This site is meant to serve as a resource to you and your family during your college search. If you are interested in competing in intercollegiate athletics for Nova Southeastern University, please complete a recruiting questionnaire for the sport(s) you are interested in joining.
Who is considered a prospective student-athlete (PSA)?
A PSA is a student who has started ninth grade. A student who has not yet started ninth grade can also be considered a PSA if a college provides them (or their family or friends) special benefits or financial assistance that are not available to other prospective students.
A student remains a prospective student-athlete until one of the following happens:
They enroll full-time and attend classes at a four-year college during the regular academic year (not summer), or they participate in a college team’s regular practice or competition.
PSA Initial Eligibility Information:
To be eligible to compete at Nova Southeastern University, all incoming freshmen must meet the initial eligibility requirements set forth by the NCAA: Earn 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits in the following areas: English, Math, Science, and Social Sciences; earn a minimum 2.2 core-course GPA; and provide proof of graduation from your current high school.
All students must also complete an athletics certification as well to determine amateurism status.
The Eligibility Center serves as a useful tool for prospective student-athletes with information regarding academics and athletics requirements and provisions prior to college.
Please visit the
NCAA Eligibility Center to register and access important resources.
There is a fee to register for the NCAA Eligibility Center.
The Eligibility Center offers three accounts:
Profile Page account: This is a free account, and the best place to start for most students. If you register for a free Profile Page and wish to transition to either certification account, you will need to pay the registration fee to complete your transition.
Athletics Certification Account: This account includes a required registration fee of $75 for all students and is only appropriate for a limited number of college-bound student-athletes.
Academic and Athletics Certification Account: This account includes a required registration fee of $110 for students attending high school in the U.S. or a U.S. territory. (Department of Defense schools and international schools with American diplomas are not considered international schools.) For students who attended an international school after age 11, the international fee is $170.
Not sure which account you need or need help logging into your account? Contact the NCAA customer service staff at 877-262-1492 before creating an account.
Prospects, make sure that you are aware of organized competition rules which can affect your athletics status with the Eligibility Center. An individual who
Participates in Organized Competition Before Initial Collegiate Enrollment and does not cease participation by October 1 or March 1 (whichever occurs earlier) immediately after one calendar year has elapsed following their high school graduation date, shall use one season of intercollegiate competition for each consecutive 12-month period after October 1 or March 1, and before initial full-time collegiate enrollment in which the individual participates in organized competition.
Not sure if this applies to you? Contact the NCAA customer service staff at 877-262-1492 for assistance.
Additional Resources:
NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete
NCAA Division II Toolkit
Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletic Eligibility
Transfer Student-Athlete Information:
If you are currently attending an NCAA four-year college or university and are considering transferring to Nova Southeastern, the NCAA requires authorization through the Notification of Transfer process. Notification of transfer must be submitted on your behalf before any Nova Southeastern Athletics representative is permitted to contact you.
If you are currently attending a non-NCAA four college or university, please have permission to contact forms sent directly to the Nova Southeastern University Athletics Compliance Office via email to
nsusharkscompliance@nova.edu
Additional Resources:
NCAA Transfer Guide
NCAA Recruitment Rules, Regulations & Penalties
Recruiting is any contact made by a institutional staff member or booster with a prospective student-athlete or their family/legal guardian to encourage the student to enroll at the school and play on its athletics team.
A recruited prospective student-athlete is a student who a college has actively recruited. This occurs if a staff member or booster:
- Provides an official visit,
- Arranges an in-person, off campus meeting with the student or their family,
- Make more than one phone call for the purpose of recruitment, or
- Offers athletically related financial aid in writing.
Recruiting Contacts & Evaluations
For the purpose of recruitment, Coaches are permitted to contact prospective student-athletes by telephone and/or in-person, off-campus starting June 15 prior to the start of a prospective student-athlete's junior year of high school. However, general communication by a coach with a PSA or their family or legal guardian can be made at any time.
There is no limitation to the number of in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts made to a prospective student-athlete. There are specific contact and evaluation periods that coaches must abide by; however, recruiting calendars vary by sport.
Any recruitment of prospective student-athletes using printed recruiting materials and electronic media (including emails and text messages) cannot be sent before June 15 immediately preceding the prospects junior year of high school. There is no limit on the number of correspondence between the coach and prospective student-athlete; however, all exchanges must be done privately.
Prospective student-athletes, their parent/guardians, and their coaches are encouraged to reach out to coaches at Nova Southeastern University to express the individual's interest in Nova Southeastern University and participating in intercollegiate athletics. However, any contact made regarding athletic recruitment should be limited to the university coach.
All boosters, alumni, friends, and other representatives of athletic interests who are not employed by the institution are not permitted to contact a prospective student-athlete or their family for the purpose of encouraging the student to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Nova Southeastern University.
Additionally, prospective student-athletes and their parents or legal guardians may not accept any extra benefits from individuals associated with Nova Southeastern University, including boosters and alumni. Accepting such benefits may jeopardize the prospective student-athlete’s eligibility to compete in intercollegiate athletics at the university.
Campus Visits
Prospective student-athletes can make unofficial visits to Nova Southeastern University as frequently as desired. All housing and travel expenses must be covered by the prospective student-athlete during an unofficial visit. The PSA may receive meals and complimentary admission tickets to an athletic event during an unofficial campus visit.
During a prospect’s junior and senior year of high school, a Nova Southeastern University coach may offer an official visit to campus. Prospective student-athletes are limited to one official visit to Nova Southeastern University prior to graduation from high school and one beginning September 1, post high school graduation.
During an official visit to Nova Southeastern University, the institution will potentially pay for expenses in part or in full. The coach will work to schedule the visit.
Recruitment Violation Penalties
NCAA Bylaw 13.01.5 states that “the recruitment of a student-athlete by a member institution or any representative of its athletics interests in violation of the Association's legislation, as acknowledged by the institution or established through the Association's enforcement procedures, shall result in the student-athlete becoming ineligible to represent that institution in intercollegiate athletics, unless otherwise specified.” Prospective student-athletes are responsible for any involvement in recruiting violations.
Additional NCAA Information:
Latest Graduation Rate Information