By promoting a culture of integrity, inclusion, and accountability, the mission of the UNF Student-Athlete Center for Excellence (SACE) is to facilitate the comprehensive academic, personal, and professional development of all student-athletes through innovation, collaboration, and integration with the goal of encouraging present and future leadership.
UNF’s FAR is Dr. Jennifer Kane, Associate Dean and Professor of Sport Management. The FAR ensures there is a balance between your athletics and academics while you are a student at UNF. Dr. Kane is also an independent resource for you to utilize and is an alternative if you have any questions or concerns that you do not feel comfortable sharing with a coach or athletics administrator. Dr. Kane’s office is in the Silverfield College of Education Building (#57/3615), her office number is (904) 620-2465, and her email address is jkane@unf.edu.
Academic integrity is an important concept that is embraced, communicated, and reinforced by the SACE staff. Procedures and proactive measures are in place to ensure that student-athletes and SACE staff (full-time, part-time, volunteer, intern, Graduate Assistant) always adhere to strict principles of institutional and NCAA ethical behaviors and academic integrity.
Do your own work in online courses. Do not work with anyone to complete your work without permission from your professor.
Do not share your papers or essays.
Be careful using tutors for assistance with assignments. They should assist and teach, not edit and correct.
If, due to travel or illness, a student-athlete is unable to take an exam at the regularly scheduled class time, a SACE staff member may proctor the exam (pending faculty approval).
A coach is NEVER permitted to proctor exams.
Laptops and calculators can be checked out for the length of a semester.
When the student-athlete has borrowed technology in their possession, it is understood that the technology will be used for university coursework and will use best practices.
If something goes wrong with the laptop or calculator, the student-athlete shall notify SACE staff as soon as possible. If new programs need to be downloaded, please contact SACE or the ITS Help Desk (620-HELP).
Laptops and calculators must be returned at the end of the semester. If not returned, a hold will be placed on the student-athlete’s account.
The University of North Florida is committed to the student-athlete and their graduation. Student-athletes are required to meet with their major specific advisor every semester. It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to become familiar and follow all policies and procedures governing completion of the degree program in which the student is registered.
Student-athletes are encouraged to develop close ties to both their assigned Athletic Academic Coordinator and Major Advisor. It is important to note that each student-athlete is solely responsible for becoming familiar with all policies and procedures governing completion of the degree program in which the student is registered. All student-athletes will be expected to review and understand their Degree Evaluation and notify Athletic Academic Coordinator of major changes.
Student-athletes are provided with first day registration privileges. Not registering when scheduled to do so may negatively impact eligibility. Student-athletes should check their registration status in advance for “holds” or other issues that may prohibit or delay registration.
Student-athletes have until noon on the first day of registration to register for their classes. During this time, they may adjust their schedules without restriction.
All student-athletes will have a hold placed on their account 2 weeks after registration. This hold is to allow the NCAA certification process to take place. If class changes need to be made, please contact a SACE staff member to review the change before removing the student-athlete hold.
For those student-athletes who receive book scholarships, the following procedure will apply:
The university has an opt in/out system to access online textbooks. If your professor chooses this option, you will not receive a physical book. You will need to check your email during the first week of school for directions on how to access your electronic coursework. If you are on a full scholarship, the cost of these materials is covered by your scholarship.
All student-athletes have access to the SACE Lending Library resources. All resources and materials must be returned at the end of each semester.
If materials are not returned, holds will be placed on the student-athlete’s account and privileges at the Lending Library will be revoked until items are returned.
Courses may be dropped or added through the last day of drop/add. Students should consult the academic calendar for exact dates.
A student may petition to add a course after the drop/add period for extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control.
Following the end of drop/add, a student-athlete may withdraw from a class prior to the published deadline (approximately 11 weeks). Any course withdrawn from during this period will result in a “W” appearing on the official transcript. Per UNF Withdrawal Policy, students are limited to a total of six UNF course withdrawals. Students should be aware of half-semester courses in which they are enrolled. These courses have an earlier withdraw deadline.
To withdraw from a course, the student-athlete will need to fill out the withdrawal form (ARMS) and contact their SACE coordinator. Withdraw forms are due a week before the withdrawal deadline. This timeline allows all parties to fully investigate any eligibility or financial implications withdrawing might have. If a student wishes to withdraw within a week of the withdrawal deadline they will be assuming all risks. Students are able to withdraw through their myWings account.
**Withdrawing may result in dropping below full-time enrollment and may affect your eligibility. **
An NG grade is automatically given for a maximum of four lower-level UNF course grades of “F” or “D”. The NG grade will appear on your transcript and improve your UNF GPA. An NG grade can affect your financial aid and good academic standing, so please communicate with your academic counselor and compliance if you have questions.
Travel letters are automatically sent to professors at the beginning of each semester. If a student-athlete changes their schedule during the week, they should consult with athletic academic support to ensure a travel letter is sent to the new professor.
After this initial email is sent to professors it is the student-athlete’s responsibility to communicate with the professor before missing a class due to competition.
Class attendance by student-athletes is mandatory. Student-athletes are responsible and will be held accountable for reviewing the class attendance policy for each course as listed in the course syllabus. Any concerns about class attendance should be addressed with the SACE immediately at the beginning of the semester.
University policy dictates that students who do not attend the first class can be administratively dropped from the class and not permitted to re-enroll. Therefore, if a student-athlete is unable to attend the first class meeting of a semester (e.g. away team travel), it is the responsibility of the student-athlete to inform the instructor and SACE staff via e-mail prior to the missed class.
Missing regularly scheduled classes for reasons other than athletic participation, illness, or true emergencies will not be tolerated. Never arrange meetings, treatments, or other appointments during class time. Student-athletes are expected to complete all assignments on time including papers, laboratory reports, final examinations and evaluations.
Student-athletes are responsible for notifying professors in advance of scheduled, excused absences for purposes of athletic competition and arranging all make-up work. If the competitive schedule changes, it is the responsibility of the student-athlete to notify the faculty of this change and its impact on class participation. Practices, scrimmages, and off-season athletic events are not valid reasons for missing class. Excused absences are limited to regularly scheduled in-season contests and postseason competition.
All student-athletes who are in their final semester and are graduating at the end of that term, MUST apply for graduation through myWings. Student-athletes in their final term will not be certified as eligible for practice or competition until they have completed their graduation application.
The Athletic Department recognizes the academic and athletic achievements of student-athletes by awarding a graduation gift and providing a student-athlete stole to wear at the graduation ceremony. To qualify to receive a gift and stole, a student-athlete must have completed his/her NCAA eligibility as a member of a UNF varsity team. Any exception to this policy is on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of the Athletic Director.
To recognize the commitment of student-athlete representatives to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the Athletic Department will provide an exclusive SAAC lapel pin to wear on the student-athlete stole at the graduation ceremony. To qualify to receive a SAAC pin, a student-athlete must have completed his/ her NCAA eligibility as a member of a UNF varsity team, completed two or more years as an active SAAC representative, attended 75% or more SAAC meetings during his/her tenure, and have participated in at least 1 community service event per year of SAAC service. Any exception to this policy is on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of the Athletic Director.
All freshmen and new transfers are required to attend monitored study hall during their first year. Study hall hours are determined by the head coach and SACE staff. All students are required to sign a Study Hall contract at the beginning of the school year.
SACE staff continuously monitors student-athlete class academic performance. In addition, regular reports that monitor attendance and academic performance are obtained from faculty at least once a semester.
Any student who fails to earn a 2.0 GPA at UNF will be placed on Academic Probation. Academic Probation is a warning. If, during the next term of enrollment, the term and cumulative GPA fall below 2.0 (College of Education declared majors 2.5), the student-athlete will be subject to academic suspension. If suspended, the student will be dropped from all courses for which he/she is currently registered and denied the opportunity to re-enroll. The duration of suspension varies by college. Students suspended from the University are still responsible for their financial obligations and can only be released from suspension through normal University procedures.
A graduate student who fails to maintain a cumulative UNF graduate GPA of at least 3.0 will be placed on probation. A student who has two consecutive semesters below a 3.0 GPA may be suspended and therefore not eligible to compete the following semester or postseason.
Prior to the start of the fifth term of full-time enrollment, NCAA rules require student-athletes declare a major. Student-athletes entering their fifth semester should confirm their intended major with their major advisor and have a valid program of study. From that time on, the minimum hours of academic credit needed for satisfactory progress must be degree applicable. A student-athlete may change his/her degree program and comply with the satisfactory-progress requirements if:
Individual colleges may have grade point average requirements for admission which may be higher than the institutional minimum of 2.0. For example, the College of Education requires a 2.5 GPA. Student-athletes enrolled in such colleges will be required to meet the specific college minimums.
To View Your Degree Evaluation Online:
myWings, myNest, Degree Evaluation
Concurrent Enrollment refers to currently registered UNF degree-seeking students who wish to earn credit at another regionally accredited postsecondary institution for transfer into a UNF degree program. See Academic Advisor for Concurrent Enrollment approval.
For UNF students attending a Florida public institution:
Complete an electronic application through FloridaShines at www.floridashines.org. Instructions can also be found on that website.
For UNF students attending an institution that does not participate in the FloridaShines program:
Obtain a transient student application form from your major advisor, complete it, and submit it to One Stop Student Services.
The State University System of Florida requires students who enter a state university before completing sixty (60) semester hours or ninety (90) quarter hours to earn a minimum of nine (9) semester hours in one or more summer terms at a Florida state university before graduation.
Student-athletes have a voice through SAAC at the campus, conference, and national level. Each committee is made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on campus. UNF requires that each team have two members designated as its SAAC representatives for meeting and voting purposes. SAAC holds monthly meetings and is responsible for suggesting programming for the entire student-athlete population as well as coordinating department-wide community service and fundraising events. Two representatives from SAAC will also be required to attend two ASUN Conference SAAC meetings during the year (Winter and Summer meeting). SAAC also offers opportunities for student-athletes to take a leadership role within the department through its executive board.
Functions of the SAAC include:
Membership is limited to 2 representatives from each team as nominated by peers and staff.
