Advising International Student Athletes

AACRAO Conference: Session W5.517March 2008 – Orlando, Florida

Presented by

Judy FreudenbergerSenior EducationUSA Advisor

U.S. Embassy – Canberra, Australia

Australia’s View of the World

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Session Overview

▪ Collegiate Sporting Organisations▪ Introduction to the NCAA▪ NCAA Clearinghouse Process▪ Athletic Scholarships▪ Challenges▪ Questions & Discussion

U.S. Collegiate Sports Associations

NCAA: National Collegiate Athletic Association (www.ncaa.org)

NAIA: National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (www.naia.org)

NJCAA: National Junior College Athletics Association (www.njcaa.org)

The NCAA

▪ Established in 1906▪ Committed to the student-athlete & to

governing competition in a fair, safe, inclusive & sportsmanlike manner

▪ 380,000 student athletes participating in 23 sports at more than 1,000 member institutions

NCAA SportsCross Country M/WField Hockey WFootball MSoccer M/WVolleyball M/WWater Polo M/WBasketball M/WBowling WFencing M/WGymnastics M/WIce Hockey M

Rifle M/WSkiing M/WSwimming/Diving M/WTrack/Field M/WWrestlingBaseball MGolf M/WLacrosse M/WRowing WSoftball WTennis M/W

NCAA Divisional Differences

Division I and II Must go through the NCAA ClearinghouseSports Scholarships may be available

Division IIIEach institution sets its own standardsAthletic talent can attract other forms of scholarships & financial aid

The NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse

The Clearinghouse is an agency which will provide initial-eligibility certification for all prospective student-athletes wishing to compete as freshmen at NCAA member institutions offering Division I or II athletics. The Clearinghouse is NOT a placement agency or an admissions office - it will not locate institutions for student-athletes to attend. The NCAA Clearinghouse will provide the student's initial-eligibility certification results to all colleges & universities that request this information.

The NCAA Clearinghouse Process

▪ Who should register?▪ Clearinghouse Requirements▪ The Clearinghouse application▪ What counts as a “Core Course”▪ GPA requirements▪ Testing requirements▪ International Academic Standards▪ Amateurism Issues

Who needs to register with the Clearinghouse?▪ Any student who plans to play sport for an NCAA Div I or II team as a Freshman AND who wishes to participate in intercollegiate athletics▪ When: anytime after completing Yr. 11▪ Deadline: none, but students must be certified before receiving a sports scholarship or practicing/competing at a Div I or II school

Academic Eligibility Requirementsfor Clearinghouse Certification

▪ Graduate from secondary school▪ Successfully complete a specified core

curriculum ▪ Earn a minimum grade point average (GPA)

in the designated core courses▪ Achieve a minimum SAT or ACT score

NCAA Clearinghouse Application

▪ “International Student Release Form”: www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

▪ Can be submitted online or by post/mail

▪ Non-refundable US$75 Clearinghouse fee▪ Parent signature required if student is under

18 years of age

Other Parts of the Clearinghouse Application

▪ Original or certified Yr. 9-12 academic transcripts

▪ Exact English translation of all academic records if necessary

▪ Test scores (C’house code = 9999)▪ Final transcript as proof of graduation

+ final semester grades

Definition of a Core Course

▪ A class which is/was a recognisedacademic course for credit at the secondary school attended. All courses must be designed for students who plan to apply to university ▪ If a student has completed more than the required core courses, the highest grades will be used in each discipline

Div I Core Course Requirements

Successfully complete a core curriculum of 16 academic courses in years 9-12

English……………………………… 4 yearsMathematics…………………… 3 yearsNatural or Physical Science… 2 yearsAdditional one of the above… 1 yearSocial Science…………………… 2 yearsAdditional Academic Courses … 4 years

Div II Core Course Requirements

Successfully complete a core curriculum of 14academic courses in years 9-12English……………………………… 3 yearsMathematics…………………… 2 yearsNatural or Physical Science… 2 yearsAdditional Course……………… 2 yearsSocial Science…………………… 2 yearsAdditional Academic Courses … 3 years

Acceptable Core Courses

▪ “Social Sciences” include psychology, sociology, history, government, geography, international relations, economics▪ “Additional Core Classes” include English, math, science, social science, most religion classes, foreign languages, philosophy

What’s NOT a Core Course

▪ Visual or performing arts

▪ Technology classes

▪ IT classes (unless taught in math dept)

▪ PE

▪ Business classes

▪ Home Economics

▪ ESL

GPA Requirements

▪ For international student athletes, the GPA is figured ONLY on core courses taken in Years 11 and 12

▪ The Clearinghouse does not recogniseplus or minus scores when calculating a GPA

▪ D’s are acceptable▪ A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1

SAT/ACT Requirements▪ Clearinghouse requires official copies of SAT

or ACT score from every applicant

Clearinghouse code = 9999

▪ SAT/ACT can be taken multiple times

▪ Highest sore earned will be used

▪ The Clearinghouse does not take essay scores into consideration

GPA/Test Score Requirements for Division I

▪ A higher GPA requires a lower test score

▪ Minimum Core Course GPA of 2.0

▪ Year 11/12 core-course GPA plus a combined score on the

SAT Critical Reading & Math sections

OR

▪ Year 11/12 core-course GPA plus a sum score on the ACT

- based on the qualifier index scale

GPA/TEST SCORE INDEX FOR DIVISION I

Core Course GPA SAT ACT SS

3.550&above 400 373.500 420 393.475 430 403.450 440 413.400 460 423.350 480 433.300 500 443.275 510 453.250 520 463.200 540 413.100 580 493.075 590 503.050 600 503.025 610 513.000 620 522.950 640 532.900 660 542.850 680 562.800 700 57

Core Course GPA SAT ACT SS

2.750 720 592.700 730 602.650 760 622.600 780 642.550 800 662.500 820 682.475 830 692.400 860 712.375 870 722.300 900 752.275 910 762.250 920 772.200 940 792.150 960 802.125 960 812.100 970 822.075 980 832.025 1000 852.000 1010 86

GPA/Test Score Requirements for Div II

▪ Minimum 2.0 GPA for core courses

taken in years 11 and 12

▪ SAT combined score of 820 –OR- ACT

sum score of 68

Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility

http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

Provides country specific criteria used in reviewing the initial eligibility (graduation, core curriculum, GPA, and ACT/SAT test scores) of students who have completed any portion of their secondary education in a non-US educational system.

Amateurism-Eligibility Requirements

Student Athletes must be amateursAmateurism Issues Include:▪ Earning a salary for participating in sport▪ Having a contract w/ a professional team▪ Entering into an agreement with an agent▪ Receiving benefits from an agent▪ Prize money▪ Playing with professionals

Athletic Scholarships

What are they worth?

Full = Tuition, Fees, Room & Board, and Books (in some cases, Health Insurance)

Partial = Tuition and Fees

Length of an athletic scholarship:One-year, renewable commitmentIt is NOT a four-year guaranteed scholarship

How to Find Sporting Opportunities & Scholarships▪ Athletes may be contacted by American college and university coaches, usually as a result of that athlete being seen participating in a sports event▪ Students make inquiries directly to college and

university coaches▪ Through placement services▪ Word of mouth: overseas coaches, other athletes

Advisers & reference books at EducationUSAAdvising Centres

▪ Online resources such as www.ncaa.org

Advice for Student Athletes

▪ Students need to spend time RESEARCHING schools that not only offer sporting opportunities & scholarships, but that will also meet their academic needs & suit other personal preferences

▪ Follow up every lead or suggestion ▪ Be persistent, be timely, jump through all

the hoops, keep doors open

More Advice for Student Athletes

▪ Create & send sporting resume to coaches

▪ Videos/DVD may be requested▪ Review NCAA lists of schools/results

for any sport/division▪ Use the Peterson’s or College Board “find a school” search functions – which include sporting team variables

Issues for Admissions Staff

▪ Communication with Athletics Dept. & Coaches

▪ Brief them on admission requirements, process and deadlines

▪ Don’t issue I-20 until and international student athlete has “cleared”

▪ Sharing the cost of funding

More Issues for Admissions Staff

▪ Refer int’l students to EducationUSAAdvisers

▪ Keep int’l students office in the loop▪ Make sure int’l students will be

available for orientation▪ Know your NCAA Compliance Officer

Challenges▪ Clearinghouse review inconsistencies▪ Late applications due to late

decisions by coaches▪ Finding good match academically,

sporting-wise & otherwise▪ Meeting institutional requirements –

different/more demanding than C’house requirements

▪ Unresponsive coaches

More Challenges…

▪ Lots of paperwork▪ Perseverance required▪ Understanding C’house requirements,

rules/regs, process▪ Meeting institutional entry

requirements▪ Late visa applications

NAFSA 2008

Pre-NAFSA Workshop

“Advising International Student Athletes”

Monday 26 May, 9am – 4pm

Survey

Please help us gather information about international student athletes!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9kj38hPNgNNxeVJrZ1WcXg_3d_3d

By the way…

Q & ADiscussion

Judy’s Contact DetailsJudy Freudenberger

Senior Educational AdviserOffice of Public Affairs

U.S. EmbassyCanberra, Australia

E-mail: freuds@bigpond.net.au

Tel: 612-6258-1670Fax: 612-6273-3051