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University of the Pacific

Eligibility

Each Student at the University of the Pacific is responsible for:

  • Monitoring his/her own progress toward earning a degree;
  • Making final decisions regarding program and course selections;
  • Being aware of academic rules and regulations, registration procedures, deadlines, general education and graduation requirements;
  • Consulting his/her own faculty advisor on a regular basis; and
  • Obtaining correct information before making a decision.

It is the responsibility of each student-athlete to make sure he or she is eligible before competing. The head coach and Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Services and Compliance will have team lists indicating the eligibility status of all student-athletes in that sport. If a student-athlete competes before being certified, the University is required to declare that student-athlete ineligible and to forfeit all contests in which the student-athlete competed while ineligible. Subsequent reinstatement of a student-athlete's eligibility will depend on the success of an appeal to the NCAA.

NCAA RULES & REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO ACADEMICS

ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATION
In order to participate in Conference Intercollegiate Athletics, you must be certified as eligible under NCAA, West Coach Conference, and Pacific rules and regulations. Eligibility certification must be completed prior to joining a team and taking part in any athletically related activities. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please speak with Compliance staff.

All student-athletes must:

  • Attend an orientation session with Compliance Staff
  • Receive a copy of the Student-Athlete Handbook, the NCAA and Pacific Drug Testing Consent Forms http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/health-safety/drug_testing/index.html), Informed Consent, and Academic Release Statement
  • Meet NCAA Progress Towards Degree and GPA Requirements
  • Be registered for 12 units
  • Pass a minimum of 6 units during the previous term of full-time enrollment
  • Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

In order to participate in intercollegiate athletics, you must maintain your athletic and academic eligibility. Your coach, the Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Services and Compliance, Pacific's NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, and the Director of Athletics work together to ensure adherence to all NCAA and West Coast Conference rules and regulations regarding eligibility. Though NCAA and Conference rules may seem complicated, they ensure that all teams play according to the same rules, with no team having an unfair competitive edge. Great effort is made by the University administration to see that you and all staff members are familiar with these rules and understand that any deviation from them, whether knowingly or through ignorance, is not condoned by the department or the University.

TWELVE-UNIT ENROLLMENT
NCAA rules require that all student-athletes be registered in 12 units to be eligible for practice and/or competition. This means that you are ineligible to practice or compete if at any time:

  • Your registration or admission is canceled; or
  • Your registration falls below 12 credits.

The only exception to this rule is for seniors in their final semester who may be enrolled in only the number of units they need to graduate. In this situation, you must have a statement from your advisor on file with Compliance Staff.

NCAA 6-UNIT RULE
Six semester hours of degree applicable academic credit must be earned during the semester prior to competition. Summer school does not apply to this rule. Student-athletes in their final semester of eligibility are required to pass six hours to be eligible for post-season competition immediately following that term.

DECLARING A MAJOR:
After your fourth full-time semester you are required to declare a major. Your percent of degree requirements must be determined at this time. At any time you decide to change your major, it is imperative to consult with the Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Services and Compliance to find out the implications on your eligibility.

Student-athletes may earn one unit of credit for sports participation and one unit for strength and conditioning/weight training each year. In order to earn the credit, student-athletes should register for their sport in the semester of their championship and enroll in the strength and conditioning/weight training in the other semester. A total of eight credits can be earned in this manner, two per academic year. NCAA ACADEMIC & PROGRESS STANDARDS:

To be eligible to compete, you must be in good academic standing according to the University's standards, be enrolled in at least 12 units, and maintain satisfactory progress toward a baccalaureate degree. To meet the NCAA progress toward degree rules, students must meet the following requirements:

By the beginning of your second year in college:

  • pass a minimum of 24 units during your freshman year (Fall, Spring & Summer);
  • complete a minimum of 18 units during the Fall and Spring semesters;
  • earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0;
  • pass a minimum of 6 units each semester;

By the beginning of your third year in college:

  • declare a major;
  • have 40% of your degree completed;
  • complete a minimum of 18 units during the previous Fall and Spring semesters;
  • earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0;
  • pass a minimum of 6 units each semester;

By the beginning of your fourth year in college:

  • have 60% of your degree completed;
  • complete a minimum of 18 units during the previous Fall and Spring semesters;
  • earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0;
  • pass a minimum of 6 units each semester;

By the beginning of your fifth year in college:

  • have 80% of your degree completed;
  • complete a minimum of 18 units during the previous Fall and Spring semesters;
  • earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0;
  • pass a minimum of 6 units each semester

GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING
To remain eligible for participation in Intercollegiate Athletics, student-athletes must make "satisfactory progress" towards their declared degree and be considered in "good academic standing." Both of these factors are measured at the beginning of each fall semester. To meet the satisfactory progress requirement, student-athletes must successfully complete 18 semester hours of credit during the academic year, passing a minimum of six hours per term. Good academic standing at Pacific is achieved by maintaining a cumulative Pacific grade point average of at least 2.00. Coursework taken at other institutions is not considered in calculating this grade point average. At Pacific, student-athletes must also be in good academic standing at the beginning of the spring semester in order to remain eligible for competition. In the mid-year calculation, incomplete grades are treated as failures. If a student-athlete becomes academically ineligible, she or he can be reinstated whenever the deficiency is removed.