Fredonia University

 
Student-athlete academic and athletic eligibility requirements are outlined in Bylaw 14 of the NCAA Manual.
 
Academic Eligibility
 
To represent Fredonia State Athletics in intercollegiate athletic competitions, student-athletes must meet all academic requirements and standards set forth by Fredonia State and the academic authorities who determine the meaning of such phrases for all students along with criteria established by the NCAA Division III.
 
Academic eligibility is determined at the end of each academic year, once grades are certified by the Registrar’s Office.

1. Full-time Status
   1. At the time of competition, a student-athlete must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester.  Should a student-athlete fall below the standards of full-time status, they will become immediately ineligible for practice and competition.
      1. A waiver of the minimum full-time enrollment requirement may be granted for a student enrolled in the final term of their baccalaureate program.
   2. A student-athlete who is considering dropping or withdrawing from a class must notify their coach and the person in charge of compliance BEFORE any changes take place.
2. Good Academic Standing
   1. Based on overall (cumulative) grade point average (GPA).
   2. A student-athlete may be placed on academic probation from Fredonia State if the semester or cumulative GPA is below a 2.0.
      1. It is possible for a student-athlete to be on academic probation and still be in good academic standing within athletics.
   3. All students on academic probation will be reviewed at the end of each semester by the coach, Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), and athletic administrators.

A student-athlete must be full-time and must maintain both good academic standing and satisfactory progress toward a degree.

Academic eligibility is determined at the end of each academic year.

1. At the end of the athletic first year, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 1.65 or higher in order to maintain eligibility.
2. At the end of the athletic sophomore year, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 1.85 or higher in order to maintain eligibility.
3. At the end of the athletic junior year, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher in order to maintain eligibility.

All grades will be reviewed at the end of each semester, and those in jeopardy of academic ineligibility will have a meeting with their coach to determine the best course of action for moving forward.

Student-athletes who are ineligible due to GPA will have limited access to team-related activities and functions.  These restrictions will be discussed with the athletic administrators, head coach, and any individual student-athlete it pertains to.  The athletic administrators reserve the right to review any student-athlete’s eligibility at any time.

Coaches within the Fredonia State Department of Athletics & Recreation have the authority to establish academic eligibility requirements above the minimum departmental standards. These requirements must be presented to all team members at the start of the season.

Athletic Eligibility

Seasons of eligibility:  A student-athlete shall not engage in more than four seasons of intercollegiate participation in any one sport, and must complete those four seasons during the first 10 semesters in which the student-athlete is enrolled in a collegiate institution at full-time status.

According to NCAA rules, a student-athlete has used a season of eligibility if they:

• Competes while representing the institution in any contest against outside competition including scrimmages, exhibitions, or joint practice sessions with another institution’s team.
• Competes in a Fredonia State athletic uniform or, during the academic year, uses any apparel currently in use by Fredonia State or equipment received from Fredonia State that includes Fredonia State Athletics’ name or logo.
• Competes or received expenses from the institution for a competition.
• Practices in a sport after the first official regular season contest.

There are specific COVID-related exceptions pertaining to athletic eligibility.  For clarification, please contact the person in charge of compliance.
 
Transfer Information
 
All student-athletes seeking a transfer from Fredonia State can issue a self-release in order to speak with a coach at a NCAA Division III institution for 30 days.  During those 30 days, the new Division III institution may contact you, or you may contact the new institution.  Self-releases are only good for NCAA Division III institutions.  A link to this form can be found on our website.
 
If you decide not to pursue the transfer, the new college or university may not notify your current institution of the contact at any time.  If you are undecided at the end of the 30-day period, you must send a new copy of this form to have additional contact with the college or university.  Further, because this second release is beyond the first 30-day period, the new college or university must notify your current institution within seven days of receiving a second form that a second release has been issued.
 
If you are a student-athlete considering a transfer to a Division I or Division II institution, it is REQUIRED that you speak with the person in charge of compliance at Fredonia State to learn of the rules and regulations concerning transfer status.  All communication between the student-athlete and any institution is prohibited until the self-release form has been completed and received by the new institution, or you have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.  Please contact the person in charge of compliance to assist in entering the portal.
 
If you have transferred to Fredonia State, you are immediately eligible upon enrollment at Fredonia State, as long as you would have been academically and athletically eligible to participate had you remained at your previous four-year institution or successfully completed 24 credit hours and 2 semesters at a junior college.  If you are not eligible at the previous institution, you must complete a year of residency at Fredonia State prior to becoming eligible to compete.  You may not transfer out of trouble.  This information is tracked and confirmed through a Transfer Tracker between schools, or via the NCAA Transfer Portal.


[BACK TO COMPLIANCE MAIN PAGE]