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The University of North Alabama is committed and obligated to
the principle of institutional control in operating its
athletics program. The department is operated in a manner that
is consistent with the letter and the spirit of all NCAA, Gulf
South Conference and University rules and regulations.
As the
University strives for academic and athletic excellence, we
must always seek the highest standard of ethical conduct.
Involvement with our athletics program is critical to our
success, however, we must emphasize that any inappropriate
activity, even if inadvertent, could jeopardize the
eligibility of our current and prospective student-athletes
and the compliance of the University with NCAA regulations. |
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The office of compliance functions as the University’s compliance
program to coordinate, monitor and verify compliance with all NCAA
requirements, and to educate the various constituencies of the
University and athletics community regarding NCAA regulations,
especially those relating to interactions between representatives
and prospective student-athletes and current student-athletes.
What is a Booster (Athletic
Representative)?
A “representative of the institution’s athletics interests” is an
individual who is known (or should have been known) by a member of
the institution’s executive or athletic administration to:
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Have participated in or to be a member
of an agency or organization, including corporate entities,
promoting the institution’s athletic program.
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Have made financial contributions to
the athletic department or an athletics booster organization of
that institution.
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Be assisting or have been requested (by
the athletic department staff) to assist in the recruitment of
prospects.
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Be assisting or to have assisted in
providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families;
or
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Have been involved otherwise in
promoting the institution’s athletic program.
What is an
Extra Benefit?
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional
employee or representative of the institution’s athletics interest
to provide a prospective or enrolled student-athlete or their family
and friends a benefit that is not expressly authorized by NCAA
regulations. Some benefits that a booster is prohibited from
providing are listed below.
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Gifts of clothing or equipment
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Free or reduced-cost housing or
services
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Cash or like items or the co-signing of
loans
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Employment arrangement for a prospect’s
relative or close friends
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Rentals or purchases of any types
In addition, there are other services
that cannot be provided to an enrolled student-athlete by a booster
or member of the North Alabama athletic department staff. These
include:
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The use of an automobile
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Room, board, or transportation costs
incurred by friends or family visiting the UNA campus for any
reason
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Providing payment or someone to work
associated with school projects (i.e. typing, data processing,
copying services)
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Free medical or professional services
for which a fee is normally charged
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Providing a student-athlete or their
friends or relatives free use of a telephone for long distance
calls
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Use of personal funds to entertain
student-athletes, their friends, or relatives
What Can a
Booster Do?
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Provide employment for prospective or
currently enrolled student-athletes during permissible periods
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Attend junior high, high school, or
junior college athletic events without contacting a prospect or
their family members
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Send newspaper clippings, video tapes,
or similar information about promising prospects in your area to
the appropriate UNA coaching staff member
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Offer assistance to a UNA coach
recruiting in your city. It is permissible to provide a car or a
plane to the coach for transportation or to suggest people to
contact for information
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Invite a team or individual
student-athlete to dinner at your home. These meals can only be
provided on an occasional basis; however, they provide an
excellent opportunity to get to know our fine student-athletes
better. Arrangements for these activities should be made through
the head coach for the sport.
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