Below are a list of general terms and definitions used by the NCAA and Vermont when referring to the recruiting process and prospective and current student-athletes.
Representative of Athletics Interests (Booster)
A representative of the University of Vermont's athletics interests is an individual or organization who is known by the institution to:
- Have participated in or be a member of an organization promoting the institution's athletics program;
- Have made financial contributions to the Department of Athletics or an athletics booster organization;
- Be assisting in the recruitment of prospects;
- Be assisting in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
- Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.
Prospective Student-Athlete (Prospect)
A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally.
Extra Benefit
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete's relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution's students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., foreign students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.
Institutional Control
A member institution to control its intercollegiate athletics program in compliance with the rules and regulations of the NCAA. The institution's responsibility for the conduct of its intercollegiate athletics program includes responsibility for the actions of its staff members and for the actions of any other individual or organization engaged in activities promoting the athletics interests of the institution.
