Student Handbook NCAA Eligibility and Participation

The NCAA Division I Cabinet approved a new five-year, age-based eligibility model. Under the new model, student-athletes in all sports will be given five years of eligibility to compete in intercollegiate athletics. The five-year period begins upon either:

1. The student-athlete's initial, full-time enrollment at any collegiate institution; or
2. The start of the regular academic year immediately following the student-athlete's 19th birthday.

For an individual who turns 19 years old on or after September 1, the period of eligibility begins at the start of the subsequent academic year, unless the individual enrolls full time in a collegiate institution earlier. For example, if an individual turns 19 on September 15, 2026, their period of eligibility will not begin until the 2027-2028 academic year, unless they enroll full time in a collegiate institution before that point.

With the removal of seasons of competition, student-athletes will no longer be able to request medical hardships or extension of eligibility waivers. The only exceptions to extend the five-year eligibility clock are pregnancy, active-duty military service, or a religious mission.

For student-athletes that have previously had medical hardships or eligibility waivers approved, the Compliance office will determine the most beneficial eligibility model on a case-by-case basis. Please see Compliance with any additional questions.

At the start of each semester, student-athletes must be certified as eligible for intercollegiate athletic practice and competition based on each student-athlete’s NCAA degree progress and academic standing.

Incoming freshmen have their academic eligibility and athletic eligibility certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Student-athletes may practice, but not compete, for a maximum of 45 days while their certification is still in progress. After that 45-day period, they must be withheld from both practice and competition until final NCAA academic eligibility and athletic eligibility certification are granted.

To participate in intercollegiate athletics, a student-athlete must be enrolled full-time. Full-time is defined as a minimum of twelve (12) hours for an undergraduate student and a minimum of nine (9) hours for a graduate student.

If at any time your enrollment drops below full-time status, you are immediately ineligible to practice or compete.

In the final semester of a baccalaureate or graduate program, a student-athlete may still be eligible if enrolled less than full-time, provided the certifying officer has confirmed student-athlete is enrolled in all coursework necessary to complete degree requirements and student-athlete has applied for graduation.

Correspondence course credit may be used in determining a student-athlete’s academic standing or satisfactory progress. However, correspondence or transient courses may not be used to satisfy the full-time enrollment requirement. For example: you may NOT be enrolled in 9 hours at UNF and 3 hours at FSCJ and be considered full-time.

All student-athletes (including transfers) must successfully complete 6 semester hours in the previous regular academic term of full-time enrollment to be eligible to participate in the next regular academic term. Courses for which a grade of “C” or higher is required as part of a major may not count toward maintaining satisfactory progress until the necessary grade is achieved. Courses for which an “incomplete” was assigned may not count until completed and the time limit for removing the “I” is set by the instructor of the course. This time limit may not exceed one calendar year or graduation, whichever comes first.

Freshmen

1st semester: must be cleared by NCAA Eligibility Center and UNF Admissions

2nd semester: must have passed at least 6 credit hours in the previous semester

Must have passed 18 credit hours between fall & spring and 24 credit hours total going into third semester

Sophomores (entering 3rd semester)

Must have passed at least 6 credit hours in the previous term

Must have earned at least 18 credit hours across the previous 2 terms (excluding summer)

Must have earned at least 24 credit hours overall (with a minimum UNF GPA of 1.8). The 24 credit hours requirement may include summer, AP and Dual Enrollment credit earned prior to initial full-time enrollment.

Entering 4th semester: must have passed at least 6 credit hours in the previous term and maintained a 1.8 UNF GPA

Juniors (entering 5th semester) - MUST DECLARE MAJOR

Must have passed at least 6 credit hours in the previous term

Must have earned at least 18 credit hours across the previous 2 terms (excluding summer)

Must have earned at least 40% of designated degree program with minimum UNF GPA of 1.9

Entering 6th semester: must have passed at least 6 degree-applicable credit hours in the previous term and maintained a 1.9 UNF GPA

Seniors (entering 7th semester)

Must have passed at least 6 degree-applicable credit hours during the previous term

Must have earned at least 18 credit hours across the previous 2 terms (excluding summer)

Must have earned at least 60% of designated degree with minimum UNF GPA of 2.0

Entering 8th semester: must have passed at least 6 degree-applicable credit hours in the previous term and maintained a 2.0 UNF GPA

5th Year Seniors (entering 9th semester)

Must have passed at least 6 degree-applicable credit hours in the previous term

Must have earned at least 18 credit hours across the previous 2 terms (excluding summer)

Must have earned at least 80% of designated degree with minimum UNF GPA of 2.0

Entering 10th semester: must have passed at least 6 degree-applicable credit hours during the previous term and maintained a 2.0 UNF GPA

Post-Baccalaureate Students

Must be enrolled full-time (12 credit hours)

Must successfully pass 6 credit hours each term that meets the postgraduate program requirements.

Graduate Students

Must be enrolled full-time (9 credit hours)

Must successfully pass at least 6 credit hours each term that meet graduate program requirements.

Once a student-athlete enters his/her 5th semester, all hours used to meet progress-to-degree requirements must be applicable toward student’s designated degree program as determined at the start of the semester.

All student-athletes (including transfers) must meet minimum GPA requirements on a term-by-term basis. This requirement is based on institutional GPA only.

A student-athlete is responsible for earning 18 credit hours in any academic year in which he/she was full-time during one or more terms. Credit hours earned while enrolled part-time may be used to fulfill this requirement.

Exception: A student-athlete who enrolls in his/her first full-time term of collegiate enrollment following the fall term (mid-year enrollee) will NOT be responsible for earning 18 credit hours until he or she has spent a full academic year at the institution.

Summer credit hours may be used to satisfy the 24-hour requirement for athletes entering their second year of collegiate enrollment. Summer hours may also be used to meet the 40/60/80 percentage-of-degree requirements; however, they MAY NOT be used to satisfy the 6-hour or 18-hour requirements.

A baseball student-athlete’s failure to meet progress-toward-degree/eligibility requirements for an institution’s fall term will render him ineligible for the entire academic year.

To be eligible for post-season competition that occurs during a vacation period, student-athletes must pass a minimum of 6 hours the previous term. For example: a spring sport student-athlete whose conference tournament championship occurs after the end of the spring semester.

A student-athlete is not required to be enrolled full-time (12 hours) in the penultimate (next-to-last) term before enrolling in final term if taking all courses necessary to complete degree requirements.

Per Bylaw 14.2.1.4, penultimate term must be before an experiential learning requirement (i.e., internship, student teaching, etc.), which must be full-time (12 credits) in the final semester.

A student-athlete is not required to be enrolled full-time (12 hours) in their final semester, if they have applied for graduation, and is enrolled in all courses necessary to complete their degree requirements. A student may NOT use this exception if they have already used the penultimate term exception.

Academic standing is based on the student-athlete’s UNF GPA prior to the start of the next semester for which eligibility is sought. If a student-athlete is suspended from the university at the conclusion of the fall or spring semester, he/she is immediately ineligible for practice or competition, including between semesters and post-season.

Athletics Eligibilty

1. The state of Florida law permits intercollegiate student-athletes to earn compensation based on your name, image and likeness (NIL) at fair market value.
2. Earning such compensation will not affect your grant-in-aid or athletics eligibility.
3. Compensation may not be provided in exchange for athletic performance or attendance at the University of North Florida.
4. Compensation can come in the form of money, goods and/or services.
5. Student-athletes may be represented by an agent or attorney for NIL activities, but may not be represented for professional athletics opportunities. The agent must be registered with and hold a valid license as an athlete agent with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. It is best practice to make sure any attorney you are working with is in good standing with the Florida Bar Association.
6. Student-athletes are obligated to disclose any NIL agreements as instructed by the Compliance Office.
7. Student-athletes may NOT use UNF logos, marks or uniforms, unless prior written permission has been received through the NIL Logo Request workflow, located in the Compliance software.
8. You may not miss class time or team activities for NIL opportunities or obligations.
9. It is expected that student-athletes are engaging in NIL activities and/or entering into agreements with companies/vendors that align with UNF values (NIL agreements are not permitted with gambling/sports wagering, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, controlled substances, CBD, adult entertainment, or vendors associated with NCAA banned substances).
10. The use of athletic department facilities will require approval in advance through the NIL Facility Request workflow in the Compliance software. Location agreements (including waiver of liability forms and applicable rental fees) will be coordinated with the Facilities and Operations Department.
11. International student-athletes who are attending UNF on an F-1 visa should seek guidance and approval BEFORE engaging in any NIL activity. Violations of F-1 visa regulations due to unauthorized employment could result in the termination of the F-1 visa status.
12. The Student-Athlete Center for Excellence will provide education opportunities on topics such as financial literacy, financial aid, budget and debt management, brand development, time management skills, and entrepreneurship.
13. Please Note: NIL activities may have personal tax implications. These obligations are dependent upon individual circumstances and may require consultation with a tax professional.

Agents must register with the State of Florida and the UNF Compliance Office before corresponding with any student-athlete. Please refer any agent contacting you to the Compliance Office immediately.

NOTE: Each sport has different athletics eligibility requirements. Therefore, questions regarding amateurism should be directed to your respective head coach and the Compliance Office.

(Bylaw 12.4)

Domestic student-athletes may be employed at any time in legitimate on-campus and off-campus employment. All employed student-athletes are required to submit a Student-Athlete Employment Form through ARMS. Compensation for employment must be paid to the student-athlete:

1. Only for work actually performed; and
2. At a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.

The following policy pertains to student-athletes pursuing employment while enrolled at the University of North Florida:

1. Employment opportunities should be reviewed by the Head Coach and the student-athlete prior to acceptance.
2. All student-athletes must complete and submit the Student-Athlete Employment Form through ARMS.
3. The Compliance Office may conduct random audits to verify compensation is for work actually performed and is commensurate with the going rate. This verification may consist of a phone call to the employer or requesting a copy of a pay stub.

An extra benefit is any special arrangement by a UNF employee, athletics representatives or institutional staff members to provide a student-athlete or their family member or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by the NCAA.

Below are some examples of impermissible extra benefits:

1. Use of an automobile or any other access to transportation which is not paid for by the student-athlete or his/her relatives.
2. Transportation to work or to a summer job.
3. Gifts of money, airfare/tickets/coupons, clothing, sports equipment, free meals, personal items, furniture, appliances, etc.
4. Loans for any purpose (automobile, bills, food, etc. ).
5. Use of a telephone or credit card for making long-distance calls.
6. “Special” purchase arrangements, advance credit, deferred payment plans, or discounts of any kind.
7. Free admission or special discounts not available to all students to special events (concerts, professional athletic events, movies, etc.)
8. Free services such as dry cleaning, laundry, typing, etc.
9. Use of personal items such as boats, jet skis, video games, etc.
10. Free housing, special housing/living arrangements, or storage space.
11. Accepting ANYTHING of value.

Please ask the Compliance Office if you have any questions regarding extra benefits.

COUNTABLE ATHLETICALLY RELATED ACTIVITIES (CARA)

NCAA sets the daily and weekly hour limitations of CARA. A student-athlete’s participation in countable athletically related activities (required practice, film review, weight training, team meetings, and competition) shall be limited to:

IN-SEASON (CHAMPIONSHIP SEGMENT AND NON-CHAMPIONSHIP SEGMENT):

• A maximum of four (4) hours per day and twenty (20) hours per week.
• Any athletically related activities on a competition day will count as a total of three (3) hours regardless of the actual duration. No CARA is permitted after the conclusion of a competition.
• Student-athletes must have one (1) day off per week during the playing season.

OUT-OF-SEASON:

• A maximum of eight (8) hours per week.
• During the 8 hours, a maximum of four (4) hours of skill-related workouts for all teams not in their playing season.
• Must have two (2) days off per week.

For teams that are out of season, all CARA is prohibited one week prior to the beginning of the final examination period through the conclusion of the student-athlete’s final exams.

At the conclusion of the championship segment, a mandatory 7-day off period is required. During this time, a coach may conduct one team meeting and one individual meeting with each student-athlete, but no other CARA activities are allowed.

For teams that are not in 20-hour weeks, no CARA is allowed during University vacation periods (holidays such as Labor Day, Martin Luther King Day)

The chart below provides a partial list of common activities and indicates which count against your daily and weekly time limits as well as those that do not count against the limits.

The Athletic Department provides student-athletes with equipment necessary for practice and competition. Every student-athlete is responsible for any damage or loss of equipment/clothing issued to him/her and may be charged for the equipment if not returned in good condition. In certain instances, a student-athlete may choose to use his/her own equipment with the permission of the coach.

UNF’s athletics department policy states that a pregnancy will have no effect on a student-athlete’s team standing or athletics grant-in-aid. Additionally, NCAA rules permit a one-year extension of the five-year period of eligibility for a student-athlete for reasons of pregnancy. If, however, a student-athlete feels pressure to terminate a pregnancy due to financial reasons or fear of losing her roster spot, she should report this to the Senior Woman Administrator.

During the Academic Year

Student-athletes with eligibility remaining may not practice or compete as members of any outside team or all-star squad in any non-collegiate, amateur competition in their sport except as allowed by the NCAA (e.g. national team exceptions, HS alumni game, etc). Any questions about such participation should be referred to the Compliance Office.

Some outside competition may be permitted during official vacation periods such as winter or spring break. Each sport has its own set of rules regarding outside competition so be sure to seek permission before participating in any outside competition -- especially over vacation periods. Any violations of this could jeopardize eligibility.

All outside competition must first be pre-approved by the Compliance Office. The Outside Competition Approval Form can be found in ARMS. Please fill out and submit completed form to the Compliance Office who will review to ensure your continued eligibility prior to your competition.

Summer Participation

Please check with the Compliance Office before participating in any summer events. All participation must be approved by the Athletic Director or designee prior to participation. Approval can be obtained by completing the Outside Competition Approval Form submitted through ARMS. The form must be submitted to the Compliance Office prior to any participation.

Participation in non-sanctioned leagues or events could jeopardize remaining eligibility.

Prize Money (Bylaw 12.1.2.4.1)

Student-athletes are allowed to receive prize money based on place finish or performance in an athletics event. Prize money may not exceed actual and necessary expenses and may be provided only by the sponsor of the event. (Exception – Bylaw 12.1.2.4.2 – Exception for Prize Money – Tennis).

PERMISSIBLE RECRUITING ACTIVITIES FOR ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETES

1. Off-campus contacts: Off-campus in-person contact between an enrolled student-athlete and a prospective student-athlete is permissible, provided such contact does not occur at the direction of a UNF staff member.
2. Transportation and expenses: UNF may NOT provide an enrolled student-athlete with transportation or expenses to recruit a prospective student-athlete unless they serve as a student host. A student-athlete serving as a host may not be provided an automobile by UNF or a UNF booster for use during an official visit.
3. Correspondence. It is permissible for an enrolled student-athlete (or enrolled student) to engage in correspondence (written or electronic) with a prospective student-athlete, provided the enrolled student-athlete is not required to engage in such correspondence on their required day off.
4. Telephone Calls. An enrolled student-athlete may participate in telephone calls with a prospective student-athlete initiated by an institutional staff member, provided the call does not occur on a student-athlete's required day off. An enrolled student-athlete may receive telephone calls made at the expense of a prospective student-athlete prior to the date on which an institution may begin placing telephone calls to a prospective student-athlete, provided there is no direct or indirect involvement by athletics department staff.

The role of student host is very important in the recruiting process. Student hosts are responsible for understanding and abiding by NCAA Bylaw 13.6.7.5 and UNF regulations. Please review the following rules carefully:

1. Only one student-athlete per day can serve as an official host. If the host is a freshman, they must have been certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center as a final qualifier. Other students may assist with hosting the prospect, but those students must pay for their own entertainment and meals, unless receiving an Occasional Meal. The host will be assigned a Student Host form through ARMS that he/ she must sign before hosting. Multiple hosts may serve on an official visit if approved before visit via the Official Visit Request.
2. A maximum of $60 per person may be provided to entertain a prospective student-athlete, their student host, and up to four family members accompanying the prospective student-athlete on the official visit. This excludes the cost of meals and admission to campus athletic events. This money may NOT be used to purchase souvenirs, such as t-shirts or other UNF mementos. Itemized receipts and remaining host money must be turned in for all expenses.
3. No cash may be given to any visiting prospect or to anyone else.
4. Absolutely no alcohol should be provided or consumed by either the student host or recruit during the official visit.
5. You may not use vehicles provided for or arranged by any coach, UNF staff member or booster. Never allow a prospect to use or drive your car.
6. You may not transport the prospect or anyone else accompanying the prospect to an off-campus site outside a 30-mile radius of the campus.
7. You should not allow recruiting conversations to occur off-campus between the prospect and a UNF Athletics booster. If an unplanned meeting occurs, only an exchange of greetings is allowed.
8. You may receive a complimentary admission (no hard tickets) when accompanying a prospect to a campus athletic event.
9. A visiting prospective student-athlete may engage in recreational activities (pick-up game) provided no coaching staff members are present.

If a student-athlete is considering transferring, the student is required to complete the steps listed below in order to satisfy University and NCAA rules.

1. A student-athlete may initiate the notification of transfer process by providing the Compliance Office with an ARMS Notification of Transfer.
2. The student-athlete must complete the NCAA Transfer Module and confirm that they have completed it in the ARMS Notification of Transfer workflow prior to their name being entered in the portal.
3. The Compliance Office shall enter the student-athlete’s information into the Transfer Portal within two (2) business days of receipt of a written notification of transfer from the student-athlete and at the appropriate transfer window date.

The NCAA transfer windows determine the dates in which a student-athlete may submit notification of transfer and windows are sports specific. Please contact the Compliance Office for more information regarding those dates.

Exceptions to Transfer Window dates: if a student-athlete’s head coach departs or announces their intent to depart, or the student-athlete’s aid is canceled, reduced or non-renewed (for reasons other than those specified in Bylaws 15.3.4.2 or 15.3.5.1) prior to the window opening for their sport, they may initiate notification of transfer during a 30 consecutive-day period which begins the day after either occurs.

If Notification of Transfer is submitted, the student-athlete’s financial aid may not be reduced or canceled until the end of the regular academic term in which the notification of transfer is received. If a student-athlete provides written notification of transfer to UNF between regular academic terms (winter break, summer break), UNF may reduce or cancel the financial aid immediately.

If another institution’s coach makes impermissible contact with a UNF student-athlete regarding a possible transfer, the student-athlete is required to report this contact to the Compliance office immediately.

As a student-athlete at UNF, you are entitled to free admission to all UNF regular season home intercollegiate athletic contests with the use of your Osprey1 card.

For any home or away intercollegiate event which requires tickets for admission, the student-athlete who participates in the sport is allowed FOUR (4) complimentary admissions. Prior to the start of the competitive season, Assistant Director of Ticketing will conduct a training session with teams utilizing complimentary admissions. The complimentary tickets will be issued via digital ticketing for individuals designated by the student-athlete on Compliance Software. Student-athletes requesting tickets must provide accurate phone numbers and emails for the guests to receive tickets.

Under no circumstances shall a student-athlete sell or accept any compensation for his/her complimentary admissions.

At the end of each season, you will be asked to participate in an end-of-the-season survey. Following the completion of your UNF athletic career, you will be asked to participate in an exit interview. Your participation in these surveys and interview is essential in providing feedback on your student-athlete experience. Your sport supervisor will facilitate the administration of the survey each year and conduct your exit interview at the conclusion of your career or prior to your transfer.