University of Louisville Compliance - Financial Aid
April 09, 2001 | General
Financial Aid
Eligibility for Financial Aid
A student-athlete must meet applicable NCAA, Conference USA and University of Louisville regulations to be eligible for institutional financial aid. If these regulations are met, the student-athlete may be awarded institutional financial aid during any term in which a student-athlete is in regular attendance under the following conditions:
- The student-athlete is an undergraduate student with eligibility remaining under the five year/ten semester rule (NCAA Bylaw 14.2), or
- The student-athlete is a graduate student with eligibility remaining, or
- Within six years after initial enrollment in a collegiate institution (provided the student does not receive more than five years of such aid during this period), however, after the six year period expires, this restriction shall apply only to unearned athletics aid for which the athletic department intercedes on behalf of the student-athlete (NCAA Bylaw 15.01.5)
Athletics Grant-In-Aid
Where a student-athlete's athletics ability is taken into consideration in any degree in awarding financial aid that aid shall be considered an athletics grant-in-aid. Such an award may include, but not exceed, tuition, fees, room, board and books.
Reduction/Cancellation of Institutional Financial Aid
If a student-athlete is receiving institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability, that financial aid MAY be reduced or canceled during the period of the award (e.g., during that academic year or term) only if the student-athlete (NCAA Bylaw 15.3.3.4):
- Renders himself or herself ineligible for intercollegiate competition, or
- Misrepresents any information on an application, letter of intent or financial aid agreement, or
- Commits serious misconduct which warrants a substantial disciplinary penalty (the misconduct determination must be made by the university's regular student disciplinary authority), or
- Voluntarily quits the sport for personal reasons. In this case, the student-athlete's financial aid may not be given to another student-athlete during the term in which the aid was reduced or canceled.
Institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability MAY NOT be reduced, canceled or increased during the period of the award,
- Based on a student-athlete's ability, performance or contribution to a team's success, or
- Because injury prevents the student-athlete from participating, or
- For any other athletics reason.
Institutional Financial Aid Renewal/Nonrenewal
Aid based in any degree on athletics ability cannot be awarded in excess of one academic year, the decision of whether a student-athlete is awarded institutional financial aid is made on a year-to-year or term-to-term basis, depending on the regulations of the institution.
If a student-athlete is receiving institutional financial aid based upon athletics ability, the institution must notify the student-athlete in writing on or before July 1st whether the aid has been renewed, reduced or not renewed for the next academic year. This written notification must come from the university's financial aid authority and not from the athletics department.
If the institution decides not to renew the aid, or is going to reduce the aid, the institution must notify the student-athlete in writing that he or she has the right to a hearing. This hearing is held before the institutional agency making the award (NCAA Bylaw 15.3.5)
Academic Year Employment
The NCAA's Board of Directors adopted legislation at its April 1998 meeting that allows student-athletes to receive employment earnings during the academic year. However, it is imperative that student-athlete's keep in mind the specific guidelines that must be followed in the event you decide to obtain on- or off-campus employment during the 2000-01 academic year.
- Only student-athletes who have completed one academic year in residence at the University of Louisville are allowed to exempt employment earnings from counting against the institution's team limits. All other student-athletes earnings will count against the University of Louisville's team limits.
- All employment earnings from academic year employment must be at a rate of pay that is commensurate with the ongoing rate for that type of work performed.
- You must be academically eligible in order to seek academic year employment.
- You may not earn more than $2,000 from employment over and above the value of a full grant-in-aid. (2000-01 Full Grant-In-Aid = $10,351 for Resident of Kentucky and $16,650 for Non-resident).
- You may work on- or off-campus, but not within the athletics department or in a facility owned or operated by the athletics department (i.e. Bass-Rudd Tennis Center, Cardinal Park, Papa John's Cardinal Stadium).
- You and your employer must complete the Student-Athlete Employment Agreement forms and file these with the Athletic Compliance Office prior to beginning your employment.
