NCAA LSDBi

Division II Proposal - 2025-4

ELIGIBILITY -- TRANSFER REGULATIONS -- TWO-YEAR COLLEGE TRANSFERS -- ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPETITION, PRACTICE AND ATHLETICS AID -- ALL OTHER QUALIFIERS AND PARTIAL QUALIFIERS -- ELIMINATION OF ENGLISH, MATH AND SCIENCE REQUIREMENT FOR QUALIFIERS

Convention Year: 2025

Date Submitted: January 17, 2024

Status: Adopted Final

Effective Date: August 1, 2025, for student-athletes transferring to a Division II institution on or after August 1, 2025.

Official Notice Number: 2025-4

Source: NCAA Division II Executive Board [Management Council (Academic Requirements Committee)].

Proposal Category: Presidents Council

Topical Area:

Intent: To eliminate the requirement that a qualifier, who is a two-year college transfer, must earn transferable credit hours in English, math and science.

Bylaws: Amend 14.3.4, as follows:

[Division II, Roll Call]

14.3.4.3 Eligibility for Competition, Practice and Athletics Aid -- All Other Qualifiers and Partial Qualifiers. A transfer student from a two-year college is eligible for competition, practice and athletics aid during the first academic year in residence at the certifying institution, provided:

(a) The student-athlete has completed at least two semesters or three quarters (excluding summer sessions) of enrollment as a full-time student at the two-year college;

(b) The student-athlete has satisfactorily completed an average of at least 12-semester or 12-quarter hours of transferable credit acceptable toward any baccalaureate degree program at the certifying institution for each full-time academic term of attendance at the two-year college;

(c) The student-athlete has satisfactorily completed the following transferable credit-hour requirements:

(1) Six semester or eight quarter hours of English;

(2) Three semester or four quarter hours of math; and

(3) Three semester or four quarter hours of natural or physical science;

Remedial credit hours may not be used to satisfy these requirements. A transfer student may use transferable English, math and science credits earned while enrolled full time or part time at a previous two-year or four-year institution to satisfy these requirements.

(d) The student-athlete has presented a minimum grade-point average of 2.200 earned in transferable degree credit (see Bylaw 14.3.4.5.3.2).

14.3.4.3.1 Qualifiers. A transfer student from a two-year college is eligible for competition, practice and athletics aid during the first academic year in residence at the certifying institution, provided:

(a) The student-athlete has completed at least two semesters or three quarters (excluding summer sessions) of enrollment as a full-time student at the two-year college;

(b) The student-athlete has satisfactorily completed an average of at least 12-semester or 12-quarter hours of transferable credit acceptable toward any baccalaureate degree program at the certifying institution for each full-time academic term of attendance at the two-year college; and

(c) The student-athlete has presented a minimum grade-point average of 2.200 earned in transferable degree credit (see Bylaw 14.3.4.5.3.2).

14.3.4.3.2 Partial Qualifiers. A transfer student from a two-year college is eligible for competition, practice and athletics aid during the first academic year in residence at the certifying institution, provided:

(a) The student-athlete has completed at least two semesters or three quarters (excluding summer sessions) of enrollment as a full-time student at the two-year college;

(b) The student-athlete has satisfactorily completed an average of at least 12-semester or 12-quarter hours of transferable credit acceptable toward any baccalaureate degree program at the certifying institution for each full-time academic term of attendance at the two-year college;

(c) The student-athlete has satisfactorily completed the following transferable credit-hour requirements:

(1) Six semester or eight quarter hours of English;

(2) Three semester or four quarter hours of math; and

(3) Three semester or four quarter hours of natural or physical science;

Remedial credit hours may not be used to satisfy these requirements. A transfer student may use transferable English, math and science credits earned while enrolled full time or part time at a previous two-year or four-year institution to satisfy these requirements.

(d) The student-athlete has presented a minimum grade-point average of 2.200 earned in transferable degree credit (see Bylaw 14.3.4.5.3.2).

14.3.4.3.13 Use of Physical Education Activity Courses. -- Qualifiers and Partial Qualifiers. Not more than two credit hours of physical education activity courses may be used to fulfill the transferable degree credit and grade-point average requirements. However, a student-athlete enrolling in a physical education degree program or a degree program in education at the certifying institution that requires physical education activity courses may use up to the minimum number of credits of physical education activity courses that are required for the specific degree program to fulfill the transferable degree credit and grade-point average requirements. Additional credit hours of physical education activity courses may not be used to fulfill elective requirements.

14.3.4.3.24 Application -- Qualifiers and Partial Qualifiers.

[14.3.4.3.4-(a) unchanged.]

(b) Transfer Previously Attended a Four-Year Institution as a Full-Time Student. If the two-year college transfer has previously attended a four-year institution as a full-time student during their academic career, then only the full-time semester(s)/quarter(s) and transferable degree credit(s) (including part-time hours) earned at the two-year college(s) attended after the last full-time enrollment at a four-year college shall be considered for purposes of meeting the requirements of Bylaw 14.3.4.3.1-(a), -(b) and -(dc)  and Bylaw 14.3.4.3.2 -(a), -(b) and -(d).

14.3.4.3.35 Practice and Receipt of Athletics Aid -- Qualifiers and Partial Qualifiers. A two-year college transfer who does not meet the requirements set forth in Bylaw 14.3.4.3 may practice and receive athletics aid (but may not compete) at the certifying institution during their first academic year in residence.

Rationale: Currently, two-year college transfers that do not graduate from the two-year college or who are not a final qualifier with one term of attendance at the two-year college, are required to satisfactorily complete and transfer in at least six-semester or eight-quarter hours of English, three-semester or four-quarter hours of math and three-semester or four-quarter hours of natural or physical science as part of the two-year college transfer requirements. The NCAA Division II Academic Requirements Committee believes that a two-year college transfer student who is a qualifier, has already displayed their academic readiness through completion of core courses while enrolled in high school, therefore, eliminating the requirement would simplify transfer certification for qualifiers. Qualifiers would still need to satisfy the remaining two-year college transfer requirements (e.g., an average of at least 12-semester or 12-quarter hours of transferable credit each full-time term, 2.200 transferable GPA) outlined in the two-year college transfer legislation.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Question No. 1:  What is the current legislation?

Answer: Currently, a two-year college transfer that does not graduate from the two-year college or who is not a qualifier with one term of attendance at the two-year college, must satisfactorily complete and transfer in at least six-semester or eight-quarter hours of English, three-semester or four-quarter hours of math and three-semester or four-quarter hours of natural or physical science.

Question No. 2: If adopted, how will this proposal change the current legislation?

Answer: If adopted, a two-year college transfer that is a qualifier will no longer be required to satisfactorily complete and transfer in at least six-semester or eight-quarter hours of English, three-semester or four-quarter hours of math and three-semester or four-quarter hours of natural or physical science.

Question No. 3: If adopted, will a two-year college transfer that is a qualifier still be required to meet the remaining two-year college transfer requirements [see Division II Bylaw 14.3.4.3 (eligibility for competition, practice and athletics aid -- all other qualifiers and partial qualifiers)]?

Answer: Yes. If adopted, a qualifier would still need to satisfy the remaining two-year college transfer requirements, which includes, completing at least two semesters or three quarters of full-time enrollment at the two-year college, earning an average of at least 12-semester or 12-quarter hours of transferable credit for each full-time term of attendance at the two-year college and earning a minimum 2.200 transferable grade-point average.

The following chart outlines the current rule, and the proposed legislative changes included in this proposal:

  Current Rule Proposed Rule 
All Other Qualifiers
  • Two full-time semesters/three full-time quarters.
  • 12-semester or 12-quarter hours of transferable degree credit per full-time term of attendance:
    • Six-semester/eight-quarter hours of transferable English;
    • Three-semester/four-quarter hours of transferable math; and
    • Three-semester/four-quarter hours of transferable natural or physical science.
  • Transferable GPA of 2.200.
  • Two full-time semesters/three full-time quarters.
  • 12-semester or 12-quarter hours of transferable degree credit per full-time term of attendance.
  • Transferable GPA of 2.200.
All Other Partial Qualifiers
  • Two full-time semesters/three full-time quarters.
  • 12-semester or 12-quarter hours of transferable degree credit per full-time term of attendance.
    • Six-semester/eight-quarter hours of transferable English;
    • Three-semester/four-quarter hours of transferable math; and
    • Three-semester/four-quarter hours of transferable natural or physical science.
  • Transferable GPA of 2.200.
  • No change.

Question No. 4: Will a two-year college transfer student-athlete still be required to earn nine-semester/eight-quarter hours in their last full-time term to be immediately eligible for competition?

Answer: Yes.

Co-sponsorship - Conference:
  None

Co-sponsorship - Institution:
  None

Position Statement(s):
  None

Review History:

Sep 19, 2023:
Recommends Approval - NCAA Division II Academic Requirements Committee.
Oct 17, 2023:
Approved in Concept - NCAA Division II Management Council.
Jan 11, 2024:
Approved in Concept - NCAA Division II Executive Board.
Apr 16, 2024:
Approved in Legislative Format - NCAA Division II Management Council.

Convention Vote:
  Date of Vote: January 17, 2025
    For: 286
    Against: 18
    Abstain: 1
    Not Present:

Legislative References

Division Number Title
II 14.3.4.3 Eligibility for Competition, Practice and Athletics Aid -- All Other Qualifiers and Partial Qualifiers.
II 14.3.4.3.1 Use of Physical Education Activity Courses.
II 14.3.4.3.1 Qualifiers.
II 14.3.4.3.2 Application.
II 14.3.4.3.2 Partial Qualifiers.
II 14.3.4.3.3 Practice and Receipt of Athletics Aid -- Qualifiers and Partial Qualifiers.
References