Prospective Student-Athletes
With the elimination of the NCAA National Letter of Intent (NLI) program, student-athletes now sign written offers of athletic aid or financial aid agreements directly with the school. An NCAA athletic aid agreement is a legally binding document between a Division I or II school and a student-athlete, committing the school to provide financial aid for one academic year in exchange for the athlete’s enrollment and athletic participation.
Prospective Student-Athlete Signing an Athletic Scholarship
What you should know prior to signing an athletics aid agreement with an NCAA Division II school:
- Requirements: Student-athletes must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center and accepted by the institution.
- Binding Nature: As soon as a prospective student-athlete signs an Athletics Grant-In-Aid agreement with NSU, all recruiting contact from other NCAA member institutions is prohibited-- coaches from other NCAA institutions must stop recruiting contact with the signed PSA and individuals associated with them (e.g., family members, scholastics or club coach, advisor).
- What it Covers: The agreement is binding for one academic year (two semesters), securing the athlete's spot and financial aid. The agreement covers all or a portion of the cost to attend school at an institution. It does not guarantee playing time, only the financial award.
- Coach Leaving: The agreement remains valid even if the coach who offered it leaves the school.
- Release Request: If a prospective student later decides NSU is not the right fit for them, prospective student-athletes may request a release from the contact prohibition and the athletics aid agreement.
- Transfer Portal: Athletes transferring from another four-year school must be in the NCAA Transfer Portal to sign an aid agreement.
Contact Prohibition Release Request
If a prospective student-athlete would like to be released from their scholarship PRIOR to enrolling full time at NSU, please contact NSU Sharks Compliance at
nsusharkscompliance@nova.edu to request a release.
Current Student-Athletes
Athletics Aid
Athletics financial aid in NCAA Division II is awarded on a one-year basis and is reviewed annually. Exceptions to the one-year basis are outlined in NCAA Bylaw15.5.3.1.1 Each year, institutions will evaluate awards and determine whether athletics aid will be:
- Renewed at the same amount
- Renewed with an increase
- Renewed with a reduction
- Non-renewed for the next academic year
When Can Aid Be Reduced or Canceled?
During the award period, athletics aid may only be reduced or canceled if a student-athlete:
- Renders themselves ineligible for intercollegiate competition
- Engages in serious misconduct warranting substantial disciplinary penalty
- Voluntarily withdraws from a sport at any time for personal reasons; however, the recipient's athletics aid may not be awarded to another student-athlete in the term in which the aid was reduced or canceled. Further, if the athletics aid is canceled before a regular academic term (e.g., preseason practice period), the aid may not be provided to another student-athlete during the ensuing academic term
- Provides written notification of transfer to the institution; however, the student-athlete’s athletics aid may not be reduced or canceled until the end of the academic year in which written notification of transfer is received. An institution may reduce or cancel an athletics aid agreement signed for the next academic year if a student-athlete provides written notification of transfer. At the conclusion of the award period, the institution may decide not to renew athletics aid consistent with institutional and NCAA guidelines.
Notification Process
Student-athletes who previously received athletics aid will receive written notification regarding your athletics aid status for the upcoming academic year by July 1. Notification will include:
- Renewal/reduction/non-renewal decision
- Effective academic year
- Appeal instructions
- Appeal submission deadline
Appeal
If athletics aid is reduced or non-renewed, student-athletes can request an appeal hearing. Appeals are reviewed by an authority outside the athletics department to ensure fairness and objectivity.
If you have additional questions about your athletics scholarship, please contact NSU Sharks Compliance at
nsusharkscompliance@nova.edu
Latest Graduation Rate Information
NSU Office of Financial Aid
