Missouri Western State University Athletics

Compliance

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Sections on the page: Academics Eligibility, Benefits from Boosters, Agents/Amateurism, Gambling, Employment, Complimentary Admissions, Outside Competition & Promotions, Financial Aid and Forms.

As a student-athlete at Missouri Western State University, you have certain responsibilities to uphold and you should be aware of what is expected of you. Essentially, all eyes are on you all of the time. Consequently, we ask that you always think before you act and ask questions whenever in doubt.

Please take time to read this website and familiarize yourself with all rules and regulations. We understand there are always questions that will arise as a result of specific situations. If you feel unclear about how to operate within the NCAA guidelines, please contact the Athletics Compliance Office at (816) 271-5926.

Student-Athlete Handbook

For all student-athletes that initially enrolled in college after to August 1, 2005:

1. You must be enrolled full-time, which is a minimum of 12 credits, at all times during the semester.

2. You must successfully complete at least 24 credits towards your designated degree program during the fall, spring, and summer to be eligible next year. A minimum of 18 credits must be earned during the regular academic year.

3. You must pass a minimum of 9 countable hours each semester to remain eligible.

4. Must designate degree by the beginning of your fifth full-time semester (third year of enrollment).

5. You are allowed 4 seasons of eligibility within 10 full-time semesters.

1. The NCAA stipulates that once an individual has been identified as a booster of Missouri Western State University's athletics programs he or she retains this status forever. You, friends or relatives may not receive an "extra benefit" from any individual that is being given directly or indirectly due to the fact that you are a student-athlete at Missouri Western State University.

2. The following are a sample of extra benefits or services that are prohibited under NCAA legislation:

   • Car or any use of a car or other transportation

   • Clothing

   • Haircut or other miscellaneous service

   • Gift(s)

   • Money, loan(s), a guarantee of bond or signing/ co-signing of a note to arrange a loan

   • Ticket(s) for any kind of entertainment

   • Payment of long distance telephone calls

   • Free or reduced merchandise from a merchant (unless it is available to the general public)

   • Free or reduced meals at a restaurant

   • Free or reduced room and/or board from a booster

   • Members of the athletic department staff (including tutors) may not type reports, papers, letters, etc...

   • Special discounts, payment arrangements or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline tickets) or service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning)

1. You are not eligible in a sport if you have ever accepted money, transportation or other benefits from an agent or agreed to have an agent market your athletics ability or reputation in that sport.

2. You may NOT sign a contract with an agent or agree verbally to be represented by an agent until after your eligibility has expired.

3. Any questions regarding agents should be directed to the Athletics Compliance Office.

Amateurism

1. In order to maintain your amateur status and remain eligible for intercollegiate competition, you cannot receive any type of pay for play, either directly or indirectly.

2. All awards or cash prizes that you are not allowed to receive under NCAA regulations cannot be given in your name to another individual or agency.

1. You may NOT knowingly provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition.

2. You may NOT solicit a bet on ANY intercollegiate team or on ANY professional team.

3. You may NOT accept a bet on any team representing Missouri Western State University or participate in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics through a bookmaker, a parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling.

4. Any violation of the above regulations will be sanctioned as follows: If the gambling activity involves Missouri Western State University, you will lose all remaining eligibility in all sports. If the gambling activity involves any other team aside from Missouri Western State University, you will be ineligible for a minimum of one year, at which time we may elect to seek reinstatement for you. Any subsequent violation will result in the loss of all remaining eligibility in all sports.

5. Any student-athlete who engages in activity designed to influence the outcome of an intercollegiate contest (i.e., point shaving), shall permanently lose all remaining eligibility in all sports.

• YOU MAY ONLY GET PAID FOR WORK ACTUALLY PERFORMED.

• YOU MAY ONLY GET PAID AT THE GOING RATE OF PAY.

• YOU MAY NOT USE YOUR REPUTATION AS AN ATHLETE TO BENEFIT YOUR EMPLOYER.

Procedure:

1. This process will get updated once ARMS is ready for use during the 23-24 academic year.
2. For ticketed home events, student-athlete may request up to TWO complimentary guests.
   • Guests must present an ID at gate for entry, and sign
   • There will be a new list for each date of competition
3. It is recommended that all student-athletes take advantage of the Max Experience offering from the University.
   • These names will remain on the list all year once you have completed the process

Outside Competition

1. You cannot participate as a member of any outside team in any non-collegiate, amateur competition during the sport season. The penalty for this violation is loss of eligibility for the remainder of that year. In basketball, the penalty for this violation is loss of eligibility for any further intercollegiate competition.

2. You are allowed to participate as an individual in outside competition during the academic year, as long as you represent only yourself and are not representing any team or club or receive expenses or compensation from any team or club.

3. In all sports, no cash prizes for any team member and all awards should conform to the regulations of the recognized amateur organization associated with the event.

4. Some exceptions that are available in all sports are: High School Alumni Games, Olympic Games, Official Pan American Tryouts and Competition, US National Teams, and Official World Championships. Prior approval is required by the Athletics Compliance Office prior to participation in any event.  

Promotions

Each student athlete will complete a promotion form at the beginning of the year.

1. You cannot allow your name, picture or personal appearance to be used to advertise or promote any commercial products, services, jobs or employers regardless of whether compensation is offered.

2. You cannot allow a commercial business to use your name or picture in a "name-the-player" contest.

3. You can be involved in a promotional activity (e.g., half-court basketball shooting contest, involvement in a golfing money scramble) provided all members of the general public or student-body are eligible to participate and selected at random.

4. Charitable organizations often request assistance from student-athletes in fund-raising activities. Permission to participate in such activities must be obtained from the Director of Athletics to ensure that no violation occurs.  The Promotional Activities Form must be completed prior to the activity by the person organizing your participation.

5. Any approved charitable appearance must occur without your missing any classes.

6. Any questions about permissible activities should be directed to the Athletics Compliance Office and your coach of the activity, so as not to jeopardize your eligibility.

You are not eligible if you receive financial aid other than the financial aid that Missouri Western State University distributes.  However, it is permissible to receive:

·         Money from anyone upon whom you are naturally or legally dependent;

·         Financial aid that has been awarded to you on a basis other than athletics ability; or

·         Financial aid from an entity outside your institution that meets the requirements specified in the Division II Manual. [Bylaw 15.01.3]

·         On- or off-campus employment earnings, provided the compensation does not include remuneration for value that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of publicity, reputation, fame or personal following; the student-athlete is compensated only for work actually performed; and the student-athlete is compensated at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.

You must report to Missouri Western State University any financial aid that you receive from a source other than your institution.  Please complete the Non-Institutional Outside Aid Certification form if are planning to receive any financial aid from outside Missouri Western.  However, you do not need to report financial aid received from anyone upon whom you are naturally or legally dependent.

If you are an athletic scholarship recipient at Missouri Western State University, you are able to review the terms of the athletic aid agreement by clicking on the link provided.

NCAA rules require Missouri Western State University to notify you in writing by July 1 of each year of your athletic scholarship. Students, who have been recipients of an athletic scholarship and for whom the Athletic Department has chosen not to renew the scholarship, may appeal the decision to the Missouri Western State University Financial Aid Appeals Committee.

Appeals to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee must be in writing and received in the Office of Financial Aid Services within 30 days of notification of the reduction or non-renewal of the scholarship.  The appeal must outline your position very clearly and documentation to support this may be attached (including witnesses and written documentation).  The Committee will notify the student and the Athletics Department of its decision in writing.  The decision of the Committee is final.

For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid at (816) 271-4361.