Augustana University Athletics

• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

• Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)

• Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) – Men’s Ice Hockey

• Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) – Men’s Swimming & Diving

• Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) - Men’s Tennis

This website is a resource for alumni, boosters, friends, prospective and enrolled student-athletes. Some information provided in this section contains condensed information from the Athletic Operating Procedures and Student-Athlete Handbook annually publications. In the event, a review of information is required, use of the current publication will be utilized. 

Due to the complexity of NCAA bylaws, it should not be relied on exclusively. For questions, please contact the athletic compliance office at 605-274-5236.

• Amateurism 
• Core Courses
• Education-Impacting Disabilities 
• Educational Resources
• Grade-Point Average
• Homeschool Students
• How to Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center
• International Student-Athletes
• Nontraditional Courses
• Recruiting 
• Scholarships
• Transcripts

For International Students, the NCAA publishes information annually with more detailed information on International Academic Requirements, in addition to the International Student-Athlete Handbook. 

As Augustana participated in NCAA Division I and II sports, denoted below are additional links to find out more information on initial eligibility - 

• Play Division I Sports (Men’s Ice Hockey Only)
• Play Division II Sports

Continuing Eligibility for Current Student-Athletes 
All continuing eligibility information for current student-athletes is located in the current Student-Athlete Handbook. This handbook is published every academic year. Please reference the current academic year handbook for the most up-to-date information. Utilizing information from the previous year's handbook is not valid following that academic year. All student-athletes are required to sign an acknowledge of receipt for the Augustana Student-Athlete Handbook annually with the beginning of the year athletic compliance forms. Within this acknowledgment, student-athletes will be able to download a copy of this publications for their records. 


Athletics Financial Aid Information 
A student-athlete must comply with NCAA, conference, and institutional regulations to be eligible for athletics aid. Aid may be awarded during any term the student-athlete is enrolled full-time. The maximum duration for athletics aid is 10 semesters or 15 quarters. Any institutional aid beyond this is at the institution's discretion and follows its general financial aid policies. Athletic Aid offers are made by the sports head coach. However, all financial aid documentation will be sent by the universities financial aid authority (Financial Aid Office). Athletic aid is awarded for no more than one academic year and no less than one academic year. The initial award for a given academic year will be distributed in equal amounts for each term. Athletic aid renewal decisions must be made by July 1 before the academic year it takes effect. The institution will promptly notify, in writing, each student-athlete with remaining eligibility whether their aid has been renewed or not for the upcoming year. This notification must come from the financial aid office, not the athletics department.


Athletics Aid for Prospective Student-Athletes and Transfers 
For prospective student-athletes and transfers, athletic aid offers are made at the discretion of the sports head coach. It is highly recommended that all communications in reference to athletic aid offers are discussed with the sports head coach. 


Athletic Aid for Continuing Student-Athletes 
Athletic financial aid is awarded for one academic year and may be renewed annually. If a student-athlete does not receive aid for the following year, it is considered a non-renewal. Renewal decisions must be made by July 1. Augustana will notify in writing any student-athlete with remaining eligibility whether their aid is renewed or not. These notifications will come from the financial aid office, not the athletics department.


Outside Scholarships and Aid - Any additional financial assistance a student-athlete receives, such as outside grants, loans, or scholarships (e.g., from booster clubs, churches, or civic organizations), must be reported to the Financial Aid Office and the Department of Athletics. Failure to comply with NCAA rules may affect the athlete's eligibility and result in the loss of scholarships. For questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office or the Athletics Compliance Office.


Reducing or Canceling Aid During the Period of the Award - Augustana may not decrease or cancel a student-athlete’s athletic aid during the award period due to athletics ability, performance, injury, illness, or any other athletic reason. However, aid may be reduced or canceled if the athlete becomes ineligible for competition, misrepresents information, engages in serious misconduct, or voluntarily withdraws from the sport for personal reasons.


Augustana University Financial Aid Policy for Reduced or Canceled Athletic Scholarship (Last updated: December 2024)
If a student-athlete feels their athletic grant (scholarship) has been reduced or canceled unjustly, they are entitled to an appeal through the Office of Financial Aid. The student-athlete has 14 days after being notified of the reduction or cancelation to request an appeal. To do so, he/she sends an email to the Director of Financial Aid, who schedules the appeal. 

The appeal process includes an interview of the student-athlete and a separate interview of the head coach. The student-athlete has the option to invite a parent(s) or guardian(s) to the interview. The head coach may invite assistant coaches or athletic directors, but is not required to. 

The appeals committee includes: the Director of Financial Aid, the Associate and Assistant Directors of Financial Aid, the Director of Enrollment Management and the Assistant Dean of Students & Title IX Coordinator. A decision will be provided in writing to the student-athlete within 14 days of completing both interviews. The decision to be made by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee is finite and will result in one of two outcomes: 

1. Reinstatement of the student-athlete’s athletic scholarship or 

2. Affirmation of the decision to reduce or cancel the student-athlete’s athletic scholarship. Decisions are based on communication between student-athlete and head coach and whether or not that communication was misinformation, misleading or negatively impacted a student- athlete’s decision-making process.

The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will not make decisions or rulings unrelated to financial aid, i.e. coaching philosophy, playing time, etc. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee reserves the right to turn an appeal over to the Athletic Compliance Officer if the nature of the appeal is not financial aid specific. 


Financial Aid Appeals are required by the NCAA per bylaw 15.4.1.2 and 15.5.2.4 (subject to change based on NCAA legislative updates)
15.4.1.2 Athletics Aid Not Renewed, Successful Appeal. If an institution does not renew athletics aid for a counter in a following year, and a hearing before the institution's regular financial aid authority results in a successful appeal for restoration of aid, the student-athlete shall continue to be a counter if the individual continues to receive athletics aid and participates in intercollegiate competition in their sport. 

15.5.2.4 Hearing Opportunity. The institution's regular financial aid authority shall notify the student-athlete in writing, within 14 consecutive calendar days from the date the student-athlete has been notified of the decision to reduce or cancel athletics aid during the period of the award or the reduction or nonrenewal of athletics aid for the following academic year, of the opportunity for a hearing when athletics aid is reduced or canceled during the period of the award, or not renewed. The hearing shall be conducted by an institutional entity or committee outside of the athletics department (e.g., financial aid review committee, the office of student affairs, office of the dean of students or a committee composed of the faculty athletics representative, student-athletes and non-athletics faculty/staff members). The notification of the hearing opportunity shall include a copy of the institution's established policies and procedures for conducting the required hearing, including the deadline by which a student-athlete must request the hearing. The institution shall conduct the hearing within 30 consecutive calendar days of receiving a student-athlete's request for the hearing. 

Athletic Supporters Information
Augustana welcomes all support of Augustana Athletics and extremely grateful for your support. The NCAA refers to supporters of our athletic programs as “Boosters”, and considered representatives of athletic interest. Boosters also includes individuals, corporate entities, and other supporting organizations. You are considered a booster if you have done any of the following –

• Made a financial a financial contribution to Augustana University or its athletics program or any athletics booster organization. 
• Are previously or current season ticket holder for any sport. 
• Participated/Involved in the promoting of Augustana Athletics. 
• Helped arrange employment for an Augustana student-athlete. 
• Assisted or been requested to assist in recruiting prospective student-athletes. 
• Once your status as a booster become established, you retain that status forever, regardless of when your last contribution was made to Augustana University or its athletic program(s).

Frequently Asked Questions  

What is a Booster/Representative of Athletics Interest?
An individual who has ever (or has been known by Augustana to) made a financial a financial contribution to Augustana University or its athletics program or any athletics booster organization. Are previously or current season ticket holder for any sport. Participated/Involved in the promoting of Augie Athletics. Helped arrange employment for an Augustana student-athlete. Assisted or been requested to assist in recruiting prospective student-athletes 

Who are considered prospective student-athletes?
A prospective student-athlete is any student-athlete who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, if a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if they, or their relatives, are provided with any financial assistance or other benefits from Augustana that are not available to general prospective students of the university. Prospective student-athletes includes junior college student-athletes, as well as high school students do not play a varsity sport. 

Who are considered current student-athletes?
An enrolled student-athlete at Augustana University who is presently participating on an athletics team or has completed his/her eligibility but is still enrolled at the university. 

Can a booster have a pre-existing relationship with a prospective student-athlete or current student-athlete?
Boosters are permitted to maintain pre-existing relationships with prospective student-athletes/current student-athlete and his/her family provided the booster refrains from any form of recruitment. 

Can a booster participate in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete?
Only authorized athletic staff members are considered permissible recruiters for Augustana University. A booster may view a prospective student-athlete’s athletics contest on their own initiative, but may not contact the prospective student-athlete. 

What is an extra benefit?
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or booster to provide a student-athlete or their relative or friend with an unauthorized benefit. Extra benefits can include, but are not limited to the following –

• Cash or loans of any amount. 
• Gifts of any kind of values or free services. 
• Special discounts for goods or services 
• Use of vehicles.
• Entertain/contact a prospective student-athlete or his/her family on or off campus.
• Free or reduced cost of housing or storage or rentals. 
• Employment arrangements for a prospective student-athletes relatives. 
• Any tangible items, including merchandise. 

May a booster employ or arrange for employment of an enrolled student-athlete/prospective student-athlete?
Boosters may employ student-athletes/prospective student-athletes if they follow NCAA guidelines, ensuring earnings are based on work performed, not athletic reputation, and are at the standard rate. Boosters should contact the UNF compliance office before hiring student-athletes. 

What is a booster prohibited from doing?
A booster is prohibited from doing the following –

• Providing a prospective student-athlete his/her parents, relative, friends, or coaches with any material benefit.
• Make recruiting presentations to groups of prospective student-athletes.
• Make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect or the prospect's relatives or legal guardian(s).
• Use a student-athlete's name, picture, or appearance to promote sales or advertise the use of a commercial product or service.
• Entertain or provide awards or gifts for a current student-athlete, or his/her family and friends.

How can a booster help a team without violating an NCAA bylaw?
This is a listing of permissible activities, however it is highly recommended that you contact the Augustana Compliance office if you have any questions. Some activities include the following – 

• Provide employment for prospective or currently enrolled student-athletes during permissible periods. All compensation paid to a student-athlete must be for work actually performed and given at a rate equal to the going rate for a similar job in the local area.
• Attend games where prospects are competing, as long as no contact is made with the prospect or prospect's parents.
• Invite an individual student-athlete or an entire team in a sport for an occasional meal. The meal may be catered. Arrangements for these activities should be made through the head coach of the sport and the Compliance Office at Augustana University.
• Notify the co or a member of the coaching staff members of about outstanding prospective student-athletes. 

Is it permissible for a booster to invite a prospective student-athlete to a booster meeting or event?
It is not permissible to invite a prospective student-athlete or an enrolled student-athlete to a booster meeting. If a prospect, signee or enrolled student-athlete attends a meeting on his or her own they would be permitted to stay, but they must pay all fees charged for non-members to attend the meeting, including the meal.

Can a booster provide a gift to the prospect, or treat a prospect to a free dinner?
No. It is not permissible to give the prospect a gift or treat him or her to a meal. After they become an enrolled student-athlete it would be permissible to invite them to the booster's home for an occasional meal. To ensure that no NCAA bylaws are being violated, please contact the compliance office prior to hosting any student-athletes.

As always, if you have questions regarding athletic compliance, please contact us at (605) 274-5236.