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Wake Forest University

Student Athlete Handbook

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Table of Contents

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Letter From The Director

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Introduction

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Pledge of Conduct

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Financial Aid

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Academics

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Eligibility Requirements

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Physical Welfare

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Participation

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Recognition

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Other Information

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Contact Directory


ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY

To remain athletically eligible, it is important not to endanger your amateur athletic status. It is essential that you check with your Head Coach before making decisions regarding outside athletic participation. The following are NCAA guidelines for maintaining your amateur status:

You cannot, within your sport:

  1. Accept payment or a promise of payments (in cash, prizes, gifts or travel) for participation in your sport.
  2. Enter into an agreement of any kind to compete in professional athletics. You cannot negotiate a verbal or written professional contract.
  3. Request that your name be put on a draft list for professional sports or try out during the academic year, inclusive of all vacations, with a professional sports organization.
  4. Use your athletic skill for payment. You cannot be employed on a "fee for lesson" basis.
  5. Play on any professional athletics team.
  6. Have your athletically related financial aid determined by anyone other than the University.
  7. Participate on teams other than those fielded by Wake Forest University during the academic year inclusive of all vacations.

You cannot, in any sport:

  1. Agree to have your picture or name used to promote a commercial product.
  2. Accept such things as gifts, meals, and loans of cars or money from a WFU employee or booster.
  3. Be represented by an agent or organization to market your athletic skills or reputation.
  4. Receive any benefit not available to other students at the University.
  5. Participate in summer leagues not approved by the NCAA in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball and baseball. You must have written permission from the Director of Athletics to participate in Summer Leagues.
  6. Play on an outside athletic team during the academic year, inclusive of all vacations, without receiving permission from the NCAA, your Head Coach, and the Faculty Athletics Representative.
  7. Knowingly provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition; solicit a bet on any intercollegiate team; accept a bet on any team representing the institution or solicit or accept a bet on any intercollegiate competition for any item (e.g., cash, shirt, dinner) that has tangible value.
  8. Participate in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate or professional athletics, through a bookmaker, a parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling.

AGENTS

To compete as a student-athlete, it is essential that you know the NCAA rules related to professional sports. Any violation of these rules could produce severe negative consequences for you and the University. For this reason, NCAA rules concerning agents and professional sports are explained during the compliance and eligibility meetings at the beginning of each academic year.

You are fortunate to have available to you a Professional Sports Counseling Panel. This panel is composed of full-time faculty and staff members of Wake Forest. The purpose of this panel is to provide assistance and legal advice concerning agents contacting you for the purpose of representation in contract negotiations with professional sports teams. If you wish to consult with the Professional Sports Counseling Panel, contact the Athletics Compliance Office.

Under North Carolina Law, it is illegal for an agent to contact you unless the agent is registered with the State. In addition, an agent is required to register with the Athletics Compliance Office prior to meeting with you. If you, your parents or legal guardians are contacted by an agent, ask if the agent is registered with the State and the Athletics Compliance Office. If the agent is not registered, refer them to the Athletics Compliance office at 758-4620.

If you or your family has questions about agents, contact the Athletics Compliance Office.

ELIGIBILITY SQUAD MEETING

Before the first day of practice, an eligibility squad meeting is held. You will be requested to complete and sign eligibility forms including a questionnaire and NCAA Student-Athlete and Drug Testing Statements. At this time, rules and procedures are explained and any questions you may have concerning eligibility will be answered.

Your status as a current student-athlete begins once you submit your eligibility forms for the present year. You cannot be certified to participate in intercollegiate athletics unless signed and completed NCAA/ACC Eligibility forms and a NCAA Student-Athlete Statement and Drug Testing Consent form are submitted. Your Head Coach is notified if your eligibility status changes or is in jeopardy. If you have any questions about your eligibility, you may contact the Office of Compliance or Student-Athlete Services.

ELIGIBILITY RULES

To remain eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics, the criteria specified below must be met.

  • Five-Year Rule
    You have five (5) calendar years in which to complete four (4) athletic seasons in a sport. The five (5) calendar year clock begins when you first register for 12 units or first compete at any two or four year collegiate institution. These years are continuous! You do not regain the time during which you are not enrolled in school. You may be granted an extra year of competition if you are ill or injured and meet the criteria of the NCAA for a medical hardship.
  • Twelve Unit Rule
    NCAA and Wake Forest University rules require that you must be a full-time student in order to participate. It must also be verified that you are registered and fees are paid for at least 12 units of work. You are ineligible to practice or compete during any time:
    1. You are registered for less than 12 units, unless it is your final semester and you only need less than 12 to graduate;
    2. Your registration or admission is canceled; or
    3. You withdraw from the University.
  • Changes in your Enrollment
    Changes in your enrollment (e.g., petitions to add/drop courses, late enrollment, instructor drops, etc.) should be submitted prior to the published deadlines to ensure that your records are accurate and complete. If you drop a course, it costs you credits toward graduation. You are not allowed to drop a class without discussing it with your Faculty Advisor, Athletic Academic Services and your Head Coach. This policy is designed to prevent you from making changes in your academic schedule that may jeopardize either academic or eligibility status.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS RULE (See NCAA ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS)

If you are "undecided" on a major, which is acceptable during your first four (4) semesters, you may earn hours in any courses which may be counted toward a degree at the University. However, you must declare a major no later than the beginning of your fifth (5th) semester. Once a major is declared, only courses counting toward your total credits needed for a degree may be used for eligibility purposes. The NCAA permits the following exceptions to the satisfactory progress rule:

  1. Missed term - A student-athlete may miss a complete term or consecutive terms during an academic year one time only if he/she fulfilled satisfactory requirements while enrolled, was eligible for enrollment during the absence and does not participate in outside competition when not in attendance at the University.
  2. Medical Absence - An exception may be granted only when circumstances, clearly supported by appropriate medical documentation, establish that a student-athlete is unable to attend the University as a full-time student as a result of an injury or illness involving the student-athlete or a member of his/her immediate family. Credits earned during this period may not be used in determining satisfactory progress.
  3. International Competition - Academic and enrollment waivers may be granted to student-athletes participating in Pan American, Olympic or World University Games.
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