NCAA Compliance
The Dowling College Guide to NCAA Rules and Regulations for Alumni, Faculty and Friends.
Introduction:
Dowling College is dedicated to the philosophy that the intercollegiate athletics program is an important part of the total educational experience. Without the loyal support of alumni, faculty, and friends, the athletics program could not be what it is today. As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Dowling College is responsible for the actions of its “Representatives of Athletic Interests.” The following is a quick reference to the NCAA rules that apply to our “Athletic Representatives.” All applicable situations are not included, SO PLEASE CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. As we strive for excellence in athletics and academics, we seek the highest standard of ethical conduct. The Dowling College Athletics Department appreciates your interest and support, but reminds you that an inappropriate or inadvertent action on your part can jeopardize the eligibility of our prospective or current student-athletes, and place Dowling College in a difficult position. As an “Athletic Representative” and a loyal supporter of Dowling College, we ask you to join us in our effort to comply with NCAA rules. With your assistance and cooperation, we believe we can accomplish these goals.
Are you a “Representative of the College’s Athletic Interests: for Dowling College?
You are considered a “Representative of the College’s Athletic Interests” (a Booster) if you: are or have been a member of any organization promoting Dowling Athletics, have ever made a donation to the Dowling College Athletics Department, men’s or women’s athletics program, or any booster organization, have ever assisted in evaluating or recruiting prospects, have ever helped to arrange or have provided employment to enrolled student-athletes, prospects, or their parents, legal guardians, and relatives or otherwise promoted Dowling College athletics programs. Once you become a “Representative of the College’s Athletics Interests,” YOU retain this status FOREVER.
Definitions You Should Know!
Who is a prospective student-athlete (PSA)?
A “prospect” is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a “prospect” if the student (including the student’s relatives and friends) receives any benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students in general. Dowling College requests that you treat ALL students as prospects.
Contact
A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or the prospect’s parent/legal guardian and a Dowling College staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. Any such face-to-face encounter that is prearranged or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect’s educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice involving the prospect or the prospect’s high school, preparatory school, two-year college or all-star team shall be considered a contact, regardless of the conversation that occurs.
Recruiting
Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect’s family by a Dowling College staff member or by a representative of the College’s athletics interests for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment at Dowling College and/or participation in its athletics program.
Student-Athlete
A student-athlete is a student whose enrollment was solicited by a member of the Dowling College athletics staff or another representative of athletics interests with a view toward the student’s ultimate participation in the intercollegiate athletics program.
What is an “extra” benefit?
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or a student-athlete’s relatives or friends a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by a student-athlete or their relatives/legal guardians or friends is NOT a violation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., foreign students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletic ability. (Bylaw 16.02.3).
Just a few of the NCAA rules governing “Representatives of the College’s Athletic Interests”
No Contact with Prospects!
Athletics Representatives of a NCAA Division II institution are prohibited from making in-person, on- or off-campus recruiting contacts, as well as written or telephone communications with a prospect or the prospect’s parents or relatives.
No Contact with Prospect’s School or Staff!
Athletics Representatives MAY NOT contact the prospect’s coach, principal, or counselor in an attempt to evaluate a prospect or visit the prospect’s institution to pick up films or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect. MAY NOT provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement. Only necessary travel expenses may be given when speaking to educational or charitable groups. All speaking engagements must be approved through the Dowling College Athletics Department. MAY NOT contact an enrolled student-athlete at another school for the purpose of transferring. MAY NOT pay or offer to pay registration fees for summer sports camps for a prospect.
How “Representatives of the College’s Athletics Interests” can offer assistance to the program!
Attendance at Prospect’s Events
Representatives MAY attend events where a prospect is present on his or her own initiative, subject to the understanding that the representative MAY not contact the prospect or the prospect’s parents/legal guardians or relatives.
Inform
The Representative MAY inform Dowling College coaches of prospects in their area and send newspaper clippings with the names of prospects & MAY offer assistance to members of the Dowling coaching staff who are recruiting in their community. Pre-Established Relationship Athletics Representatives who have pre-established relationships with prospects, their parents/legal guardians, and relatives may continue normal contacts with the understanding that such contacts are not made for recruiting purposes and are not arranged by members of the Dowling College coaching staff.
Employment for Prospects
You MAY arrange employment for prospective student-athletes. The prospect MAY NOT begin the job until after completion of the prospect’s senior year in high school and compensation must be based on work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the locality for services of like character. Note: DO NOT provide any benefits for prospective student-athletes in your employ (e.g., transportation) unless the benefits are provided for all other employees.
Summary
Please note that all NCAA recruiting rules governing the conduct of coaches, student-athletes and athletics representatives remain in effect until the prospect’s initial enrollment in college. For example, it is not permissible to make a congratulatory contact with a prospect one-week after he/she has signed a National Letter of Intent. Subsequent to enrollment, there are no CONTACT restrictions between boosters and student-athletes. Dowling’s coaches appreciate the support and encouragement provided by alumni and friends of the College’s Athletics Department. However, there are strict limitations on how that support can be utilized. If violations of any of the NCAA Bylaws occur, whether intentional or unintentional, Dowling College will be held accountable for these actions. In summary, PLEASE ASK BEFORE ACTING. The Dowling College Athletics Department would be pleased to direct your support in a constructive manner that complies with the NCAA guidelines. If you have any questions about NCAA rules concerning a prospective or currently enrolled student-athlete, please direct your inquiry to:
Jason Trufant
Associate Athletic Director for Administration
631-244-1113