Page 226 - (FINAL!) UPDATED 13.0) 2020-2021 HANDBOOK - SEPTEMBER 2020 EDITION_Neat

Case 4
Conversion of Semester and Quarter Credits
SITUATION:
Section 2.D.3 requires that a student-athlete accumulate 24 semester credit hours or 28/36 quarter credit hours prior to a second season of
participation. How does one compute this requirement when a student-athlete has attended a college which offers quarter credits and another
that offers semester credits?
ANSWER:
The proper procedure is to convert the credits from all previous colleges to the same type of credits which the college uses where the student-
athlete will be participating.
- The formula for converting quarter credits to semester credits is to multiply 2/3 x quarter credit hours = semester credit hours (2/3 x
36 quarter credit hours = 24 semester credit hours).
- The formula for converting semester credits to quarter credits is to multiply 3/2 x semester credits = quarter credit hours (3/2 x 24
semester credit hours = 36 quarter credits).
- The credits and quality points must all be converted to determine the credit hours and GPA.
- Likewise, the number of full-time terms must be adjusted, 2 full-time semesters become 3 full-time quarters.

NOTE: The general rule is that the conversion itself cannot make a student-athlete eligible.

Case 5

SITUATION: NJCAA Rules vs. Regional / Conference Rules

NJCAA Region A wants to implement a rule limiting the number of scholarships allowed for a particular sport which is stricter than
the national rule. Is Region A permitted to strengthen this rule and require all region members to abide by the strengthened standards?
ANSWER:
In most instances, regions are allowed to implement rules which are more stringent than those in place at the national level. In cases
where multiple conferences make up the region, the conference which holds the majority of votes will not be permitted to institute a regional
rule solely based on numbers. In order to institute a regional bylaw which is stricter than the national rule in a multi conference region a
unanimous vote must be collected in order to adopt the new requirements. The change will not be allowed with a majority vote. Conference
membership is voluntary but regional membership is mandatory based on NJCAA membership and a member college may not decline
regional membership.

Case 6

SITUATION: College Rules and Athletic Eligibility
Student-Athletes at Community College A are required to maintain a 2.15 overall GPA in a degree program to be eligible to participate in
intercollegiate athletics. The NJCAA does not require an overall 2.15 GPA and Student-Athlete R would like to participate in an NJCAA
regional tournament. Is Student-Athlete R eligible to participate if he/she satisfies the academic progress eligibility rules but not the
requirements of the college?
ANSWER:
No. A conference or region may establish rules that are more stringent than the NJCAA rules. According to NJCAA bylaws, student-
athletes must satisfy the institution rules, conference rules and NJCAA rules to be eligible for athletic participation.

INCOMPLETE GRADES

Case 1

Incomplete (I) Grades
SITUATION:
During the first term of college attendance at Community College A, Student-Athlete R initially enrolls in 12 credit hours. At the completion
of the term Student-Athlete R passes 9 credit hours and receives an incomplete grade in a 3-credit hour course. Is Student-Athlete R eligible to
compete in the intercollegiate athletic program at Community College A during the second term? ANSWER:
No. Student-Athlete R remains ineligible until the incomplete grade has been completed. There is no deadline for completing this
incomplete grade since after completing and passing this class, the incomplete grade on the fall transcript will change to the grade earned by
the student. If that incomplete grade, in this case, becomes a passing grade, Student-Athlete R will then have successfully passed 12 hours
with a 1.75 GPA or higher from his/her first full-time term, thus satisfying NJCAA bylaws. However, if Student-Athlete R does not pass this
class, he/she will remain ineligible. The deadline for adding students to eligibility must be met as well.

INTERSESSION
Case 1
Clarification on Winter Intersession Classes and their Completion Deadlines
To further clarify when intersession classes must end in order to use them for eligibility please see the following examples. Please
remember that the following is the ruling for winter intersession classes and those classes that may start concurrently with the beginning of
the term but are completed before the end of the term.

SITUATION:
Community College A has a student-athlete who is ineligible after the fall term and is trying to become eligible for the spring term by
satisfying one of the first season academic requirements. The student needs to pass this class. What is the deadline for completing the class in
order to use the class for spring term eligibility?