- Student-Athlete Handbook
- Student-Athlete Code of Conduct
- Outside Competition Form
- Student-Athlete Employment Form
- University Code of Academic Integrity
Current Student-Athletes
University of Vermont student-athletes are expected to compete with integrity, both on and off the playing field. Among other things, this means that the University of Vermont student-athletes need to follow all relevant rules. It is the Compliance Office's responsibility to assist with that obligation. In addition to the educational materials directed to University of Vermont student-athletes, this website is designed to summarize much of the information student-athletes need to know to protect their eligibility and the overall well-being of the athletics department. Student-athletes should never hesitate to contact the Compliance Office with questions or concerns they have regarding anything relating to this or any other information pertaining to rules and regulations
Full-Time Enrollment
In order to be eligible to practice and compete, a student-athlete must be enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program.
- Undergraduate - Minimum of 12 credits
- Graduate - Minimum of 9 credits
Please contact the Compliance Office for exceptions
Continuing Eligibility
Student-athletes meet certain academic benchmarks every semester in order to be eligible to compete. There are requirements both in terms of GPA and credits earned each semester and year. All credits earned by student-athletes should be "degree-applicable" credits, which are credits that can be used to fulfill graduation requirements.
| Entering: |
Continuing Eligibility Requirements |
| Semester One |
- - Must be an NCAA Qualifier
|
| Semester Two |
- - Must have passed 6 hours during previous semester
|
| Semester Three |
- - Must have passed 6 hours during previous semester
- - Must have earned 24 hours during the previous year (including summer)
- - Must have earned 18 hours during previous fall and spring semester
- - Must have 90% of GPA required for graduation
|
| Semester Four |
- - Must have passed 6 hours during previous semester
- - Must have 90% of the GPA required for graduation
|
Semester Five
*Must have declared degree moving forward |
- - Must have passed 6 hours during previous semester
- - Must have earned 18 hours during the previous fall and spring semester
- - Must have 95% of GPA required for graduation
- - Must have earned 40% of degree
|
| Semester Six |
- - Must have passed 6 hours during previous semester
- - Must have 95% of GPA required for graduation
|
| Semester Seven |
- - Must have passed 6 hours during previous semester
- - Must have earned 18 hours during the previous fall and spring semester
- - Must have 100% of GPA required for graduation
- - Must have earned 60% of degree
|
| Semester Eight |
- - Must have passed 6 hours during previous semester
- - Must have 100% GPA required for graduation
|
| Semester Nine |
- - Must have passed 6 hours during previous semester
- - Must have earned 18 hours during the previous fall and spring semester
- - Must have 100% of GPA required for graduation
- - Must have earned 80% of degree
|
| Semester Ten |
- - Must have passed 6 hours during previous semester
- - Must have 100% GPA required for graduation
|
Sports Wagering Activities
NCAA legislation prohibits student-athletes from gambling or wagering on any sport (amateur, professional, friendly, etc.) in which the NCAA conducts a championship or bowl game. This is not limited to sports offered at the specific institution, but includes all NCAA sports. This means that student-athletes still cannot bet on sports like football or golf, even though they are not offered at UVM.
NCAA legislation defines wagering as any agreement in which an individual agrees to give up an item of value (e.g., cash, clothing, meal) in exchange for the possibility of gaining another item of value. Thus, the NCAA gambling prohibition applies to a pool or fantasy league in which an entry fee is required and the opportunity exists for the participant to win a prize or money.
Additionally, student-athletes are prohibited from engaging in any activity designed to influence the outcome of an intercollegiate contest (e.g., point shaving). A student-athlete's failure to abide by the legislation can result in permanent ineligibility.
NCAA's Gambling Website:
http://www.ncaa.org/enforcement/sports-wagering
Student-Athlete Employment
Student-athletes are allowed to have jobs on or off-campus, provided they follow NCAA guidelines
- The student-athlete's compensation shall not include any remuneration for value or utility that he or she may have for the employer because of the publicity,
reputation, fame or personal following that the student-athlete has obtained because athletics ability.
- The student-athlete shall be compensated only for work actually performed.
- The student-athlete shall be compensated at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the locality for similar services.
Please complete the Student-Athlete Employment Form (top of page) if you will have a job.
NCAA Banned Drugs
Student-athletes can be drug tested at any time throughout the year, if they are in-season, out-of-season, or during summer. A student-athlete who tests positive in an NCAA-administered drug test for a banned drug immediately becomes ineligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics competition. Failure to appear for a test is treated the same as failing the test.
Testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug (PED) for the first time results in loss of one full year of eligibility, plus withholding from competition for 365 days. A second positive drug test for a PED results in the loss of all remaining eligibility in all sports.
Testing positive for a street drug for the first time results in loss of eligibility for 50% of the season. Testing positive for a street drug for the second time results in the loss of a year of eligibility and withholding from participation for 365 days from the test.
Student-athletes should contact their athletic trainer or team physician for more information about what drugs and nutritional supplements are banned and which are permissible.
NCAA Banned Drugs List:
http://www.ncaa.org/2015-16-ncaa-banned-drugs
Agents and Amateurism
A student-athlete shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if he/she has ever:
- Taken pay, or the promise of pay, for competing in that sport;
- Agreed (orally or in writing) to compete in professional athletics in that sport;
- Played on any professional athletics team as defined by the NCAA in that sport;
- Used his/her athletics skill for pay in any form in that sport (except that prior to collegiate enrollment, an individual may accept prize money based on place
finish or performance in an open athletics event form the sponsor of the event if the amount of prize money dies not exceed his/her actual and necessary
expenses to participate in the event); or
- Accepted money, transportation or other benefits form an agent, or agreed to have an agent market his/her athletics ability or reputation in that sport.
Note: Agents often have "runners" who work for them who try to interact with student-athletes but do not call themselves agents. These individuals are considered the same as agents, and they can jeopardize a student-athlete's eligibility. Student-athletes should contact the Compliance Office if they have been contacted by an agent or 'runner.'
In addition, a student-athlete risks their eligibility for intercollegiate competition in any sport if (s)he has:
- After becoming a student-athlete, accepted any pay for promoting a commercial product or service, or allowed his/her name or picture to be used for promoting
a commercial product or service; or
- Because of his/her athletics ability, been paid for work not performed, or paid at a rate higher than the going rate in the community, or paid for the value an
employer placed on his/her reputation, fame or personal following.
