Division I International Student-Athlete Issues

Frank ArredondoAcademic and Membership Affairs

Holly SmithNCAA Eligibility Center

Overview• How is Initial Eligibility Determined?

• Case Studies.

• What’s New?

• Who should you call?

• Resources.

• Questions.

How Is Initial-Eligibility Determined?

How is Initial-Eligibility Determined?

• The NCAA Eligibility Center is responsible for evaluating academic credentials for all incoming freshman and transfer students.

• Implement NCAA legislation dictating initial-eligibility requirements.

• Determine completion of core course requirements, grade-point average calculation and the establishment of a prospective student-athlete’s graduation date.

How is Initial-Eligibility Determined? (continued)

• International academic documents, as listed in the Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility:

• Category One: • Document satisfies the high school graduation

and core-curriculum requirements.

• Russia’s Attestat o Srednom Obschem Obrazovanii.

• Brazil’s Certificado de Conclusao de Ensino Medio.

How is Initial-Eligibility Determined? (continued)

• Category Two: • Document satisfies high school graduation, but not

core-curriculum requirements; Eligibility Center evaluates documents to determine if the 16 core-course requirement is satisfied.

• United Kingdom’s General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSEs).

• Ontario’s Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

How is Initial-Eligibility Determined? (continued)

• Category Three: • Documents do not, by themselves, satisfy high

school graduation; may be combined with Category Two documents to determine if the core curriculum was satisfied.

• Australia capital territory grade 10 certificate.• Alberta grade 9 transcript.

How is Initial-Eligibility Determined? (continued)

• Category Four: • Documents indicate that the International student-

athlete is a transfer and must meet those requirements instead of initial-eligibility regulations; full-time attendance triggers the start of the five-year/10 semester period of eligibility.

• United Kingdom’s Higher National Diploma

• Transcript from McGill University, Quebec

Grade-Point Average Calculation

• Category One transcript and exam based credentials:

• Evaluated by reviewing the grades of the core courses listed on the credential regardless of grades earned.

• Grades are weighted in accordance with the unit values credited on the credential if applicable.

• The core-course distribution does not have to be met as the academic rigor of the program of study is considered to be equivalent to the distribution.

GPA = Total QP/Total Units

Example of Category One Transcript BasedCredential Evaluation –Brazil

Example of Category One Exam Based Credential Evaluation - Serbia

Core Course Exams

Original Document

U.S. C (2QP) + U.S. B (3QP)GPA: 5 QP / 2 Units = 2.5

Translation

Grade-Point Average Calculation (continued)

• Category Two Exam based credentials:• Are evaluated by reviewing the core courses

listed on the document credential. The core-course distribution does have to be met, as the academic rigor of the program of study is not automatically considered to be equivalent to the distribution.

• The top five academic subject passes that fit the distribution will be used, only if they are passed. No failing grades are used to calculate the grade-point average.

Example of Category Two Exam Based Credential Evaluation – United Kingdom

GPA CalculationCourse UK US QP

Grade GradeEnglish C B 3Math E C 2Science D C 2Soc. Sci. C B 3Additional C B 3

GPA: 13 QP / 5 Units = 2.6

Grade-Point Average Calculation (continued)

• Category Two Transcript based credentials:

• Are evaluated by reviewing the core courses listed on the document and weighted according to the units of credit listed on the credential. However, the core-course distribution does have to be met, as the academic rigor of the program of study is not automatically considered to be equivalent to the distribution.

• No failing grades are used in the grade-point average calculation.

Example of Category Two Transcript Based Credential Evaluation - Ontario

Numeric Equ. QPGrade U.S. Grade80-100 A 470-79 B 360-69 C 250-59 D 1 (lowest passing grade; see page 5)0-49 F 0

Core-Course Time Limitation• Only courses completed in grades nine

through 12 will be considered.

• A prospective student-athlete who graduates from an international educational system within the prescribed timeframe may use one core-course or one subject pass (but not both) completed in the year after graduation (summer or academic year), but not later than the end of the academic year immediately after the high school graduation of the student’s class.

NCAA Division I Bylaws 14.3.1.2.1 and 14.3.1.2.1.1

Core-Course Time Limitation (continued)

• May be completed at a location other than the high school from which the PSA graduated and is not required to stay within his or her home system.

• Example: SA finishes grade 12 in Mexico and then moves to the United States for a course in summer school at a high school in Texas.

Bylaws 14.3.1.2.1 and 14.3.1.2.1.1:

Core-Course Time Limitation (continued)

• Important note:

• If a student-athlete does not complete his or her secondary education within the prescribed timeframe, a Category One document could become a Category Two document.

• Example: In France, the Baccalaureat General could become a Category Two document and the Eligibility Center will search for 16 core-courses starting with grade 9 that fit the distribution.

What’s New?

What’s New?• NCAA International Student Records Committee

(ISRC) composition.• India’s National Institute of Open Schooling.• Updated grading scales for Scotland.• European Baccalaureate categorization and grading

scale.• Portugal Category Two document and new grade

nine grading scale.• Guide Updates.• BTEC/GNVQ reminder.

ISRC Committee Composition

• With the adoption of NCAA Division I Proposal No. 2009-91, the NCAA International Student Records Committee will consist of six members, including two Division I representatives, two Division II representatives and two representatives who may be from either Division I or Division II.

• Provides greater flexibility in the appointment process.

Bylaw 21.6.3

India’s National Institute of Open Schooling

• Senior Secondary School Certificate reflects grades 11 and 12 of secondary school.

• Will be a Category 2 document.

• May need an accompanying Category 3 document (year 10 certificate) to complete an initial-eligibility certification.

Updated grading scales for Scotland

• The committee determined that for initial-eligibility certification, PSAs must present results from Standard, Intermediate 1 and 2, Higher or Advanced Higher examinations.

• The committee also approved grading scales for standard, Intermediate 1 and 2, and Higher and Advanced Higher examinations.

Updated grading scales for Scotland (continued)

• The committee determined only Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SQCF) levels 4 or higher will be used to determine graduation of prospective student-athletes.

• In addition, the committee determined Foundation

and Access levels are not acceptable.

European Baccalaureate Categorization and Grading Scale

• The committee determined the Eligibility Center shall consider the European Baccalaureate academic credential as a Category One document

• Approved a grading scale to be used immediately and will be added to the Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility.

Portugal Category Two Document and New Grade Nine Grading Scale

• The committee determined that the Eligibility Center shall consider the Diploma Nivel Secundario de Educacao from Portugal to be a Category Two document.

• In addition, the committee approved a grade 9 grading scale.

United Kingdom and BTEC/GNVQ• Currently, consideration for both initial-eligibility and

amateurism is given to coursework completed toward a BTEC/GNVQ qualification.

• The committee determined that effective with prospects enrolling on or after August 1, 2010, all BTEC/GNVQ coursework will be considered category three documents and will not advance a prospective student-athlete’s high school graduation date, even if advances in the BTEC/GNVQ structure within the prescribed timeframe.

• International Student Records Committee is continuing to discuss.

• Delaying impact until at least 2010-11.27

Guide to International Academic Standards Update

• EC staff along with AMA have attempted to address some of the most often asked questions to EC and AMA staff.

• Guide updates aim at providing more insight into secondary education systems and country structure.

• Also, aim at providing more insight into a certification.

Guide to International Academic Standards Update

• Online Guide is most recent and update version.

• Updated after every ISRC meeting and on an as-needed basis.

• Working towards a more transparent document.

Who should you call?Who should you call?

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Who should you call?

• For inquiries regarding initial eligibility and application of legislation, please call Academic and Membership Affairs.

• For inquiries regarding specific international PSAs registered with the Eligibility Center, please call the Eligibility Center.

• For questions regarding how the Eligibility Center evaluates a certain country or graduation dates, please call the Eligibility Center.

ResourcesResources

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ResourcesResources NCAA Web site: www.ncaa.org

NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility.

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers: www.aacrao.org

National Association of Foreign Student Advisors: www.nafsa.org

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service: www.ucas.ac.uk

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement: www.ice.gov/sevis

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QuestionsQuestions

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