Current Student-Athletes
As a South Carolina State University student-athlete, you must be aware of many NCAA, MEAC and institutional rules and regulations that could affect you. The purpose of this Web site is to help you better understand these rules. If you have any questions, please contact the Compliance Office.Â
Remember to Ask Before You Act!
Gambling
NCAA rules prohibit all student-athletes, coaches and staff from wagering on any intercollegiate and professional sport, at any level, that is sponsored by the NCAA, such as Collegiate and Professional Basketball. (Bylaw 10.3)
What is "wagering"?
Wagering occurs anytime you put something at risk Â(i.e. any amount of money, dinner, apparel) with the chance to win something.
This includes pools, bracket contests, or any fantasy leagues that involve an entry fee or have a prize for winning.
Student-athletes, coaches and staff are prohibited from sharing information about injuries, disciplinary actions or similar issues involving athletics teams with anyone known to be involved in gambling.
Continuing Eligibility
1. You must be a full-time student to practice and/or play. This means you must carry at least 12 hours of course work throughout the entire semester. (Correspondence courses do not count in your total hours.)Â Bylaw 14.1.6.1
2. Each semester you must earn 6 hours in order to play the next semester. Bylaw 14.4.3.1 (c) To be eligible to represent SCSU in MEAC & NCAA postseason competition, you must pass a minimum of 6 Hours in the semester immediately prior to that competition.
    a. Football: Student-athlete must complete nine-semester hours or eight-quarter hours AND earn the "E" point for Academic Progress Rate during the fall term. Failure to     do so and the student-athlete must sit out the first four contests in the following playing season. Bylaw 14.4.3.1.6
3. You must earn a minimum of 24 Hours of coursework your first academic year in order to be eligible to play the next year. Bylaw 14.4.3.1
    a. At least 18 hours must be earned each year during the Fall and Spring Semesters. Bylaw 14.4.3.1.3 (B)
    b. B) Correspondence courses will not count towards the 18 hours. Bylaw 14.4.3.4.10
4. During the first two years of enrollment, a student-athlete may use credits toward any of the institution's degree programs. Bylaw 14.4.3.1.6(A)
5. You must declare a major by the 3rd year or 5th semester of your enrollment. Bylaw 14.4.3.1.4
6. By the beginning of the 3rd year or 5th semester, all of your courses must apply to graduation in that major in order to meet the 6, 18, and 24-hour rules. Bylaw 14.4.3.1.5(B)
7. Beginning with your 5th semester of enrollment, you will be required to meet the percentage of degree and GPA requirements shown below. If you entered college after Aug. 1, 2003 then your GPA will be checked at the beginning of each term. If your GPA falls below the level required, you will be ineligible. Bylaw 14.4.3.2
| SEMESTER | PERCENTAGE REQUIRED | OVERALL
GPA REQUIRED |
| 3 | -- | 1.8 |
| 5 | 40% | 1.9 |
| 7 | 60% | 2.0 |
| 9 | 80% | 2.0 |
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8. Certain courses require a minimum grade of 'C' in order to fulfill grauate requirements. Once your major has been declared, you must earn a 'C' or better in those courses in order for them to be used for eligibility. Bylaw 14.4.3.1.5 (D)
9. If you plan to attend summer school at an institution other than SCSU, you must have prior written approval of your Department and the Office of Admissions. Bylaw 14.4.3.4.4
Extra Benefits
NCAA rules prohibit a student-athlete from receiving an "extra benefit" from an institutional employee or a representative of athletics interest (i.e. booster).
What are Extra Benefits?
An extra benefit is any special arrangement from the institution, its staff or its boosters to provide a benefit to student-athletes or their friends or family unless that benefit is (1) provided to the institution's students generally or (2) specifically permitted by NCAA rules.
Examples of Impermissible Extra Benefits:
- Gift items (i.e. cash and jewelry)
- The use of an automobile or free transportation
- Giving a loan or helping to secure a loan
- Free or reduced cost discounts on services (i.e. dry cleaning and car repair)
- Free or reduced cost discounts on purchases (i.e. drinks, meals, clothing and airline tickets)
- The use of a cell phone or phone card
- Free or reduced cost housing for student-athletes, their friends and/or family
Examples of Permissible Benefits the institution may provide:
- Athletics scholarships
- Equipment and apparel for practice and competition
- Travel expenses for competition
- Complimentary admissions to SCSU athletic events for friends and family members
- Awards for athletic participation and achievement
- Medical services
- Academic support services
- Occasional Meals and meals incidental to participation
Financial Aid
Eligibility for Institutional Financial Aid
A student-athlete must meet applicable NCAA, MEAC and SC State regulations to be eligible for institutional financial aid. If these regulations are met, the student-athlete may be awarded institutional financial aid during any term in which a student-athlete is a full-time student under the following circumstances:
- The student-athlete is an undergraduate with eligibility remaining under the five year/ten semester rule (Bylaw 14.2); or
- The student-athlete is a graduate student with eligibility remaining
Athletics Grant-in-Aid
A full grant-in-aid is financial aid that consists of tuition and fees, room and board, and required course-related books.
Increase of Institutional Financial Aid
Institutional financial aid may be increased for any reason prior to the commencement of the period of the award. Once the period of the award begins, institutional aid may only be increased if the institution can demonstrate that such an increase is unrelated to athletics.
Reduction/Cancellation of Institutional Financial Aid
If a student-athlete is receiving institutional financial aid based athletics ability, that financial aid MAY be reduced or cancelled during the period of the award (e.g., during that academic year or term) only if the student-athlete:
- renders himself or herself ineligible for intercollegiate competition; or
- fraudulently misrepresents any information on an application for admission, letter of intent or financial aid agreement; or
- engages in serious misconduct warranting substantial disciplinary penalty; or
- voluntarily quits the sport for personal reasons. In this case, the student-athlete's financial aid may not be awarded to another student-athlete during the term in which the aid was reduced or canceled.
Institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability MAY NOT be reduced, canceled or increased during the period of the award:
- based upon a student-athlete's ability, performance or contribution to a team's success; or
- because injury prevents the student-athlete from participating; or
- for any other athletics reason.
Renewal/Nonrenewal of Institutional Financial Aid
The renewal of institutional financial aid based in any degree of athletics ability shall be made on or before July 1 prior to the academic year in which it is to be effective. The institution shall notify in writing each student-athlete who received an award during the previous academic year and who has eligibility remaining in the sport in which financial aid was awarded whether the grant has been renewed or not renewed for the next academic year. Notification of financial aid renewals and nonrenewals must come from SC State’s financial aid office and not from the athletics department.
If the institution decides not to renew the aid, or is going to reduce the aid, the institution must notify the student-athlete in writing that he or she has the right to a hearing. This hearing is held before the institutional agency making the award.
Agents
An student-athlete cannot have a written or verbal agreement with an agent or anyone who will market the student-athlete's athletics ability or reputation. Also, a student-athlete may not agree, verbally or in writing, to have an agent represent them in the future.
Student-athletes and their families may not receive benefits from an agent.
Who is an agent?
An agent is anyone who markets your athletics ability or reputation. If someone performs the functions of an agent, they are considered an agent. These actions would make someone an agent:
- Negotiating with a professional team
- Contacting a professional team on your behalf
- Arranging tryouts with professional teams
- Sitting in on your negotiations with a professional team
Promotional Activities
Student-athletes may participate in limited promotional activities. However, approval by the Compliance Office is required in order to ensure that their eligibility is not jeopardized.
In order for a student-athlete to participate in any promotional activity, a Student-Athlete Appearance Form must be completed and approved by the Compliance Office prior to the activity.
SC State Athletics encourages its student-athletes to support the Orangeburg community. Activities must be and permissible under NCAA, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and SCSU rules.
The following regulations must be followed when considering a promotional activity:
- A student-athlete may not attend functions which cause them to miss practice, competition, class, study hall, summer school, or other institutional obligations.
- A student-athlete's name or image may not be used to promote the commercial sponsors or supporters of a charitable, educational or nonprofit agency.
- Student-athletes may neither endorse nor promote commercial products or retail businesses.
- Fund-raising activities associated with student-athlete appearances must directly benefit SCSU, an SC State group, or the charitable, educational or non-profit agency.
- Student-athletes may not accept benefits in excess of actual and necessary expenses to attend a promotional activity.
- Sales of items that utilize a student-athlete's name, picture or likeness are strictly prohibited.
Employment
Employment Guidelines:
DO's
- Student-athletes must have prior approval from the Compliance office before he or she begins any job.
- Student-athletes should go through the same hiring process as all other employees.
- Student-athletes should be paid for work actually performed, and the going rate in that locality for similar services.
- Student-athletes should be provided benefits, like free uniforms or meals during work hours, that are provided to all employees.
- Student-athletes should be treated the same as other employees doing similar work with regard to time off, breaks, scheduling, etc.
DON'Ts
- Student-athletes should not be paid based on the value he or she may have for their employer's business due to their athletics reputation or ability.
- Student-athletes' names or images may not be used to promote their employer's business or any commercial product or service.
- Student-athletes may not be paid for endorsing a commercial product or service or using that product or service.
- Student-athletes may not receive transportation from their employers (for work or otherwise) unless the employer provides it for all of their employees.
