Transfer – Participation at Four-Year and Two-Year Schools
Case: A student competed at a four-year institution for one year. The following year, he transferred to a two-year institution where he competed. The student has not identified at any other schools. The student is now transferring to an NAIA institution. Does the 16-week residency requirement apply?
Approved Ruling: No. The residency requirement applies when a student’s immediately previous participation was with a four-year school. The residency requirement does not apply if a student’s immediately previous participation was with a two-year institution, even if the student initially competed at a four-year institution.
Transfer — Discontinued Institution
Approved Ruling: The 16-week residency requirement is waived for such a student, provided the student transfers within one calendar year of the discontinuance of the institution.
Transfer — Discontinued Sport
Approved Ruling: A student who participates in a sport that is subsequently discontinued at an institution and transfers from that institution to another does not have to satisfy the residency requirement, provided the student satisfies all other eligibility requirements and transfers within the first two full terms after the institution announces the discontinuance of that sport and provided the institution does not announce reinstatement of that sport while the student is still attending the institution.
This ruling does not set aside the requirement of notification as stated in Article II, Section D. If a student contacts an NAIA institution after their sport is discontinued, the NAIA institution must provide notification to the student’s current institution.
Transfer — Participation at Different Institutions During Same Season
Approved Ruling: A student may participate in a given sport at two different institutions during the same academic year. Such a student would, however, would be charged with two seasons of competition in the same academic year if the student is charged a season of competition by the first institution and charged a season of competition by the NAIA institution.
Junior College Graduate Competes for Two Different Institutions in the Same Year
Approved Ruling: A junior college student who competes at the junior college, graduates, and then transfers to a member institution during the same sport season and is otherwise eligible shall be charged only one season of competition in a sport for representing two different institutions in the same sport during an academic year.
Institution Offering Associate and Baccalaureate Degrees
Case: A student receives an associate degree from an institution that offers a four-year degree. Upon receiving the associate degree, can the student transfer to an NAIA institution and have the 16-week residency requirement waived?
Approved Ruling: No. The student is identified with the four-year institution athletically even though the student was in the two-year program. The 16-week residency requirement shall apply as applicable.
Transfer – Athletic Associations
Case: A student attends a two-year institution in which the athletic programs compete under the NJCAA. This institution has begun to offer numerous four-year degree programs. Is the student classified as a two-year or four-year transfer?
Approved Ruling: The student would be considered a two-year college transfer. The athletic association of the particular institution must be taken into account to consider whether a student is considered a two-year or four-year transfer. Similarly, if the student participated when the two-year institution competes under a four-year athletic association, the student would be considered a four-year transfer.
