LSDBi
Division I Proposal - 2010-64
FINANCIAL AID -- DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATIONS -- EXEMPTED INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL AID -- STATE MERIT-BASED FINANCIAL AID
Status: Adopted Final
Intent: To specify that state government merit-based grants are considered exempted institutional financial aid and are not counted in determining the institution's financial aid limitations, regardless of whether the institution is responsible for selecting the recipient or determining the amount of aid, or providing matching or supplementary funds for a previously-determined recipient, provided the aid is awarded consistent with the criteria of the legislative requirements of an academic honor award or institutional academic scholarship and has no relationship to athletics ability; however, such aid is not exempt in determining a student-athlete's counter status for purposes of applying the football or basketball, varsity competition legislation.
Bylaws: Amend 15.02.4.3, as follows:
15.02.4.3 Exempted Institutional Financial Aid. The following institutional financial aid is exempt and is not counted in determining the institution's financial aid limitations:
(a) An honorary award for outstanding academic achievement or an established institutional research grant that meets the criteria set forth in Bylaw 15.02.6 (and must be included in determining if the student-athlete's cost of attendance has been met); and
(b) A postgraduate scholarship awarded by an institution in accordance with Bylaw 16.1.4.1.1.; and
(c) State government merit-based grants, regardless of whether the institution is responsible for selecting the recipient or determining the amount of aid, or providing matching or supplementary funds for a previously-determined recipient, provided the aid is awarded consistent with the criteria of Bylaws 15.5.3.2.2.1, 15.5.3.2.2.2 or 15.5.3.2.2.3 and has no relationship to athletics ability. However, such aid is not exempt for purposes of determining a football or basketball student-athlete's counter status pursuant to Bylaw 15.5.1.2.
Source: NCAA Division I Awards, Benefits, Expenses and Financial Aid Cabinet
Effective Date:August 1, 2011
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Financial Aid
Rationale: Currently, if a student-athlete who is a counter also receives a merit-based state scholarship that is administered by the institution, the scholarship must count against the team limit, regardless of the awarding criteria. This proposal would allow such aid to be exempted from counting against team limits if the awarding criteria satisfy the legislative requirements for an academic honor award or institutional academic scholarship and have no relationship to athletics ability. The aid would continue to count against the individual limit. This proposal does not change the current application for determining a football or basketball student-athlete's counter status pursuant to the football or basketball, varsity competition legislation. This change would have a positive impact on student-athlete well-being by permitting additional sources of aid to be exempt from team financial aid limits and eliminating situations in which student-athletes are required to choose between accepting athletics aid or state merit-based aid. Finally, permitting an institution to exempt an award that is provided in a manner consistent with institutional policies does not create additional NCAA rules bureaucracy for financial aid offices, but rather ensures some safeguards are in place to minimize the potential for abuse.
Estimated Budget Impact: None.
Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.
History
| Jun 1, 2010: | Submit; Submitted for consideration. |
| Jun 2, 2010: | Awards, Benefits, Expenses and Financial Aid Cabinet, Sponsored |
| Jan 13, 2011: | Leg Council Init Review, Adopted; Pending Possible Board of Directors Review |
| Jan 15, 2011: | Adopted, Override Period; No Action Taken by the Board of Directors |
| Jan 16, 2011: | Adopted, Override Period; Start of Override Period |
| Mar 16, 2011: | Adopted, Override Period; End of Override Period (Number of Override Requests = 1) |
| Mar 16, 2011: | Adopted; Adopted - Final |
Legislative References
| Division | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| I | 15.02.4.4 | Exempted Institutional Financial Aid. |