[Roll Call]

15 Financial Aid

[15.01 through 15.01.5 unchanged.]

15.02 Definitions and Applications.

[15.02.1 unchanged.]

15.02.2 Athletics Aid. Athletics aid is financial aid awarded by the institution's athletics department.

[15.02.2 renumbered as 15.02.3, unchanged.]

15.02.34 Counter. A "counter" is an individual who is receiving institutional financial athletics aid based in any degree on athletics ability. Further, once a student becomes a counter, any countable aid received by that student-athlete is countable against the aid limitations in that sport. (See Bylaw 15.4.2.2.)

[15.02.4 through 15.02.6 renumbered as 15.02.5 through 15.02.7, unchanged.]

15.1 Eligibility for Financial Athletics Aid.

15.1.1 Eligibility of Student-Athletes for Institutional Financial Athletics Aid. A student-athlete must meet applicable NCAA (see Bylaw 14), conference and institutional regulations to be eligible for institutional financial athletics aid. A student-athlete may be awarded athletics aid during any term in which a student-athlete is in regular attendance (i.e., was enrolled initially in a minimum full-time program of studies as defined by the certifying institution during that term). If these regulations are met, the student-athlete may be granted athletically related financial athletics aid for a maximum of 10 semesters/15 quarters. Any institutional athletics financial aid provided after 10 semesters/15 quarters is left to the discretion of the institution consistent with institutional policies for awarding financial aid in general. A student-athlete may be awarded institutional financial aid during any term in which a student-athlete is in regular attendance (i.e., was enrolled initially in a minimum full-time program of studies as defined by the certifying institution during that term).

[15.1.1.1 unchanged.]

15.1.1.2 Withdrawal From Institution. A student-athlete who withdraws from the institution may not receive financial athletics aid during the remainder of the term.

15.1.1.3 Retroactive Financial Athletics Aid. Institutional financial Athletics aid awarded to an enrolled student-athlete after the first day of classes in any term may not exceed the remaining room and board charges and educational expenses for that term and may not be made retroactive to the beginning of that term. Payments credited to a student-athlete's account that are not refundable need not become the student's obligation.

15.1.1.4 Institutional Financial Athletics Aid to Professional Athlete. An institution may not award financial athletics aid to a student-athlete who is under contract to or currently receiving compensation from a professional sports organization in the sport in which the student-athlete will participate at the certifying institution. It is permissible to award institutional financial athletics aid to a student-athlete provided the student-athlete is not a professional in the sport in which the student-athlete will participate at the certifying institution. However, a student-athlete who currently is receiving institutional financial athletics aid and signs a contract in the same sport or receives compensation from an agent or a professional sports organization may continue to receive such aid for the remainder of the term of the award, provided the student-athlete has completed his or her four seasons of competition.

15.1.1.4.1 Exception for Former Professional Athlete. A former professional athlete may receive institutional financial athletics aid, provided the following conditions are met:

[15.1.1.4.1-(a) through 15.1.2 unchanged.]

15.2 Permissible Sources of Financial Aid.

15.2.1 Institutional Financial Aid. The following sources of financial aid are considered to be institutional financial aid:

(a) All funds administered by the institution, which include but are not limited to the following:

[15.2.1-(a)-(1) through 15.2.1-(a)-(3) unchanged.]

(4) Tuition waivers awarded based in any degree on athletics ability; and

(5) Loans that are based upon a regular repayment schedule, available to all students and administered on the same basis for all students.

[15.2.1-(b) unchanged.]

15.2.1.1 Summer and Voluntary Winter Term Financial Athletics Aid. Summer or winter term (e.g., optional J-term, miniterm, intersession, wintermester) financial athletics aid may be awarded only to attend the awarding institution’s summer term(s), summer school, summer-orientation program or winter term, in accordance with institutional policy.

15.2.1.1.1 Before Initial Full-Time Enrollment at the Certifying Institution. Summer financial athletics aid may be awarded to a student-athlete to attend an institution in the summer before the student's initial full-time enrollment at the certifying institution. A midyear enrollee may be awarded financial athletics aid to attend a voluntary winter term before the student's initial full-time enrollment at the certifying institution.

15.2.1.1.2 Summer or Voluntary Winter Term Financial Athletics Aid to Two-Year College Transfer Student. Summer or voluntary winter term financial athletics aid may only be awarded to a two-year college transfer student who has fulfilled the two-year college transfer requirement at the time of enrollment at the awarding institution for the summer or voluntary winter term(s) (see Bylaw 14.5.4).

15.2.2 Financial Aid From Outside Sources.

[15.2.2.1 through 15.2.2.3 unchanged.]

15.2.2.4 Educational Expenses -- U.S. Olympic Committee or U.S. National Governing Body. A student-athlete may receive educational expenses awarded by the U.S. Olympic Committee or a U.S. national governing body (or, for international student-athletes, expenses awarded by the equivalent organizations of a foreign country). The amount of the financial assistance shall be subject to the following limitations:

[15.2.2.4-(a) unchanged.]

(b) The recipient's choice of institutions shall not be restricted by the U.S. Olympic Committee, a U.S. national governing body (or, for international student-athletes, expenses awarded by the equivalent organization of a foreign country); and

(c) The value of the award alone or in combination with other aid per Bylaw 15.2.1 athletics aid provided by the institution shall not exceed the value of a full grant-in-aid; and.

15.2.2.4.1 Operation Gold Grant. Funds administered by the U.S. Olympic Committee pursuant to its Operation Gold Grant Program shall not be included when determining the permissible amount of a full grant-in-aid for a student-athlete.

15.2.2.5 Educational Expenses -- Professional Team or League. A former professional athlete may receive educational expenses from a professional team or league, provided the following conditions are met:

[15.2.2.5-(a) through 15.2.2.5-(c) unchanged.]

(d) Disbursement of the aid shall be through the member institution for the recipient's educational expenses while attending that institution; and

(e) The value of the award alone or in combination with other aid per Bylaw 15.2.1 athletics aid provided by the institution shall not exceed the value of a full grant-in-aid; and.

[15.2.3 unchanged.]

15.3 Maximum Limit on Financial Aid -- Individual. An institution shall not award financial aid to a student-athlete that exceeds the cost of attendance that normally is incurred by students enrolled in a comparable program at that institution or that exceeds the limitations established by the membership division of the institution the student-athlete attends, whichever is less. A student-athlete shall not be eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics, if he or she receives financial athletics aid that exceeds the value of a full grant-in-aid as defined in Bylaw 15.02.56. A student-athlete may receive institutional financial aid based on athletics ability (per Bylaw 15.2.1) athletics aid and educational expenses awarded per Bylaws 15.2.2.4 and 15.2.2.5 up to the value of a full grant-in-aid, plus any other institutional financial aid unrelated to athletics ability up to the cost of attendance. (See Bylaws 16.3, 16.4 and 16.12.)

[15.3.1 unchanged.]

15.3.32 Elements of Financial Athletics Aid.

15.3.32.1 Tuition and Fees. An institution may provide a student-athlete financial athletics aid that includes the actual cost of tuition and required institutional fees.

15.3.32.1.1 Permissible Fees. A student-athlete may be awarded financial athletics aid that covers the payment of fees for a course in which the student-athlete is enrolled, if the course is part of the institution's regular curriculum (included in the institution's catalog of classes), and the institution pays these same fees for other students enrolled in the course who receive fees as a part of a grant-in-aid or scholarship.

[15.3.3.1.2 through 15.3.3.1.3 renumbered as 15.3.2.1.2 through 15.3.2.1.3, unchanged.]

15.3.32.1.4 Fees and Related Expenses for Prospective Student-Athletes. An institution shall not waive, pay in advance or guarantee payment of the following expenses for a prospective student-athlete, unless such benefits generally conform to institutional policy as it applies to other prospective student-grantees:

15.3.32.1.4.1 Fees Rebate. If the prospective student-athlete enrolls and is awarded financial athletics aid covering institutional fees, the fees described in Bylaw 15.3.32.1.4-(a) through -(d) above may be rebated as a part of the institution's regular fees.

15.3.32.2 Room and Board. An institution may provide a student-athlete financial athletics aid that includes the cost of room based on the official allowance for room as listed in the institution's official publication (e.g., catalog) and a board allowance that consists of three meals per day, even if the institution's maximum permissible award allowance for all students represents a lesser cost figure.

[15.3.3.2.1 through 15.3.3.2.1.6 renumbered as 15.3.2.2.1 through 15.3.2.2.1.6, unchanged.]

15.3.32.2.1.7 Meals and Snacks Incidental to Participation. The cost of meals and snacks provided as benefits incidental to participation in intercollegiate athletics need not be deducted from a student-athlete's board allowance. Such meals and snacks also may be received by a student-athlete who is not receiving athletically related financial athletics aid as a benefit incidental to athletics participation [see Bylaw 16.5.1-(c)].

[15.3.3.2.2 through 15.3.3.2.6 renumbered as 15.3.2.2.2 through 15.3.2.2.6, unchanged.]

15.3.32.3 Books and Supplies. An institution may provide a student-athlete financial athletics aid that covers the actual cost of required course-related books and course-related supplies. [R]

[15.3.3.3.1 renumbered as 15.3.2.3.1, unchanged.]

15.4 Maximum Institutional Grant-In-Aid Limitations by Sport.

15.4.1 Counters. A student-athlete who is receiving institutional financial athletics aid based in any degree upon athletics ability shall be a counter and included in the maximum awards limitations set forth in this bylaw.

[15.4.1.1 through 15.4.1.1.3 unchanged.]

15.4.1.2 Athletics Aid Not Renewed, Successful Appeal. If an institution does not renew financial athletics aid for a counter in a following year, and a hearing before the institution's regular financial aid authority results in a successful appeal for restoration of aid, the student-athlete shall continue to be a counter if the individual continues to receive athletically related financial athletics aid. However, the student-athlete shall not be a counter, if he or she receives institutionally arranged or awarded, nonathletically related financial nonathletics aid available to all students, provided such financial aid was granted or arranged without regard in any degree to athletics ability.

15.4.1.3 Eligibility Exhausted. A student-athlete receiving institutional financial athletics aid after having exhausted his or her eligibility in a sport is not a counter in that sport in future academic years after completion of eligibility in the sport. For this provision to be applicable, the student-athlete is otherwise eligible for the aid and is not permitted to take part in organized, institutional practice sessions in that sport, unless the individual has eligibility remaining under the 10-semester/15-quarter rule. (See Bylaw 15.1.1.)

15.4.1.4 Athletics Aid After Student-Athlete Becomes Permanently Ineligible. A student-athlete receiving institutional financial athletics aid after becoming permanently ineligible due to a violation of NCAA regulations (e.g., amateurism legislation) may receive athletics aid during the next academic year without counting in the institution's financial aid limitations, provided the student-athlete is otherwise eligible for the aid and does not practice or compete in intercollegiate athletics at any time. If circumstances change and the student-athlete practices or competes after being certified permanently ineligible, the institution is required to count the financial athletics aid received by the student-athlete during each academic year in which the aid was received.

15.4.1.5 Summer-and Voluntary Winter Term Athletics Aid. Institutional financial Athletics aid received during a summer or voluntary winter term is not countable in these limitations and does not make a student-athlete a counter.

[15.4.1.6 unchanged.]

15.4.1.7 No Institutional Financial Athletics Aid. A student-athlete who does not receive institutional financial athletics aid (as set forth in Bylaw 15.2.1 15.02.2) shall not be a counter.

15.4.2 Equivalency Sports.

[15.4.2.1 through 15.4.2.1.4 unchanged.]

15.4.2.2 Equivalency Computations. In equivalency sports, each institutional financial aid award (per Bylaw 15.2.1) to a counter Equivalencies shall be computed as follows:

(a) Once a student becomes a For each counter, the institution shall count all institutional athletics aid (per Bylaw 15.2.1 15.02.2) received during that academic year for room, board, tuition and fees, as well as books and required course-related supplies (which shall count for calculation purposes as $800 in the denominator and, if they are provided or their cost covered by the institution, as $800 in the numerator, regardless of the actual amount received). If a student-athlete is enrolled for less than a full academic year (e.g., one semester, one or two quarters) and receives any portion of a book allowance, the institution must use the amount in the numerator that is proportionate to the number of terms of enrollment ($400 for semester systems, $534 or $267 for quarter systems). Exempted government grants and exempted institutional aid per Bylaw 15.5 specifically are excluded from this computation.

[15.4.2.2-(b) through 15.4.2.2-(c) unchanged.]

15.4.3 Multisport Participants. A counter who participates in two or more sports shall be counted in one or more sports as specified on the individual's financial athletics aid agreement.

15.4.3.1 Multisport Participant Receiving Athletically Related Institutional Aid Sport Not Specified on Athletics Aid Agreement. An institution shall divide countable athletically related athletics aid equally among all sports in which the student-athlete participates in instances when the financial athletics aid agreement does not specify how such aid should be counted toward institutional limits.

[15.4.3.3 renumbered as 15.4.3.2, unchanged.]

15.4.3.43 Requirement to Qualify as Multisport Athlete. To be considered a multisport athlete under this section, an individual must meet all of the following requirements:

[15.4.3.4-(a) through 15.4.3.4-(c) renumbered as 15.4.3.3-(a) through 15.4.3.3(c), unchanged.]

(d) If a recruited student-athlete, the individual shall have been earnestly recruited to participate in the sport in which financial athletics aid is counted (i.e., the institution recruiting the student-athlete shall have a reasonable basis to believe that the student-athlete is capable of participating in the institution's varsity intercollegiate program in that sport, including documentation of a record of previous participation in organized competition in the sport that supports the student-athlete's potential to participate in that sport in varsity intercollegiate competition).

15.65 Terms and Conditions of Awarding Institutional Financial Athletics Aid.

[15.6.1 renumbered as 15.5.1, unchanged.]

15.65.2 Terms of Institutional Financial Athletics Aid Award.

15.65.2.1 Conformance to Institutional and Conference Regulations. Financial Athletics aid awarded by an institution to a student-athlete shall conform to the rules and regulations of the awarding institution and of that institution's conference(s), if any. A violation of this bylaw that relates only to a violation of a conference rule shall be considered an institutional violation per Constitution 2.8.1; however, such a violation shall not affect the student-athlete's eligibility.

15.65.2.2 Physical Condition of Student-Athlete. Financial Athletics aid awarded to a prospective student-athlete may not be conditioned on the recipient reporting in satisfactory physical condition. If a student-athlete has been accepted for admission and awarded financial athletics aid, the institution shall be committed for the term of the original award, even if the student-athlete's physical condition prevents him or her from participating in intercollegiate athletics.

15.65.2.3 Written Statement Requirement. The institutional agency making an financial athletics aid award for a regular academic term or academic year shall give the recipient a written statement of the amount, duration, conditions and terms of the award. The chair of the regular committee or other agency for the awarding of financial aid to students generally, or the chair's official designee, shall sign or electronically authorize (e.g., electronic signature) the written statement. The signature of the athletics director, attesting to the committee's award, does not satisfy this requirement.

15.65.2.4 Hearing Opportunity. The institution's regular financial aid authority shall notify the student-athlete in writing, within 14 consecutive calendar days from the date the student-athlete has been notified of the decision to reduce or cancel athletics aid during the period of the award or the reduction or nonrenewal of athletics aid for the following academic year, of the opportunity for a hearing when institutional financial athletics aid based in any degree on athletics ability is reduced or canceled during the period of the award, or not renewed. The hearing shall be conducted by an institutional entity or committee outside of the athletics department (e.g., financial aid review committee, the office of student affairs, office of the dean of students or a committee composed of the faculty athletics representative, student-athletes and nonathletics faculty/staff members). The notification of the hearing opportunity shall include a copy of the institution's established policies and procedures for conducting the required hearing, including the deadline by which a student-athlete must request the hearing. The institution shall conduct the hearing within 30 consecutive calendar days of receiving a student-athlete's request for the hearing.

15.65.3 Period of Institutional Financial Athletics Aid Award.

15.65.3.1 One-Year Limit. When a student's athletics ability is taken into consideration in any degree in awarding financial aid, such Athletics aid shall not be awarded in excess of one academic year.

15.65.3.1.1 Financial Aid Authority Precedent. A staff member may inform a prospective student-athlete that the athletics department will recommend to the financial aid authority that the prospective student-athlete’s financial athletics aid be renewed each year for a period of four years and may indicate that the authority always has followed the athletics department’s recommendations in the past. However, the prospective student-athlete must be informed that the renewal will not be automatic.

15.65.3.1.2 Injury or Illness Policy. It is not permissible for an institution to assure the prospective student-athlete that it automatically will continue an grant-in-aid athletics aid award past the one-year period if the recipient sustains an injury that prevents him or her from competing in intercollegiate athletics, but an institutional representative may inform the prospective student-athlete of the regular institutional policy related to renewal or continuation of athletics aid past the one-year period for recipients who become ill or injured during their participation.

[15.6.3.1.3 renumbered as 15.5.3.1.3, unchanged.]

15.65.3.2 Regular Term Versus Summer and Voluntary Winter Term. An institution may award financial athletics aid to a student-athlete for an academic year or part thereof. An institution also may award financial athletics aid for a summer term or summer-orientation period or voluntary winter term, provided the conditions of Bylaw 15.2.1.1 have been met.

15.65.3.2.1 Summer and Voluntary Winter Term As Additional Award. It is necessary to make an additional award for a summer or voluntary winter term, inasmuch as a member institution is limited to the award of financial athletics aid for a period not in excess of one academic year; however, an institution is not required to provide the recipient with a written statement of the amount, duration, conditions or terms of the award.

15.65.4 Reduction and Cancellation during Period of Award.

15.65.4.1 Reduction or Cancellation Permitted. Institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability may be reduced or canceled during the period of the award, if the recipient:

[15.6.4.1-(a) through 15.6.4.1-(c) renumbered as 15.5.4.1-(a) through 15.5.4.1-(c), unchanged.]

(d) Voluntarily withdraws from a sport at any time for personal reasons; however, the recipient's financial athletics aid may not be awarded to another student-athlete in the term in which the aid was reduced or canceled. Further, if the financial athletics aid is canceled before a regular academic term (e.g., preseason practice period), the aid may not be provided to another student-athlete during the ensuing academic term.

15.65.4.1.1 Nonathletically Related Conditions. An institutional financial athletics aid agreement may include nonathletically related conditions (e.g., compliance with academic policies or standards, compliance with team rule or policies) by which the aid may be reduced or cancelled during the period of the award.

15.65.4.1.2 Fraudulent Misrepresentation. If a student-athlete is awarded institutional financial athletics aid on the basis of declaring intention to participate in a particular sport by signing a letter of intent, application or tender, action on the part of the grantee not to participate (either by not reporting for practice or after making only token appearances as determined by the institution) would constitute fraudulent misrepresentation of information on the grantee's application, letter of intent or financial athletics aid agreement and would permit the institution to cancel or reduce the financial athletics aid.

15.65.4.1.3 Misconduct. An institution may cancel or reduce the financial athletics aid of a student-athlete who is found to have engaged in misconduct by the university's regular student disciplinary authority, even if the loss-of-aid requirement does not apply to the student body in general.

15.65.4.2 Increase Permitted. Institutional financial Athletics 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 financial athletics aid may only be increased if the institution can demonstrate that such an increase is unrelated in any manner to an athletics reason (see Bylaw 15.65.4.3).

15.65.4.2.1 Initial Award of Athletically Related Institutional Financial Athletics Aid. A student-athlete who is receiving only institutional nonathletically related financial nonathletics aid may receive an initial award of athletically related institutional financial athletics aid at any point during the academic year. The initial award of athletically related financial athletics aid may not be retroactive to a previous academic year.

15.65.4.3 Increase, Reduction or Cancellation Not Permitted. Institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability Athletics aid may not be increased, decreased or canceled during the period of its award:

[15.6.4.3-(a) through 15.6.4.3.1 renumbered as 15.5.4.3-(a) through 15.5.4.3.1, unchanged.]

15.65.4.3.2 Athletically Related Condition Prohibition. An institution may not set forth an athletically related condition (e.g., financial athletics aid contingent upon specified performance or playing a specific position) that would permit the institution to reduce or cancel the student-athlete's financial athletics aid during the period of the award, if the conditions are not satisfied.

15.65.4.3.3 Decrease Not Permitted. An institution may not decrease a prospective student-athlete's financial athletics aid or a student-athlete’s financial athletics aid from the time the prospective student-athlete or student-athlete signs the financial aid award letter until the conclusion of the period set forth in the financial athletics aid agreement, except under the conditions set forth in Bylaw 15.65.4.1.

15.65.5 Renewals and Nonrenewals.

15.65.5.1 Institutional Obligation. The renewal of institutional financial athletics aid based in any degree on athletics ability shall be made on or before July 1 before the academic year in which it is to be effective. The institution shall promptly notify in writing each student-athlete who received an award the previous academic year and who has eligibility remaining in the sport in which financial aid was awarded the previous academic year (under Bylaw 14.2) whether the grant has been renewed or not renewed for the ensuing academic year. Notification of financial athletics aid renewals and nonrenewals must come from the institution's regular financial aid authority and not from the institution's athletics department.

15.65.5.2 Reconsideration of Nonrenewal. It is permissible for an institution that has notified a student-athlete that he or she will not be provided institutional financial athletics aid for the next academic year to then award financial aid to that student-athlete.

15.65.6 Changes in Participation. If a student-athlete changes sports during an academic year, the student-athlete's financial athletics aid shall be counted in the maximum limitations for the first sport for the remainder of the year. If the student-athlete continues to receive financial athletics aid, the award shall be counted the next academic year against the maximum limitations in the second sport.

[15.6.7 renumbered as 15.5.7, unchanged.]