Welcome to the Hillsdale Charger Athletics Compliance page. The compliance office strives to assist coaches and athletes in a smooth progression to practice and competition by managing the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA. The compliance office works to be available at all times in order to assure compliance, interpret questions, and educate everyone involved in or related to Hillsdale Athletics. Review additional information pertaining to your specific interests below. Direct any questions or concerns to the compliance office.

Anika Fassett
Athletics Compliance Manager

Prospective Student-Athletes
In this section, review information about Hillsdale College and the areas of emphasis for prospective student-athletes during the recruiting and initial eligibility window. Learn more about the Hillsdale College admission process and the academic rigor here or learn some Hillsdale fast facts.

Prospective student-athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center in order to receive academic and amateur eligibility certification by the NCAA. Once registered, prospects are identified by their NCAA ID number. Provide this ID to your Hillsdale Coach as well. Follow the link to identify the academic criteria and process for initial eligibility through the NCAA.

Hillsdale College is a member of the National Letter of Intent (NLI) program. Prospective student-athletes that are offered athletically-related financial aid are able to sign a National Letter of Intent. The NLI will bind the prospect to attend Hillsdale College for two semesters. An NLI binds Hillsdale College to once academic year of athletically related financial aid. After an NLI is signed, a prospect may incur a penalty if an NLI is unfulfilled. Follow the link below to learn more about the National Letter of Intent and its process.

Current Student-Athletes
Here at Hillsdale College, we have high expectations for our student-athletes as it relates to academic and amateur eligibility. Review information below on the credentials to be maintained to be eligible for athletic competition.

Amateurism:
To be eligible for practice, competition, and financial aid, student-athletes must not jeopardize their amateur status by engaging in the following activities:

1. Making contractual agreements, written or verbal, with any agent or receiving benefits from an agent. An agent is anyone who markets your athletics ability or reputation.
2. Receiving pay, promise to pay, or cash based on competition or athletics ability.

Name, Image, and Likeness:
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is a 3^rd party relationship where a student-athlete can be compensated for use of their name, image, or likeness. It is not compensation for athletic ability. At Hillsdale College, we require that all NIL deals must comply with our honor code and mission.
 
Gambling/Sports Betting:
NCAA Bylaw 10.3 prohibits student-athletes from engaging in any form of gambling related to any intercollegiate, amateur, or professional athletics competition. Student-athletes must sign the NCAA Student-Athlete Statement agreeing to meet this regulation.

Extra Benefits:
Extra benefits are special arrangements from the institution, its staff, or its boosters to provide a benefit to student-athletes, their friends, or their family. In general, an extra benefit would be defined as something that is not made available to all students on campus regardless of athletic participation. The area of extra benefits is very complex and we do not want our student-athletes to inadvertently accept items that may jeopardize their eligibility. Student-athletes are highly encouraged to talk to the compliance office before accepting a benefit, especially if they have any question about whether or not it is permissible.

Individual Summer Competition:
Regulation regarding individual summer activities has been granted some flexibility, and provides opportunity for student-athletes to compete without affecting future eligibility and amateur status. When receiving funds in line with this legislation, student-athletes must provide documentation to Hillsdale College Compliance office. It is recommended that communication with the Compliance office happens before receiving money related to any participation.
When competing with an OUTSIDE AMATEUR TEAM, student-athletes are eligible to receive money for expenses to participate or awards based on performance with that team.

• Money may be received to cover actual & necessary expenses for competition and practice in preparation for competition.
• Funds may be received from the outside amateur sports organization or an outside sponsor such as neighbor, friend, local business; Funds may not be received from an agent, athletic booster, or professional sports organization.

Awards: Student-athletes may receive awards for summer competition, summer tournaments or the like, provided:

• The award meets the standard of the organization running the competition.
• The award is not cash.

Documentation submitted to Compliance office must include proof of money received and receipts (or copy of) from actual and necessary expenses.
***Individual Sport Exception (Track &Field/Cross Country; Golf; Tennis; Swimming) – Bylaw 12.1.3(c):
A student-athlete may receive prize money based on finish or performance at an open athletics event.

• In order to receive prize money, the following must be true:
  • Competition must take place after institution’s season
  • Competition must take place during institution’s summer vacation
  • Prize money received cannot exceed actual and necessary expense

Continuing Eligibility – Progress-Toward-Degree (PTD) Requirements – In order to remain eligible, student-athletes must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Full-time enrollment (12 credit hours each semester)
2. Cumulative 2.0 GPA prior to each fall semester
3. Good academic standing (able to enroll in classes)
4. Earn 9 hours in the previous semester
5. Earn 18 hours in the last two semesters
6. Earn 24 hours in the last full year (including summer session)
7. Declare a major no later than the beginning of the 5^th semester or 3^rd year of enrollment

Practice and Playing Season Regulations:

Countable Athletically Related Activities (CARA) – required activities with an athletics purpose involving student-athletes and a member of the coaching staff. Regulation is modified by each sports’ in-season and off-season schedules.

In-Season Championship Regulation

• 4 hours per day; 20 hours per week; 1 day off per week
• Competitions are 3 hours of CARA
• Hourly and weekly limitations are not in effect during break periods when class is not in session

In-Season Nonchampionship Regulation

• 4 hours per day; 15 hours per week; 2 days off per week
• 45-day or 60-day window of participation, depending on the sport

Out-of-Season Regulation

• 4 hours per day; 8 hours per week; 2 day off per week
• No more than 4 hours may be used for individual skill instruction and team activities
• No required activity during break periods

Representatives of Athletics Interests

The NCAA defines a representative of athletics interests as someone who is a member of an organization that promotes the athletics program, made a financial contribution to the athletic department or its RAI organizations, assisted in recruiting prospects for the athletic department, provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes, or promoted the athletics program in any way.
If you are a Representative of Athletics Interest, please continue to read and remember, once you are identified as a booster, you retain that identity forever. Boosters are bound by NCAA and Hillsdale College rules. As a result, boosters are responsible for notifying the compliance office of any potential rules violations. Even if a violation is unintentional, the eligibility of a prospective student-athlete (recruit) or an enrolled student-athlete could be placed in jeopardy.
 
Prospective Student-Athletes:

Permissible Activities:

• Forward information about prospects to the coaching staff
• Attend prospect’s competition on own initiative
• Receive a call from a prospect that is initiated by the prospect; not related to recruitment
• Have a pre-existing relationship with a family friend or neighbor who is a prospect

Impermissible Activities:

• Providing benefits of any kind – gift, cash, entertainment, reduced or free services or housing
• Recruiting contact with prospects or parents

 

Permissible Activities:

• Employment after high school graduation; compensation may not be provided based on athletic ability, compensation must be for work performed at commensurate rate in the locale of the job.
• Provide a meal on an occasional basis – please communicate this with the compliance office
• Communicate with current student-athletes

Impermissible Activities:

• Provide extra benefits – cash, free or reduced services or housing