean Garrick, IT
Doug Hartmann, CLA
Murray Jensen, CEHD
Mark Seeley, COAFES
Richard Weinberg, CEHD
Maureen Weiss, CEHD
Ex Officio
Mark Nelson, director, MAC
J.T. Bruett, director, Athletic Compliance
Laura Coffin Koch, SVPP
2008-2009 Advisory Committee on Athletics (ACA)
Doug Hartmann, chair, CLA
Melissa Avery, Nursing
Linda Brady, CFANS
Ronald Greene, CLA
Ravi Janardan, IT
Timothy Johnson, CLA
Laurie McLaughlin, Housing and Residential Life
Richard Weinberg, CEHD
Virginia Zuiker, CEHD
Luke Silovich, student
Rick Beeson, alum
Linda Mona, alum
Patricia Roth, civil service representative
Ex Officio
Mark Nelson, director, MAC
J.T. Bruett, director, Athletic Compliance
Joel Maturi, director, Intercollegiate Athletics
Faculty Athletics Representatives
Linda Brady, CFANS: 612-624-9211
Rich Weinberg, CEHD: 612-624-3575
Contact Numbers
McNamara Academic Counseling Center: 612-625-6888
Office of Athletic Compliance: 612-626-7218
Intercollegiate Athletics: 612-624-4497
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost: 612-626-9525