LSDBi
Division I Proposal - 2026-35
ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY -- FRESHMAN ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS -- ELIMINATE NATURAL OR PHYSICAL SCIENCE LAB REQUIREMENT
Status: Adopted Final
Intent: To eliminate the natural or physical science lab course requirement from the qualifier and academic redshirt core-course requirements.
Bylaws: Amend 14.3, as follows:
14.3 Freshman Academic Requirements.
14.3.1 Eligibility for Financial Aid, Practice and Competition -- Qualifiers and Academic Redshirts. A student-athlete who enrolls in a member institution as an entering freshman with no previous full-time college attendance shall meet the following academic requirements, as certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center, as approved by the Board of Governors, and any applicable institutional and conference regulations, to be considered a qualifier or an academic redshirt.
14.3.1.1 Qualifier. A qualifier shall be eligible for financial aid, practice and competition during the first academic year of residence. A qualifier is defined as one who is a high school graduate and who presented the following academic qualifications:
(a) A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.300 (based on a maximum 4.000) in a successfully completed core curriculum of at least 16 academic courses per Bylaw 14.3.1.3, including the following:
| English | 4 years |
| Mathematics (Three years of mathematics courses at the level of Algebra I or higher). (Computer science courses containing significant programming elements that meet graduation requirements in the area of mathematics also may be accepted.) | 3 years |
| Natural or physical science (including at least one laboratory course if offered by the high school). (Computer science courses containing significant programming elements that meet graduation requirements in the area of natural or physical science also may be accepted.) | 2 years |
| Additional courses in English, mathematics, or natural or physical science | 1 year |
| Social science | 2 years |
| Additional academic courses [in any of the above areas or world language, philosophy or nondoctrinal religion (e.g., comparative religion) courses] | 4 years |
[14.3.1.1-(b) unchanged.]
[14.3.1.1.1 unchanged.]
14.3.1.1.2 Exception -- Early Academic Certification. A student-athlete presenting a core-course grade-point average of 3.000 or higher (based on a maximum of 4.000) in a minimum of 14 core courses upon completion of six semesters (or the equivalent) shall be certified as a qualifier. The 14 core courses shall include three core courses in English, two in mathematics, two in natural or physical science (including at least one laboratory course, if offered), two additional core courses in English, mathematics, or natural or physical science and five additional core courses in any NCAA core area. The record of the courses and course grades must be certified by the Eligibility Center using either an official high school transcript forwarded directly from the high school or a high school transcript forwarded by an institution's admissions office.
[14.3.1.1.2.1 unchanged.]
[14.3.1.2 through 14.3.1.5 unchanged.]
[14.3.2 through 14.3.5 unchanged.]
Source: Division I Academics and Eligibility Committee
Effective Date:August 1, 2026
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Academic Eligibility
Rationale: Currently, the initial-eligibility certification for a prospective student-athlete must include a lab course requirement if it is offered by the prospective student-athlete's high school. The NCAA High School Review Committee reviewed initial-eligibility data related to the science lab requirement and noted the application of this requirement, which results in different certification processes solely based on what is offered by a high school. Additionally, the science lab requirement is no longer necessary, given that the existing criteria used to review science courses are sufficient for determining whether a course is college preparatory.
Division I Commitment addressed by proposal: The Commitment to Sound Academic Standards.
Is the proposal consequential or nationally significant?: Yes. Legislation governing core-course requirements is nationally significant.
Is the proposal enforceable and how do the merits outweigh monitoring burdens?: This proposal does not increase monitoring burdens.
How does the proposal support student-athlete success/well-being?: This proposal supports student-athlete well-being by making the application of natural or physical science core-course requirement consistent for all prospective student-athletes.
Estimated Budget Impact: None.
Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.
History
| Apr 15, 2026: | In Progress | Introduced by the Division I Cabinet. |
| Jun 24, 2026: | Adopted Final | Adopted by the Division I Cabinet. |
Legislative References
| Division | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| I | 14.3 | Freshman Academic Requirements. |
| I | 14.3.1 | Eligibility for Financial Aid, Practice and Competition -- Qualifiers and Academic Redshirts. |
| I | 14.3.1.1 | Qualifier. |
| I | 14.3.1.1.2 | Exception -- Early Academic Certification. |