Hearing Opportunity for Cancellation, Non-renewal or Reduction of Athletic Aid

Athletic grants-in-aid are awarded by Caldwell University for a term of a designated length not to exceed one (1) academic year in accordance with regulations established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA has issued specific guidelines describing the circumstances under which an athletic grant-in-aid can be canceled during the term of the award. The following paragraphs detail the policies established by Caldwell University relating to the cancellation, nonrenewal or reduction in size of an athletic grant-in-aid and the steps that a student-athlete may take to appeal changes in grant-in-aid status. These policies are established by Caldwell University. Changes to the policy may be made at any time at the discretion of Caldwell University.

At the beginning of each academic year, all new team members should receive team rules relating to training, practice, and competition, including those that may affect grant-in-aid renewal. At the beginning of each academic year, the guidelines set forth in this document, which alert grant-in-aid recipients to the grant-in-aid appeal procedures, shall be discussed with the student-athletes with the opportunity provided to ask questions.

Circumstances Warranting Nonrenewal or Reduction of an Athletic Grant-In-Aid at the Conclusion of the Term of Award

Reasons that a nonrenewal, cancellation or reduction of a student-athlete’s athletic grant-in-aid may be undertaken by Caldwell University include, but are not limited to, the following actions of the student-athlete:

1. 
   Rendering himself or herself academically ineligible for intercollegiate competition;
   
2. 
   Fraudulently misrepresenting any information on an application, letter of intent or financial aid agreement;
   
3. 
   Engaging in misconduct warranting disciplinary penalty;
   
4. 
   Voluntarily withdrawing from a sport for personal reasons;
   
5. 
   Receiving permission to contact another institution in regards to transferring to that institution;
   
6. 
   Violation of team rules, and/or training and practice regimen;
   
7. 
   Failing to participate in athletic contest when called upon to do so by the coaching staff;
   
8. 
   Engaging in activities at athletic training, practice, contest or other sites that are harmful to the student-athlete or to others;
   
9. 
   Violation of standards of good sportsmanship as identified by the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference(CACC) and the NCAA.
   
10. 
    Destruction or defacement of Institutional property;
    
11. 
    Conduct that violates the athletics departments and Caldwell University’s rules and regulations;
    
12. 
    Conduct that violates NCAA or CACC rules.
    

Reasons that a cancellation or reduction of a student-athlete’s athletic grant-in-aid may be undertaken by the Caldwell University during the period of the award include the following actions of the student-athlete:

1. 
   Rendering himself or herself academically ineligible for intercollegiate competition;
   
2. 
   Fraudulently misrepresenting any information on an application, letter of intent or financial aid agreement (either by not reporting for practice or after making only token appearances as determined by the institution);
   
3. 
   Engaging in serious misconduct warranting substantial disciplinary penalty (as determined by the universities regular student disciplinary authority); or
   
4. 
   Voluntarily withdrawing from a sport for personal reasons.
   

A student-athlete may appeal to the Caldwell University Athletic Appeals Committee a decision by the head coach and/or athletics director to cancel, not to renew or to reduce the amount of an athletic grant-in-aid. Such an appeal must be initiated within fourteen (14) days of the Office of Financial Aid notifying the student of the change in grant-in-aid status. The desire to appeal must be communicated in writing to the Director of Financial Aid. It shall not be the responsibility of the Executive Director of Athletics or the Office of Financial Aid to seek out statements, evidence, or any other documentation pertinent to the decision. If called upon, the burden shall be upon the student and/or coach to prove his or her case by a preponderance of evidence.

The Caldwell University Athletic Appeals Committee shall complete its review of a student’s appeal of a grant-in-aid decision within 30 days of the appeal, reporting the decision in writing to the involved student, coach, Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance and the Executive Director of Athletics.

Procedures for reaching a decision shall be at the discretion of the Caldwell University Athletics Appeals Committee.

Appeal Procedures:

• 
  The student will submit an appeal in writing , addressed to the “Caldwell University Athletic Appeals Committee,” and delivered to the Financial Aid Office that includes:
  
  • 
    The student’s name, Caldwell University ID#, sport;
    
  • 
    Reasons for believing that the decision was unfair;
    
  • 
    Copies of any relevant documents;
    
• 
  The Athletics Department will then be asked to submit written documentation to support their reason for cancelling or reducing the Athletics Grant-in-Aid.
  

Once the Appeals Committee has met, one of two actions is taken:

• 
  If the Athletic Appeals Committee finds that the decision to cancel, reduce or not renew aid was not warranted and/or justified, the appeal is approved and the Athletics Grant-in-Aid is reinstated for the following semester and/or academic year.
  
• 
  If the Athletic Appeals Committee finds that the decision to cancel, reduce or not renew aid was warranted and/or justified, the appeal is denied and the Athletics Grant-in-Aid is cancelled, reduced or not renewed for the semester and/or academic year the aid was scheduled to be awarded.
  

After the committee meeting, the decision of the Appeals Committee will be emailed to the student’s email address on file with Caldwell University and the Athletic Department will also be notified.