Academics: Student Athletes

Students are required by the NCAA to be in good standing at the College and must make “satisfactory progress” toward a baccalaureate degree in order to participate in athletics.

Students must meet Saint Vincent College admission requirements as full-time students to be eligible for intercollegiate athletic competition during their first year of attendance.

Students must meet a minimum cumulative GPA in order to be in academic good standing and eligible for participation in athletics. These minimums are;

1. Freshmen must have a cumulative grade point average of 1.75 or higher at the end of their first semester (fall) to be eligible for intercollegiate athletic competition in the spring semester
2. Freshmen must have a cumulative grade point average of 1.75 or higher at the end of their second semester (spring) in order to be eligible to compete in the following fall semester.
3. Sophomores must have a cumulative grade point average of 1.75 or higher to be eligible for intercollegiate athletic competition during their third and fourth semesters
4. All athletes must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher to be eligible for intercollegiate athletic competition during their fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth semesters.

 *There are no exceptions to the standards listed for cumulative GPAs.

Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester to maintain eligibility during the season of competition.

In order to complete Saint Vincent College graduation requirements, students are encouraged to enroll for an average of 15-16 credit hours each semester. Generally, students declare a major by the end of the fourth semester. This also provides students with the opportunity to drop a course without risk to their athletic eligibility. Falling below 12 credits in any semester will render a student immediately ineligible and could jeopardize his or her financial aid.

It is the student-athletes’ responsibility to be familiar with College policy for academic honesty and consequences. As presented in the Saint Vincent College Bulletin, the College expects that all students exhibit the highest standards of academic integrity at all times.

Class Attendance

The College expects that all students, including student-athletes, will attend all classes. Participation as a member of an intercollegiate team already places student-athletes at an academic disadvantage because of necessitating excused absences they will incur for scheduled athletic competitions. Missing class for practice, conditioning sessions, or team workouts is not permissible.

At the start of each semester, student-athletes are instructed to introduce themselves to each professor and make him/her aware that they are members of an athletic team. They are also instructed to provide a copy of their sports schedule and make the faculty member aware of how many classes they will be missing because of scheduled athletic events.

1. Prior to the absence due to a scheduled athletic event, student-athletes must make arrangements with their professor(s) for completion of missed material.
2. It is the student-athletes’ personal responsibility to present each professor with the official Absence Related to Athletic Competition form. This form must be submitted no later than the last class meeting preceding the anticipated day(s) of absence.
3. When absence is necessary for personal reasons (e.g., illness, family emergency), student-athletes must notify the head coach and the Student Affairs Office prior to the absence. If prior notification is not possible, notification is to be made at the earliest possible time.
4. The head coach will be consulted regarding poor class attendance. The head coach, athletic liaison and the Assistant Vice President’s for Student Success and Retention staff will discuss and develop appropriate action regarding excessive missed classes.