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NCAA BOOSTER INFORMATION
Introduction The University of Illinois at Chicago takes pride in upholding the highest degree of athletic integrity. This standard can only continue if the donors, alumni, and friends of Flame Athletics are well informed about the NCAA rules and regulations governing the eligibility, amateur status and recruitment of student-athletes. UIC is held responsible for any actions taken by a representative of athletics interests relating to prospects or current student-athletes. Any violation may jeopardize a young person's opportunity to attend and compete, no matter how minor it may seem. NCAA violations may also lead to disassociation of the donor, alumni, or friend from the UIC Athletic Department. NCAA violations by representatives of an institution's athletic interests (boosters) almost routinely involve the recruitment of prospective student-athletes or providing extra benefits to enrolled student-athletes. We need your assistance in complying with NCAA rules. Please take the time to read the following information. When you are faced with a situation and unsure of how to respond, we strongly urge you to contact the Compliance Office at 312.996.2032 before acting. UIC appreciates your continued support of the Flame athletic programs. We hope you find the enclosed information useful in guiding your future involvement. BOOSTERS Representatives of Athletics Interest You are a representative of athletics interest if you: According to NCAA rules, once an individual has been identified as an institutional "representative of athletics interest" the individual retains that title for life. Remember, as a representative of athletics interest, you are responsible for making the UIC Compliance Office immediately aware of any infractions that you know have occurred. Even if the violation is unintentional, the eligibility of a prospect or enrolled student-athlete could be in jeopardy. RECRUITING Prospective Student-Athletes Definitions you should know: A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT ATHLETE is... any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. NCAA does not have a minimum age limit. As a result, a student of any age who is contacted for recruitment purposes becomes a prospect. A RECRUITING CONTACT is... any face-to-face encounter between a prospect, or a prospect's parent or legal guardian, and a university staff member or representative of athletics interests during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. RECRUITING Prospective Student-Athletes Rules to Remember: Impermissible Activities: Permissible Activities: THE ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETE Extra Benefits An ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETE is... a student who presently is participating in athletics or has completed his/her eligibility but is still enrolled at the institution. An EXTRA BENEFIT is... any special gift or arrangement provided to an enrolled student-athlete, relative, or friend that is not available to the general student body of the institution or expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Extra Benefits prohibited would include: Employment may be arranged for the student-athlete during the academic year and summer. You must check with the Compliance Office for appropriate certifying paperwork. The NCAA permits student-athletes to work provided the student-athlete and employer sign a written statement to be kept on file in the athletic department, and specifies the following:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF UIC ATHLETICS The UIC Department of Athletics appreciates your interest and involvement. We know that you expect integrity and honesty in the conduct of our programs. We appreciate your assistance in helping to educate others about NCAA rules and regulations. Please call or write to a staff member if you know of a talented student-athlete who might benefit our program or who is already interested in attending UIC. Send information such as newspaper clippings to the coach in that sport. Feel free to offer your assistance to a staff member who is recruiting in your area - such as providing car or plane transportation or by suggesting people to contact for information concerning prospective student-athletes. As a reminder, for the enrolled student-athlete, a booster may... Call the Compliance Office at 312.996.2032 if you are uncertain about an NCAA rule or suspect that a violation has occurred. If you have to think twice about the propriety of any action, ask before you do. Please forward all recruiting information to:
UIC The University of Illinois at Chicago system of rules and regulations for NCAA compliance focuses on education of all constituencies and self-reporting any potential violations to the Horizon League and the NCAA. The institution annually reports secondary violations, both inadvertent and technical. Thanks to the administration, coaches, student-athletes and you "the boosters" UIC's athletic endeavors will continue to be conducted within the rules of the NCAA and the Horizon League. Please direct all NCAA Compliance questions to:
Dennis Wills |
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