Athletic Eligibility

Students are eligible to participate in any activity of the university including intercollegiate athletics. For athletic eligibility, the student must also meet the following National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Eligibility Regulations which apply to all student athletes at all NAIA affiliated institutions of higher learning.

The following regulations apply to new freshman student athletes.

1. Be a graduate of an accredited high school or be accepted as a regular student in good standing as defined by the enrolling institution. An official high school transcript is required to be on file at the participating institution.
2. An entering freshman student can be eligible immediately by achieving an overall high school grade point average of 2.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
3. Alternately, an entering feshman student can become eligible by meeting two of the three entry level requirements:
   1. Achieve a minimum score of 18 on the ACT or a score of 970 on the SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math). The test score must be achieved at a single test sitting administered by a certified tester on a National, International or official state assessment testing date to apply to this requirement. The ACT/SAT must be taken prior to the beginning of the term in which the student initially participates.
   2. An overall high school grade point average of 2.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
   3. Graduate in the upper half of the student’s high school graduating class.

   Students not meeting the freshman standards shall be denied athletics participation at a member institution for the first full year of attendance.

All student athletes, including freshmen, are subject to the following regulations:

1. Full time status — Students must be identified and enrolled in a minimum of 12 institutional credit hours at the time of participation.
2. Students must have accumulated a minimum of nine institutional credit hours prior to identification for the second term of attendance. Only those hours earned after identification may be applied toward meeting the nine hours for a second term freshman.
3. After completion of the second term of attendance and from then on, students must have accumulated a minimum of 24 institutional credit hours in the two immediately previous terms of attendance. NO MORE THAN 12 institutional credit hours earned during summers and/or during non-terms may be applied to meet the 24 institutional credit hour requirement. Such credit must be earned after one or both of the two immediately previous terms of attendance.
4. The student must be making normal progress toward a recognized baccalaureate degree and maintain the minimum grade point average as defined by the institution and the NAIA. (See Academic Standing.)
5. Upon reaching junior academic standing, as defined by the institution, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on a 4.00 scale. The 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher must be certified each grading period in which the student wishes to compete after junior academic standing is reached.
6. To participate a second season in a sport, all students must have accumulated at least 24 semester/37 quarter institutional credit hours.
7. To participate the third season in a sport, all students must have accumulated at least 48 semester/72 quarter institutional credit hours.
8. To participate the fourth season in a sport, all students must have accumulated at least 72 semester/108 quarter institutional credit hours. In addition, students must have completed 48 semester hours of general education and major requirements to be eligible for the fourth season.
9. To participate in a second, third, and/or fourth season in a sport, all students must have and maintain a total cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on a 4.00 scale.
10. Repeat courses — Both initial and repeated courses count toward the 24 hour rule when the course was initially passed with a “D” and subsequently passed with a “C” or better. A maximum of one repeat course per term previously passed with a grade of “D” may be counted toward satisfying the 12 hour enrollment rule. Repeat courses previously passed with a grade of “C” or better cannot be applied to meet either the 12 hour enrollment rule or the 24 credit hour rule.

***Whatever the situation, the current NAIA Official Handbook contains the details of which each case is determined. For further information regarding eligibility concerns please contact the Graceland University Registrar, Faculty Athletics Representative, or Athletic Director.