You are a scholarship student-athlete and receive word that your university will be reducing or not renewing your scholarship.
Can the university do this? What are the NCAA’s rules concerning the cancellation or reduction of athletic scholarships? Here are a few key rules to be aware of:
Non-Renewal for the Following Academic Year
As I’ve discussed, there are no full rides in college sports. Athletic scholarships are limited to 1 year by NCAA rule. If however, a university does not wish to renew or wishes to reduce a student-athlete’s athletic scholarship, certain rules must be adhered to. The university must notify the student-athlete in writing of the decision and must provide the opportunity for a hearing. In addition, the university must provide the student-athlete with all pertinent deadlines and procedures governing such hearings.
If a student-athlete does not receive written notification of the non-renewal or reduction of his or her scholarship and associated hearing procedures, he or she should request such information in a letter or email to a university representative.
Cancellation During the Academic Year
A university cannot arbitrarily decide to cut a student-athlete’s scholarship during the school year. In fact, a university may only cancel a student-athlete’s scholarship if he or she:
- Becomes ineligible;
- Fraudulently misrepresents any information on a university document; or
- Voluntarily withdraws from a team.
The rules concerning notification and the opportunity for a hearing also apply when a scholarship is taken away during the school year.
Is there a deadline as to when they can take the scholarship away because the athlete has to find another school?
Good question. The deadline is July 1 according to NCAA Bylaw 15.3.5.1 (for Division I).
15.3.5.1 Institutional Obligation. The renewal of institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics
ability shall be made on or before July 1 prior to the academic year in which it is to be effective. The institution
shall promptly notify in writing each student-athlete who received an award the previous academic year and
who has eligibility remaining in the sport in which financial aid was awarded the previous academic year (under
Bylaw 14.2) whether the grant has been renewed or not renewed for the ensuing academic year. Notification of
financial aid renewals and nonrenewals must come from the institution’s regular financial aid authority and not
from the institution’s athletics department. (Revised: 1/10/95)
15.3.5.2 Reconsideration of Nonrenewal. It is permissible
What is the deadline for Division II?
The deadline is July 1.
15.3.5.1 Institutional Obligation. The renewal of institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability shall be made on or before July 1 before the academic year in which it is to be effective. The institution
shall promptly notify in writing each student-athlete who received an award the previous academic year and who has eligibility remaining in the sport in which financial aid was awarded the previous academic year (under Bylaw 14.2) whether the grant has been renewed or not renewed for the ensuing academic year. Notification of financial aid renewals and nonrenewals must come from the institution’s regular financial aid authority and not from the institution’s athletics department. (Revised: 1/10/95)
if an athlete signs a scholarship for the 2012-2013 and fails all the classes during spring can the school reduce the scholarship or cancel it. a friend of mine wen through his first season this pass fall and failed almost all of his classes now they called him saying they were reducing his scholarship for the spring. can they do that
James, it may depend upon the circumstances. But a school can cut a student-athlete’s scholarship during the year if the student-athlete becomes ineligible. Failing one’s classes is likely to lead to a loss of eligibility.
Can a Division 2 institution take a way a scholarship mid year because the student athlete got caught throwing a party? and if so what is the bylaw?
If I am doing poorly my spring semester and want to withdraw from my entire spring semester, how will that effect my athletic scholarship? Will I have to pay for that semester of school? Or will my scholarship still cover the semester?
Can I school reduce or take away a scholarship if the athlete gets injured during the school year and could not participate for a season? What happens if the injury is permanent leaving them unable to participate in sport to their fullest capacity?
If I receive a d1 baseball scholarship, sign by July 1st, and am injured playing summer baseball, can they take away the scholarship? I was a redshirted this year due to an injury?
A school cannot revoke a scholarship during the term of award (typically one year) because of injury. Once the documents are signed, the scholarship should be locked in for that year barring a situation that falls under Bylaw 15.3.4.3 However, I would closely review the documents that accompany the scholarship award for any additional language pertaining to injury or participation in summer leagues.