Buckeye Beat – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | General
%^$The NCAA has created mandatory guidelines to ensure that student-athletes receive academic counseling and tutoring services (Bylaw 16.3.1.1). These services can be provided either through the department of athletics or through an institution’s student support services. With the recent academic scandals uncovered at other universities involving student-athletes, coaches and support staff, the student-athlete support services area is receiving heightened scrutiny. The following is a brief overview intended to increase your knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations in this area.%^$
%^$Q. Is it permissible for an institution to provide a student-athlete with the use of a computer or typewriter?
%^$A. Yes, because computers and typewriters are available to the entire student body, student-athletes may also have access to them.%^$
%^$Q. Is it permissible for an institution to provide their student-athletes with required textbooks?
%^$A. Yes, an institution is permitted to provided required textbooks to their student-athletes who receive a book scholarship. However, the Big Ten only allows the student-athlete to use the textbook during the course. The textbooks must be returned to the institution following the completion of the course.%^$
%^$Q. Is it permissible for an athletics department staff member to provide a student-athlete with career counseling?
%^$A. Yes, an institution may offer student-athletes through the institution’s academic support staff on-campus student development and career counseling.%^$
%^$Q. Is it permissible for a prospect that has signed a National Letter of Intent to utilize the services provided by academic counseling?
%^$A. Yes, a prospect who has signed a National Letter of Intent and is enrolled in the institution’s summer term prior to the student’s initial, full-time collegiate enrollment may be provided with academic support services.%^$
%^$Q. Is it permissible for the institution to purchase specific course supplies (e.g., calculator, art supplies) or to provide typing services for its student-athletes?
%^$A. No, services that may not be financed by the institution include, but are not limited to, course supplies and typing costs. Typing costs and course supplies are not considered an institutional fee under NCAA legislation, and payment would be considered an extra benefit not available to the general student body.%^$
%^$Q. Is it permissible for the institution to pay for the cost of a field trip required of students per an institutional course outline?
%^$A. Yes, it is permissible, provided the field trip is required of all students in the course and the fee for such trips is specified in the institution’s course catalog.%^$
%^$Q. Is it permissible for an institution to pay for and provide Internet access to a student-athlete during team travel?
%^$A. Yes, it is permissible for the institution to pay for a student-athlete’s Internet access charges and long distance charges incurred during official team travel that are necessary to enable the student-athlete to complete academic course work, provided the academic course work is required to be completed while the student-athlete is away from campus on official team travel or within a reasonable period of time thereafter. However, if an institution elects to provide such expenses, the institution remains responsible for ensuring that the student-athlete’s use of the Internet is not for personal reasons.%^$
%^$Please remember that the above information addresses only the main compliance issues concerning academic support services and is not an exhaustive discussion. For questions or to receive more information, please contact Heather Lyke, Associate Athletics Director for Compliance at (614) 292-2681.%^$
