Page 243 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

athlete did not participate, transcripts are not required to be translated or provided for eligibility. You will need to document that
the student attended the college prior to the enrollment at the member college.
In the case where foreign transcripts are required for eligibility, the National Office is not responsible for translating foreign
transcripts. Community College A is responsible for having the transcripts translated and the academic terms, credits and
grades must be used for eligibility.
NOTES:
1. If Student-Athlete R participated in a varsity or collegiate club sport at Foreign College A, that year is considered a
year of eligibility and will be counted towards his/her eligibility.
Case 2
Canadian and U.S. Territory Transcripts
SITUATION:
Is it required to provide college transcripts from colleges/universities in Canada or those from the U.S. Territories (Puerto
Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, etc.) for any transfers regardless of previous participation/non-participation?
ANSWER:
NJCAA bylaws require official transcripts from all Canadian college/universities, college /universities located in U.S
territories as well as all domestic colleges and universities. This requirement is regardless of a student’s participation or non-
participation in intercollegiate athletics.

Case 3
Interpreting Foreign Transcripts
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R graduated from high school in their home country and the official transcript is in a language other than
English. Does the transcript need to be translated and interpreted to determine the student’s eligibility in the NJCAA?
ANSWER:
Yes. The transcript must be translated into English then interpreted by a national educational interpretation group to ensure
that it is the equivalent of a domestic high school graduate. Once these two steps are complete, the Registrar at the college
should provide a written statement to be included in the student’s eligibility audit file stating that they have reviewed the
documents and recognize the student as a high school graduate.

ENTRANCE ELIGIBILITY

High School Graduation

Case 1
Non-High School Graduates
SITUATION:
Community College A permits student-athletes who have not graduated from high school or successfully passed an
officially recognized equivalency test to enroll in its college as freshmen student-athletes. Are such student-athletes eligible to
compete in the intercollegiate athletic program at Community College A?

ANSWER:
No. Even though such student-athletes have met the entrance requirements of Community College A, they have not
fulfilled the requirements of the NJCAA. A student-athlete must be a high school graduate or passed a State Department
of Education approved equivalency exam to meet NJCAA eligibility requirements.

Case 2
Graduate of a High School that is Listed on the NCAA’s List of Uncleared High Schools
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R is a graduate of a high school that is listed on the NCAA’s website (www.ncaa.org) that cannot be used
for NCAA initial-eligibility purposes. Is Student-Athlete R immediately eligible for NJCAA competition?
ANSWER:
The NJCAA no longer follows the NCAA’s determination on specific high schools. It is the member college’s responsibility
to determine if the student is a high school graduate with an academic diploma, general education diploma or a State
Department of Education recognized equivalency exam and considered by the member college to be a “high school graduate”.

Case 3
High School Certificate of Completion
SITUATION:
May a Certificate of Completion from a high school be used as a substitute for or equivalent to a high school diploma?
ANSWER:
No. The Certificate of Attendance or Completion cannot be substituted as a high school diploma. Therefore, if a student-
athlete has only obtained this certificate and has not successfully graduated from a high school with an academic diploma,
general education diploma or a State Department of Education recognized equivalency exam, he/she is ineligible for NJCAA
participation.