Page 231 - (FINAL!) UPDATED 13.0) 2020-2021 HANDBOOK - SEPTEMBER 2020 EDITION_Neat

SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R is an advanced student academically and completed their requirements for high school graduation in three
years. They have enrolled in Community College A for the fall 2020 term as a full-time student. They will receive their high school
diploma and graduate high school June 2021. Are they eligible to participate in NJCAA athletics as an advanced student prior to
their official high school graduation?
ANSWER:
No. All participants in the NJCAA must be high school graduates. In this case the student could take and pass a State
Department of Education equivalency exam to be eligible for NJCAA sport participation.

SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R’s high school class graduated in June 2020; however, Student-Athlete R did not graduate from high school as
they did not meet the graduation requirements. The student-athlete enrolls full-time in the fall 2020 term and earns 12 hours with a
1.75 GPA. Is Student-Athlete R eligible to compete in the spring 2021 term?
ANSWER:
No. A student-athlete must be a high school graduate with an academic diploma, general education diploma or an equivalency
exam recognized by the State Department of Education to meet NJCAA eligibility requirements.

GED / EQUIVALENT

Case 1

SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R, a non-high school graduate, passes the General Educational Development (GED) test in August following the
June graduation of his/her high school class. The agency that administered the test has regulations which will not permit the
awarding of a certificate or diploma until one calendar year following graduation of the applicant's high school class.

Is Student-Athlete R eligible to compete in the intercollegiate athletic program of Community College A subsequent to the passing of
the test, but prior to the lapse of the one-year period?

ANSWER:
Yes. Student-Athlete R becomes eligible to compete in the intercollegiate athletic program of Community College A upon his/her
successful passing of the GED. The agency must verify the completion of the test in writing and Community College A must maintain
this proof in their audit file.

Case 2
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R, a non-high school graduate, enrolls full-time at Community College A at the beginning of the fall term.
During the term, Student-Athlete R successfully passes the GED test. Will it be necessary for Student-Athlete R to wait until the
completion of the term to participate?
ANSWER:
No. Student-Athlete R will be eligible immediately upon notification that he/she has passed the test, if all other provisions of the
NJCAA rules are satisfied.

Case 3
GED Test after Withdrawing after the First 18 Days of a Term

SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R, a non-high school graduate, enrolls full-time at Community College A in the fall term. Student-Athlete R withdraws
from Community College A. Student-Athlete R takes and passes the GED test during fall term. If Student-Athlete R enrolls full-time at
Community College B for the spring term, can he/she immediately participate in athletics based on the successful completion of the
GED?
ANSWER:
Yes. Since Student-Athlete R did not participate prior to his/her withdrawing during the fall term, he/she is not a transfer student and
the passing of the GED makes the student-athlete automatically eligible for the spring term. The fall term should not be counted as a
full-time term in this case due to it occurring prior to his/her high school graduation or equivalent.
Case 4

SITUATION: Dual Enrollment and Eligibility of a Home Schooled Non-High School Graduate

Student-Athlete R is home schooled during his/her senior year of high school and enrolls in Community College A during that academic
year. What are the requirements for Student-Athlete R to be eligible to participate at Community College A during his/her senior year in home
school?
ANSWER:
All student-athletes in the NJCAA must be high school graduates with an academic diploma, general education diploma or a state
department of education recognized equivalency exam. The fact the student is not yet a high school graduate would prohibit them from
participating in the NJCAA.