Nova Southeastern University Athletics

This site is meant to serve as an eligibility guide for current student-athletes at Nova Southeastern University. Please use this page to familiarize yourself with institutional, SSC, and NCAA Division II rules and regulations to protect your academic and athletic eligibility.

Please contact the Sharks Compliance Office at nsusharkscompliance@nova.edu with any questions or concerns regarding the information on this site.

Continuing Education
NCAA "Progress Toward Degree" (PTD) legislation requires that student-athletes are moving toward graduation, rather than just maintaining eligibility through "easy" or unrelated courses.

Therefore, all current student-athletes must abide by the following:

• Good Academic Standing: All student-athletes must remain in good academic standing at their institution. 
• 9-Hour Rule: Must earn 9 credit hours each full-time term to be eligible for the next.
• 24-Hour Rule: Must complete 24 credit hours of degree credit each academic year (including summer) to remain eligible for the following year.
• Minimum GPA: Must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 each year.
• Full-Time Enrollment: Athletes must be enrolled full-time each semester.
• Declared Major: By the start of their third year (5th semester), student-athletes must declare a degree program (major). All credit hours earned at this point must apply toward program of study declared.

Failure to meet and maintain NCAA progress towards degree requirements will result in ineligibility for competition. 
 
Participation in Outside Competition

In general, after enrolling in full-time in college, student-athletes are prohibited from competing on any outside, non-collegiate, amateur team during the segment of their playing season that concludes with the NCAA Championship. Violation of this rule typically results in immediate ineligibility. However, there are exceptions to this rule. 

Please contact the Sharks Compliance Office at nsusharkscompliance@nova.edu if you have participated in or intend to participate in any outside competition. Pre-approval Outside Competition Form can be found via Teamworks.
 

Benefits, Gifts and Services:

An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interests (a "booster") to provide a student-athlete (or their relatives/friends) a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.  If a benefit is available to the general student body or the public on a basis unrelated to athletic ability, it is generally not an extra benefit.

If you are an athlete at Nova Southeastern University, you must consult your compliance office before accepting anything of value from a third party to avoid jeopardizing your eligibility. Violation of this rule typically results in immediate ineligibility. However, there are exceptions to this rule. 

What IS Allowed…
Under specific circumstances, certain benefits are permitted to help the athlete's well-being or academic success:

• Occasional Meals: A student-athlete may receive an occasional meal from an institutional staff member or a booster. These must be approved by the compliance office.
• Academic Support: Tutoring, career counseling, and use of computers or printers provided by the athletic department for academic purposes.
• Entertainment: Free tickets from third-party organization to professional sporting events, concerts, or movies.
• Medical Expenses: Counseling for transition out of athletics, medical exams, and treatment for injuries sustained during participation.
• Reasonable Refreshments: Occasional snacks or beverages provided for educational or celebratory meetings.
• Reasonable Transportation from institutional staff: for an Occasional meal, to/from airport, community engagements, medical appointments

 
What is NOT Allowed…
This is where most violations occur. Prohibited benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Financial Loans: Cash loans, cosigning for a loan, or "pay later" arrangements at a store.
• Transportation: Use of a car, free rides (outside of what is considered reasonable), or discounted travel tickets.
• Discounts: "Friends and family" discounts at local businesses that aren't offered to all students.
• Housing: Free or reduced-cost housing or help with a security deposit.

Sports Wagering:
Student-athletes, coaches, and athletics department staff are prohibited from participating in sports wagering activities related to any intercollegiate, amateur, or professional competition in a sport in which the NCAA conducts a championship. This includes placing, accepting, or soliciting a wager of any type (cash, dinner, etc.) on any sport that the NCAA sponsors (e.g., football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, etc.).

It is a violation to provide "inside information" (e.g., injury reports, strategy, or team morale) to anyone associated with sports wagering.

Penalties for Violations:
The NCAA uses a sliding scale for student-athlete reinstatement based on the nature of the wager:

• Wagering on One's Own Team: Typically results in permanent loss of eligibility.
• Wagering on Other College Sports: Suspensions vary based on the dollar amount, ranging from a few games to an entire season of ineligibility.
• Game Manipulation/Point Shaving: Results in permanent bans.

Rules & Regulations:
NCAA Division II Manual
Missed Class Policy

Student-Athlete Forms:
Teamworks (Access student-athlete forms)