Student-Athlete Information

STUDENT-ATHLETE RELATED RESOURCES
Please use the resources to the left to refer to athletic department policies. If you have any further questions, please contact us at anytime.

We want to hear from you! If you need a phone number or email address of a staff member, please visit the Staff page or use the main Athletics directory.

The main number at Academic Services is (413) 545-4379. You can also stop by our office at 251 Boyden during business hours (M-F 9:00am-5:00pm).

Student-Athlete Policies and Conduct

NCAA
Student athletes are subject to NCAA rules and regulations governing unsportsmanlike behavior, substance abuse, gambling and bribery, and the acceptance of non-permissible awards, benefits and expenses, as well as other forms of misconduct. All such rules and regulations are found in the NCAA Manual.

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
Student athletes are subject to the provisions of the Student Handbook of Rights and Responsibilities. As University students, the policies in the Handbook apply to student athletes in the same manner as any student at UMass. Disciplinary action in the event of allegations of academic dishonesty, dorm infractions, illegal activity, or any other form of inappropriate behavior on campus will be treated under the University guidelines for such violations of institutional policy. Athletic Department actions may be applied in addition to the University's policies if such action is warranted. Department actions may include, but are not limited to:

official reprimand;
suspension from practice and/or competition;
suspension for a semester; and/or
forfeit of scholarship.

Department punitive action is per the review of the head coach and the supervising Associate Athletic Director, and with the final authority of the Athletic Director.

PERSONAL CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Athletic Director makes every effort to offer a program that assists each student athlete in securing a degree and fulfilling the University's objectives as stated in the Mission Statement. The acceptance of athletic financial aid and participation as a member of an athletic team includes academic and athletic responsibilities for the student athlete. Continued participation in UMass Athletic Programs is conditional upon meeting the following criteria. Failure to meet the criteria is grounds for: 1) official reprimand; 2) suspension from practice and/or competition; 3) suspension for a semester; and/or 4) forfeit of scholarship.

ACADEMIC

Attend classes regularly and complete all academic assignments.
Consult with academic advisors and attend tutoring sessions as directed.
Maintain academic eligibility and satisfactory academic progress per NCAA and affiliated conferences' rules;
Work diligently to uphold the academic standards set forth by the University, and individual team programs.

ATHLETIC

Abide by all team, Departmental, Conference and NCAA rules;
Maintain a physical condition required by the participating sport for safety and competition;
Attend all organized practices and team meetings as mandated by the program.
Use Athletic Department equipment properly and return it in good condition.

SPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
Sportsmanlike conduct is an essential element of the University's image during competition between intercollegiate athletic teams. As highly visible representatives of the University, student athletes, like the coaching staffs, are expected to portray the mission and values of the Institution. Unsportsmanlike conduct will never be tolerated at UMass in any form. The specific rules and regulations governing sportsmanlike conduct are documented in both the NCAA and affiliated conferences' rule books. Coaches are to provide student athletes with instruction on appropriate conduct and to make all participants in the program aware of the rules regarding unsportsmanlike behavior.

GAMBLING AND BRIBERY
The NCAA has established specific guidelines concerning involvement in gambling and bribery. The NCAA clearly states that a student athlete is not eligible to compete if they:

knowingly provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition;
solicit a bet on any intercollegiate team; and/or
accept a bet on any team representing the institution or participate in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics through a bookmaker, a parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling.

The NCAA further states that a student athlete will not be eligible to compete if they have shown dishonesty in evading or violating NCAA regulations.

Student-athletes must report any offers of gifts, money or favors in exchange for supplying team information or for attempting to alter the outcome of any contest to the Head Coach and the Compliance Office. Failing to report illegal contact regarding gambling activities is grounds for:

official reprimand;
suspension from practice and/or competition;
suspension for a semester; and/or
forfeit of scholarship.

ALUMNI ACTIVITIES
The University of Massachusetts stands for fair and ethical practices in all aspects of higher education and will not tolerate any infractions of NCAA or affiliated conferences' recruiting rules by its alumni or staff. All alumni activity in recruiting will be monitored by the head coach and the Compliance Office. Head coaches are ultimately accountable for the recruiting activities of alumni associated with their program.

NCAA bylaws governing recruiting activities have been amended to greatly limit the role of alumni in recruiting activities, as follows:

All in person, on-and off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospective student athlete or the prospect's relatives or legal guardians shall be made by institutional staff members. Such contact, as well as correspondence and telephone calls, by representatives of an institution's athletics interests is prohibited…"

This ruling was instituted in order to reduce recruiting violations attributed to alumni and boosters of institutions around the nation. Recruiting activities that are prohibited by "representatives of athletic interests" are defined in detail in the NCAA Manual. Prohibited alumni recruiting activities do not include activities, which relate to normal admissions procedures applicable to all prospective students, provided personal contact is not made for the purpose of athletic recruiting.

The expectations of all students at the University of Massachusetts as well as sanctions for all violations of the Code of Student Conduct can be found at: http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/

Services

Our Academic Staff is here to help Faculty and Staff with all issues related to student-athletes. We are here to support you in many aspects, such as; providing assistance related to progress reports, proctoring of off-campus exams (during championship competition only), and providing information regarding the status of the student-athlete.

We recognize that student-athletes often have demanding schedules and are similar in some ways but different in other ways from the general student body. As a staff, we hope to lighten the burden that many faculty members carry when a particular student or group of students require accommodation out of the norm.

Please feel free to contact us at anytime, we will be glad to help.

We want to hear from you! If you need a phone number or email address of a staff member, please visit the Staff page or use the main Athletics directory.

The main number at Student-Athlete Services is (413) 545-4379. You can stop by our office at 251 Boyden during business hours (M-F 9:00-5:00).

Progress Reporting

Progress reports will be sent to instuctors twice per semester via GradesFirst. The first round of requests will be sent out the beginning of the 6th week with a deadline to return seven days later. The second round of requests will be sent out at the beginning of the 11th week of the semester in the Fall and the 12th week of the semester in the Spring with a deadline to be returned seven days later.

If a progress report is not received back for all MASS student-athletes by the deadline, Counselors will follow up with instructors via email or phone.

If a professor marks a student "at-risk" in their GradesFirst progress report, the student will receive an email to contact their academic counselor as soon as possible to discuss an appropriate course of action.

Class Excuse Policy and Forms

CLASS EXCUSE POLICY
Students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled classes at the University for which they are registered. In cases of illness, students are to explain their absences directly to their instructors. The grades of students who have met the requirements of the instructor in making up their work shall not be reduced for absence because of illness. Students are not to be penalized for official off-campus trips.

Students absent due to extenuating circumstances-including jury duty, military obligations, scheduled activities for other classes, the death of a family member, or verifiable health-related incapacity-remain responsible for meeting all class requirements and contacting the faculty member in a timely fashion about making up missed work. Faculty shall offer such students reasonable assistance in making up missed classes (i.e., making arrangements for attendance at labs or discussion sections which meet at other times; providing makeup exams or labs where feasible or offer mutually agreeable alternatives to make up work). When scheduled events, such as athletic events, conflict with more than 20 percent of the scheduled meeting times of a course, the student is required to drop one or the other. When the overlap is less than 20 percent, the student may engage in both activities, but remains responsible for meeting all requirements of the course.

In considering whether to grant an excuse for an absence caused by illness or other extenuating non-academic reasons, faculty have the right to require formal, written documentation, within the limits of the health care provider's policy (see Administrative Policies and Procedures, Section II. Excuses for Health Reasons).

More information can be found at http://www.umass.edu/registrar/media/academicregs.pdf

FORMS
Athletic Department Policy: Our office provides standardized documentation for class excuse forms due to team travel. Class excuses for reasons other than team travel (ex. participation in NCAA sanctioned individual events) should be referred to the Associate AD and will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. In general, we will only notify instructors of class absences if there is a direct relation to athletics or if it is a non-athletic emergency that renders the student-athlete unable to use email for a period of days.

At least three weeks prior to each season, coaches should provide their team's academic counselor with a list of competition dates and times, dismissal dates and times, and return dates and times if the return date falls on a weekday. A travel roster must also be included. Counselors will enter this information in a standardized letter and provide a copy to the head coach for distribution. Student-athletes should provide the letter to each of their professors and T.A.s at least two weeks before the first competition. If the first competition is prior to the first day of class, student-athletes must provide this letter to their teachers and T.A.s no later than the first day of class.
If a student-athlete will miss the first day of class, he/she should email the teacher at least one week prior to the first day of class to notify them of the absence, and follow up by providing the class excuse form the first day he/she is present in class.
Our office will provide an updated letter to coaches/student-athletes via paper, or via email directly to instructors, if any changes to the original schedule or roster occur during the season.
A separate letter and/or direct email from GradesFirst will be provided, as far in advance as is reasonable, to faculty/student-athletes if any post-season or potential post-season travel will occur. Please be aware that because of the timing nature of such events, notification will be expedited as soon as plans are finalized.
Student-athletes are responsible for ensuring that their instructors and T.A.s receive their excuse letters and are responsible for reminding them of any upcoming absences so that appropriate arrangements for make-up work can be determined.

University of Massachusets Athletics

Student-Athlete Policies and Conduct

Services

Progress Reporting

Class Excuse Policy and Forms

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