NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
Case Studies:
Putting Bylaws Into Practice
Brenda White & Eric Bensing
Legislative Services Team
Assumptions:

Assume all transcripts for each student are included in the provided documentation.

Assume the students did not participate anywhere other than the leagues and
intercollegiate competition listed.

Assume all students are first-time NAIA participants, unless otherwise noted.

Assume you are certifying students today for Spring 2017, unless otherwise noted.

On the transcripts, you will not need to know what a specific symbol means on the
transcript unless otherwise noted.
Question 1
Scenario 1: Cap’n Crunch
Key Concepts: Identification, Season of Competition,
Term of Attendance
Cap’n Crunch was enrolled at Quaker Oats College for the Fall 2015 term.
Classes started for the fall term on August 31, 2015. Cap’n Crunch played for
Quakers in their opening Football game of the season on August 27th. On
August 28, Cap’n decided to fully withdraw from school and therefore, Quaker
Oats College cannot issue a transcript. Did Cap’n Crunch identify at Quaker Oats
College during the Fall 2015 term?
1. Yes, because Cap’n Crunch played in an intercollegiate contest for Quaker
Oats College, he identified for the Fall 2015 term at Quaker Oats College.
2. No, because Cap’n Crunch withdrew from all of his classes prior to the Fall
2015 term beginning, he did not identify for the Fall 2015 term.
Question 1
Answer: #1- Yes. He did identify at Quaker
Oats College because he represented
Quaker Oats in an intercollegiate contest.
Rationale: Article V, Section B, Item 8, Note 3
Participation in an intercollegiate contest in the fall before school
starts identifies the student with the institution and charges the
student with a season of competition and a term of attendance, even
if the student decides to transfer or leave school before classes start.
Question 2
Scenario 2: Countess Chocula
Key Concepts: SOC, outside competitive experience
In 2014-15 Countess Chocula attended Milky State Community College where
she played basketball.
MSCC is an accredited institution, but not a member of the NJCAA or any other
athletic association. Countess Chocula was enrolled in less than 12 institutional
credit hours at MSCC during the period in which she played basketball.
The eligibility center issued a determination and charged Countess Chocula a
season of outside competition in women’s basketball for the 2014-15 season.
What led the Eligibility Center to evaluate her experience as outside
competitive experience?
1. It is because the student was not enrolled in 12 or more institutional credit
hours during the 2014-2015 season at her junior college. Only students
enrolled full time can be evaluated for collegiate experience.
2. It is because the team did not belong to an athletic association.
Participation for an institution that is not a member of a collegiate athletic
association cannot be evaluated as intercollegiate experience.
3. It is due to the fact the letter from the school states that Milky State
Community College competed as a club team during the 2014-2015
season.
Question 2
Answer: #3- It is due to the fact the letter
from the school states that Milky State
Community College competed as a club
team during the 2014-2015 season.
Rationale: Article V, Section B, Item 18
A student may be charged for non-collegiate participation when a
student is not enrolled in a collegiate institution, or is enrolled but
does not represent the institution in intercollegiate competition.
Question 3
Scenario 3: Yogi Bear
Key Concepts: residency, four year institution, two
year institution
Yogi Bear attended Forest Green Junior College to compete in baseball. The
baseball program competes in the NJCAA. Yogi competed at Forest Green
Junior College for two years in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Yogi is pursuing a
bachelor’s of science degree at his junior college and has 65 credits at the
conclusion of spring 2016 term. Yogi is now seeking to transfer to an NAIA
school to continue playing baseball for the 2016-17 academic year. Is Yogi
subject to the 16 week residency requirement?
1. Yes, because competed in baseball he must sit for 16 weeks.
2. Yes, because Yogi was pursuing a bachelor’s degree so he will be treated
like a four-year transfer and must sit the residency period.
3. No, because Yogi competed for a junior college.
Question 3
Answer: #3- No, because Yogi competed in
baseball under the NJCAA.
Rationale: NAIA Bylaws V.H. Transfer: Previous Identification at a
Junior College
A student whose immediately previous identification and participation
was with a two-year institution and who transfers to an NAIA member
institution shall not be required to meet the 16-week residency.
Regardless if a student is pursuing a bachelor’s degree, the key is the
athletic association the student is competing for.
Question 4
Scenario 4: Yogi Bear
Key Concepts: eligibility center determination, transfer
Prior to Fall 2015 Yogi Bear thought about transferring to an NAIA institution and
went through the Eligibility Center for a determination. He was determined eligible
for the 2015-16 academic year. However, Yogi decided to go back to Forest Green for
his last season at the junior college. Now he is preparing to transfer to a NAIA
institution for the fall 2016 term. Since he already received a determination of
eligible from the Eligibility Center, can the student be certified on campus for the
2016-17 academic year in order to be determined eligible?
1. Yes, since Yogi already received a determination of eligible through the eligibility
center and he was making progress towards a bachelor’s degree at his
community college, he can be certified on campus before competing.
2. No, since the student did not “use” his Eligibility Center decision, he must be
reactivated through the Eligibility Center.
3. Yes, all transfer junior college students may be certified on campus to compete
without going through the Eligibility Center.
Question 4
Answer: #2- No, student must be
reactivated.
Rationale: CFAR Policy Section III, Item 2 and the Situational Analysis
situation number eight defines the need to be reactivated.
If an Eligibility Center decision is not used during the academic term it
is provided, the student must be re-evaluated for any changes or
updates that might affect the student’s decision.
Question 5
Scenario 5: Tony the Tiger
Key Concepts: EC Determination and New NAIA
Members
Tony the Tiger attended Frosted State University in 2011-12 and 2012-13 and
competed for their club Baseball program prior to Frosted State being an NAIA
member. Frosted State University was under the NCCAA, but became an associate
member of the NAIA in 2013-2014. Prior to the student’s third season at FSU, Tony
was certified on campus by his FAR. Should Tony have received a determination from
the Eligibility Center prior to the 2013-2014 season?
1. No, because the student competed for the institution for two years prior and was
certified on campus.
2. Yes, because Frosted State University’s baseball program was a club program
prior to entering the NAIA and does not meet the Council of Faculty Athletic
Representatives policy, Section III, Item 5, exception to receiving an Eligibility
Center determination for new members.
3. No, because Frosted State University was certified under NCCAA rules for the first
two years of competition and there was not a break in enrollment.
Question 5
Answer: #2-Yes. The student should have
gone through the Eligibility Center prior to
competing in 2013-14.
Rationale: CFAR Policy Section III, Item 5b- New NAIA Members
Per the CFAR Policy on new NAIA members,
A student shall be exempt from the requirement of registering with
the NAIA eligibility center and may represent an NAIA institution in
competition without receiving an “eligible” determination from the
NAIA Eligibility Center provided the student represented the new
NAIA institution in an intercollegiate contest (see point 2).
Question 6
Scenario 6: Sonny
Key Concepts: Freshman Eligibility
Sonny graduated from high school in December 2016. Following graduation, he
attended Cocoa State Junior College for spring 2017 academic term where he
played basketball. During the summer of 2017, Sonny decided to transfer to
Puff State University (an NAIA Institution) for the fall 2017. You are certifying
Sonny prior to the fall 2017 term. Based on his academic and athletic timeline,
which academic requirements must Sonny meet in order to become eligible for
the fall 2017 term?
1. 24/36-Hour Rule, Progress Rule, Eligibility Center determination of eligible
2. 24/36-Hour Rule, Progress Rule, GPA, Eligibility Center determination of
eligible
3. Initial Freshmen Requirements, Nine-Hour Rule, Progress Rule, Eligibility
Center determination of eligible
4. 24/36-Hour Rule, Progress Rule, Initial Freshmen Requirements, Eligibility
Center determination of eligible
Question 6
Answer: #3- Progress Rule, Initial Freshmen
Requirements, 9-Hour Rule, and Eligibility
Center determination of eligible
Rationale: V.B.5; V.C.6; V.C.9
NAIA bylaws defines an entering freshman as a student who upon
becoming identified with an NAIA institution has not been previously
identified with any institution(s) of higher learning for any two
semesters or three quarters (or the equivalent). The student has
attended 1 TOA but not a full academic year and therefore is required
to meet the initial freshmen requirements and Nine-Hour Rule after
one TOA. Student is charged 1 SOC for representing Cocoa State
College.
Question 7
Scenario 7: Sonny, Continued
Key Concepts: Freshman, Mid-Year Matriculation,
Progress Rule
Due to Sonny being charged one season of competition, how many credits will
Sonny need to earn in order to meet the Progress Rule to compete in the fall
2017?
1. 24 institutional credits hours
2. 12 institutional credit hours
Question 7
Answer: #2- 12 institutional credit
hours
Rationale V.C.9 Exception
A freshman who initially becomes identified after the first term in the
fall shall meet the progress rule requirement by having passed 12
semester or 20 quarter institutional credit hours. This exception shall
apply to the second season of competition only.
Question 8
Scenario 8: Sonny and Puff State
Key Concepts 24/36-Hour Rule Mixed Terms
Puff State University is on the quarter system. You are now certifying Sonny for
the Winter 2018 quarter term. How many credits will the student need to
meet for the 24/36-Hour Rule?
1. 24 institutional credit hours earned in the previous two terms.
2. 36 institutional credits hours earned in the previous two terms.
3. 36 institutional credit hours earned in the previous three terms.
Question 8
Answer: #1- 24 institutional credit hours
earned in the previous two terms
Rationale: V.C.6 casebook example of 24/36-Hour Rule- Mixed Terms
When certifying a student who is transferring from a semester to a
quarter system or vice versa, you will never convert the credit hours to
the current system. Always certify the credits taken at face value. For
students who have enrolled in mixed terms, the student will be
certified based of the last two academic terms. Students will be
certified for 36 institutional credit hours when they have enrolled in
three quarter terms.
Question 9
Scenario 9: Toucan Sam
Key Concepts: Initial Freshman Requirements; PostSecondary Enrollment
Toucan Sam is a home school student who participated in the Running Start Program
through Tropicana Community College during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic
school years. The home-school transcript indicates a high school graduation date of
June 2015, but only shows 9th and 10th grade coursework. TCC transcript shows he
enrolled at the community college for six quarter terms. Would Toucan Sam be
certified to compete per freshmen eligibility requirements or per continuing eligibility
requirements (i.e. 24/36-Hour Rule)?
*For the purpose of this question, TS has not enrolled in any other institutions since
high school graduation. He has been on a mission trip in the rain forest.
1. He would be certified under the freshmen eligibility requirements due to not
earning any terms of attendance while at TCC.
2. He would be certified under continuing eligibility requirements due to earning six
quarter terms of attendance, requiring him to be certified as a non-freshman.
Question 9
Answer: #1- Toucan Sam will be certified as
an incoming freshman.
Rationale V.B.11 casebook example non-term – High School
High school students may take 12 or more hours of college credits in a
term without establishing a term of attendance.
Question 10
Scenario 10: Boo Berry
Key Concepts: Terms of Attendance, Identification,
24/36-Hour Rule, Concurrent enrollment
Boo Berry was enrolled at Whole Grain Community College for the spring 2014 and
fall 2014 academic terms. The first week of the fall 2014 term at WGCC, Boo Berry
decided to transfer to Casper University. Boo Berry fully withdrew from all of his
courses at WGCC and enrolled full-time at Casper University for the fall 2014 term.
Would fall 2014 count as one term of attendance?
1. Yes, because he only completed coursework at Casper University during the fall
2014 academic term.
2. No. Because he identified, fully withdrew as stated on the official transcript, and
identified at a second institution. Boo would have been charged two terms of
attendance.
3. Yes. A student cannot be charged two terms of attendance during a single
academic term.
Question 10
Answer: #2- No. Because he identified,
fully withdrew as stated on the official
transcript, and identified at a second
institution. Boo would have been charged
two terms of attendance.
Rationale V.F.5
Because Boo identified at WGCC, fully withdrew, and identified at
Casper University, Boo would be charged two terms of attendance in
one academic term.
Question 11
Scenario 11: Quisp
Key Concepts: suspension/ dismissal
Quisp attended Rocky Road University and after the conclusion of the Fall 2015 term,
he was notified he was academically suspended from RRU. RRU requires a student to
sit out for two full academic years before returning to school. Quisp decides to return
home and work full time before he feels he is ready to return to school.
Going into spring 2017, Quisp decides to attend your institution with the hopes of
playing college tennis for the first time. Is Quisp eligible to compete for your institution
despite the suspension from RRU?
1. No, PSA must serve residency at a 4-year institution or be reinstated by suspending
institution.
2. No, Quisp must sit out two full academic years before becoming eligible to
compete.
3. Yes, since Quisp was suspended for academic reasons, he only needs to meet NAIA
eligibility requirements, provided he has not competed in any intercollegiate sport
for one year after suspension.
Question 11
Answer: #3 – Yes, since Quisp was
suspended for academic reasons, he only
needs to meet NAIA eligibility
requirements, provided he has not
competed in any sport for one year after
suspension.
Rationale: V.D.6 Exception #2
“A student who has been dismissed/expelled or suspended (or its
equivalent) for failure to meet institutional academic requirements,
but still meeting NAIA eligibility requirements, shall not be subject to
this restriction provided the student has not participated in
intercollegiate athletics at any collegiate institution for one full
calendar year after suspension from the original institution.”
Question 12
Scenario 12: Lucky
Key Concepts: Identification, withdraw before census date
Lucky, enrolled in her first term as a freshman at Charm University for the fall 2016 semester. Classes started
on August 22, 2016. Lucky decides to withdraw from her 15 institutional credit hours and move back home.
Lucky remains at home working for the spring 2017 and fall 2017 academic terms without attending school.
Going into the spring of 2018 semester, Lucky is ready to transfer to your institution. Charm University
provides a letter Registrar’s Office and enrollment verification form along with her transcript. Will Lucky be
charged a term of attendance for her time at Charm University?
1. No, the verification letter shows that Lucky fully withdrew and therefore cannot be charged a TOA.
2. Yes, the official transcript and letter from Charm University shows she was enrolled in 15 institutional
credit hours of W’s and therefore she will be charged a TOA.
3. No, due to the student withdrawing within 21 days.
Question 12
Answer: #2- Yes, the official transcript and
letter from Charm University shows the
student was enrolled as a full time
semester.
Rationale: Article V, Section F, Item 2
Due to Lucky identifying with Charm University by enrolling in at least
12 institutional credit hours as reported on the institution’s official
transcript, she will be charged one term of attendance.
Question 13
Scenario 13: Lucky Continued
Key Concepts: Identification, withdraw before
census date
Spring 2018 Lucky is now enrolled at your institution and she is ready to
compete in women’s tennis. You have confirmed with Charm University that
she never competed in women’s tennis at their institution. Will Lucky be
eligible to compete during spring 2018?
1. Yes, since she meets initial freshmen eligibility requirements, there are no
other eligibility rules she will need to meet.
2. No, since she has one semester of W’s and has been charged with a term
of attendance, Lucky has not met the Nine-Hour Rule.
3. Yes, since she has met the initial eligibility requirements, has been out of
school for at least two full consecutive semesters, and it has been
confirmed she never competed before she left Charm University, she will
not have to meet the Nine-Hour Rule.
Question 13
Answer: #3- Yes, she will be eligible per the
freshmen initial eligibility requirements
AND has not enrolled for at least two full
semesters, she will not need to meet the
Nine-Hour Rule.
Rationale: Article V, Section F, Item 4
If a student becomes identified at an institution and officially totally
withdraws from that institution within 21 calendar days and
subsequently becomes identified at an NAIA institution after
remaining out of school for at least two full consecutive semesters,
the term shall be charged as a term of attendance, but the term shall
not be counted in application of the Nine-Hour Rule or 24/36-Hour
Rule.