NCAA Eligibility Meeting

1. NCAA Eligibility Meeting

2. When Should Students Register? Students may register at any time, but we recommend that they register during their junior year. The Eligibility Center will evaluate a student’s academic credentials once the following information has been received, and the student has had their status requested by an NCAA member institution: Completed online registration; Fee payment; SAT or ACT test score on file from the respective testing agency; Transcript(s) from all schools or program attended.

3. How Should the Eligibility Process Work? • Grades 9 and 10 • Student takes academic college-preparatory courses, preferably one in each of the following areas: English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language. The student should compare course selection against the list of NCAA- approved core courses.

4. Grade 11 Student continues to take college preparatory courses in the areas listed above. Student register for the SAT and/or ACT, making sure to use code 9999 at the time of registration. Using code 9999 will ensure the score is reported directly to the Eligibility Center. Student registers with the NCAA Eligibility Center and completes both the academic information and the amateurism questionnaire. At the end of the students sixth semester, the student requests a transcript (or transcripts, if more than one high school) to the Eligibility Center. Via www.gacollege411.com

5. Grade 12 • Student continues to take college preparatory courses in English, math, science, social studies and foreign language. • Student registers for additional ACT/SAT tests if necessary, making sure to use code 9999 at the time of registration. • On or after April 1 of the senior year, the student goes back into the Eligibility Center account to update their academic and amateurism information and request final amateurism certification. • After graduation, the student-athlete requests final transcript (which needs to include evidence and the date that the student graduated) through www.gacollege411.com to the Eligibility Center.

7. What are the Academic Initial-Eligibility Requirements? • All SAT and ACT scores must be reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center by the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used. When registering for the SAT or ACT, use the Eligibility Center code of 9999 to make sure the score is reported to the Eligibility Center. • The following requirements must be met in order for a student to be able to practice, play and receive a scholarship at an NCAA Division I or II college or university…

8. Division I: Graduate from high school; Complete a minimum of 16 core courses; Present the required grade-point average (GPA) (see the sliding scale in the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete for Division I); Present a qualifying test score on either the ACT or SAT (see the sliding scale in the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete); and Complete the amateurism questionnaire and request final amateurism certification. Division II: Graduate from high school; Complete a minimum of 14 core courses (Note: increase to 16 core courses for class of 2013 and beyond); Present a minimum 2.000 core-course grade—point average (GPA); Present a minimum 820 SAT score (critical reading and math only) or 68 sum ACT score qualifying test score on either the ACT or SAT; and Complete the amateurism questionnaire and request final amateurism certification. What are the Academic Initial-Eligibility Requirements?

9. Division I 16 Core-Course Rule 16 Core Courses: 4 years of English. 3 years of mathematics (Algebra 1 or higher). 2 years of natural/physical science 1 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science. 2 years of social science. 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy). Division II 14 Core-Course Rule 14 Core Courses: 3 years of English. 2 years of mathematics (Algebra 1 or higher). 2 years of natural/physical science 2 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science. 2 years of social science. 3 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy). PLEASE NOTE: Beginning August 1, 2013, students planning to attend an NCAA Division II institution will be required to complete 16 core courses.

10. Non-traditional Courses Length, content & rigor Course Design & Implementation

12. Calculating the GPA The Initial Eligibility Center, and most colleges/universities, uses a 4.0 scale for the GPA. To calculate the GPA, simply add the number of the quality points by the number of credits earned.

13. Calculating GPA, cont. Classes worth 1 credit: A= 4 quality points B= 3 quality points C= 2 quality points Classes worth ½ credit: A= 2 quality points B= 1.5 quality points C= 1 quality points

14. IMPORTANT NOTE!!!! The previous requirements are MINIMUM requirements set forth by the Eligibility Center!! NCAA member institutions may have stricter guidelines for acceptance! Just because a high school student-athlete is deemed “eligible” by the Eligibility Center does not mean a particular member institution will deem the student-athlete eligible for admissions.

15. A prospective student-athlete must register with the Eligibility Center. Fee waivers are available, but only if the student-athlete received a fee waiver for the ACT or SAT. Other information can be found on the NCAA’s website: www.ncaa.org. If you want to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, you must do so on its new website www.eligibilitycenter.org.

16. NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE (INITIAL ELIGIBLITY CENTER) The NCAA Clearinghouse, now referred to as the Initial Eligibility Center, is the agency that NCAA member institutions (Division I and Division II) use in order to determine initial eligibility of student-athletes. Division III does not use the Initial Eligibility Center. Division III athletes must simply meet the individual institution’s requirements. Student-athletes MUST be registered with, and declared “eligible” by, the Initial Eligibility Center before he/she can accept any type of grant-in-aid for athletic purposes.

17. NCAA INITIAL ELIGIBLITY CENTER Student-athletes who intend to “walk-on” at any NCAA Division I or Division II institution must also be declared “eligible” by the Eligibility Center.

18. Important Websites Updated information is located at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net and www.ncaa.org Student-athletes should register at www.eligibilitycenter.org

19. ACT and SAT Either test can be taken and used for initial eligibility. Each NCAA member institution, however, determines which test is accepted by the individual institution (some institutions will accept the ACT while others will only accept the SAT). So, unless you know which test is accepted, it is best to take both tests.

20. ACT and SAT Cont. The Eligibility Center will also use the best scores from the SAT subscore (math, verbal/critical reading), if the SAT is taken more than once. The key for each test, ACT and SAT, is to take each test as many times as possible. A student-athlete does not have to be registered with the Eligibility Center in order to have test scores accepted by the Eligibility Center. For example, a high school sophomore can take the ACT and have the scores sent to the Eligibility Center.

21. When to Register • High school student-athletes should register at the conclusion of their junior year. Registration is completed online. • The student-athlete must request a transcript through www.gacollege411.org to be sent to the NCAA. (An official transcript has to be sent to the Initial Eligibility Center following the junior and senior years of high school). • For students who have transferred high schools, an official transcript from each high school must be sent to the eligibility center.

22. Approved Core Course List All high schools are responsible for submitting courses to be added to the approved core course list for the individual high school. To view the approved core course list for your school, go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net and click on “general information;” another page will appear. Click on “List of Approved Core Courses”. View the list of approved core courses. (111115 for SPHS).

23. Web-based Recruiting Services BE CAUTIOUS!!! Web-based recruiting services can charge between $40 to $2,000+ to “connect your student” with a college coaching staff. Many smaller colleges have started using recruiting services, and some larger colleges are also using these services. Still, there are some recruiting services that are just trying to make money and are not really trying to help high school students-athletes.

24. If you want to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, you must do so on its new websitewww.eligibilitycenter.org.

25. Please call the NCAA Eligibility Center if you have questions: Toll-free number: 877/262-1492.