24/36-Hour Rule Exception 3: Competition After Two Quarter Terms of Attendance

Bylaw: Article V, Section C, Item 6

โ€œA student in a quarter system must have accumulated 24 institutional credit hours in the previous two quarter terms of attendance if completion of three quarter terms of attendance has not occurred. Upon completion of three quarter terms of attendance the student must have accumulated 36 institutional credit hours.

. . .

EXCEPTION 3: A student will be exempt from meeting 24/36-Hour Rule only during the first term in which the student initially competes in any sport at the intercollegiate level, provided the student has not previously participated in any intercollegiate sport at any institution, and meets one of the following: a. Meets freshman eligibility requirements (applies only to students in the first four semesters/six quarters, or the equivalent, of attendance); b. Has an overall GPA of 2.000 on a 4.000 scale calculated on the basis of all transcripts from all institutions (applies to students in all terms following the fourth semester/sixth quarter, or the equivalent, of attendance).โ€

Interpretation

When a freshman has identified for only two quarter terms of attendance, this student is required to have earned 24 institutional credits in order to compete in the third quarter term of attendance. If the student has not been charged any collegiate seasons of competition, the student can utilize Exception 3 of the 24/36-Hour Rule in order to compete in the third quarter term of attendance.

Example

Abbey is an outdoor womenโ€™s track and field athlete and has not competed in any other sports in her collegiate career. She attends an NAIA institution which is on the quarter system. In the fall 2017 term, Abbey earns nine institutional credit hours. In the winter 2018 term, she earns 12 institutional credit hours.

Going into spring 2018, she would need 24 institutional credit hours in order to satisfy the 24/36-Hour Rule to compete in outdoor track and field. Unfortunately, Abbey has only earned 21 institutional credit hours in the past two quarter terms of attendance.

However, Abbey meets freshman eligibility requirements as listed in Article V, Section C, Item 2. Therefore, Abbey can utilize Exception 3 of the 24/36-Hour Rule and can be certified to compete in the third quarter term (spring 2018).

Related Bylaws:

Article V, Section B, Item 9: Institutional Credit Hour

NEC Interp โ€“ Creation Date: April 2015