Saint Michael’s College

Department of Athletics

2017-2018 Compliance Manual

INTRODUCTION

This manual is intendedas a supplement to the NationalCollegiate Athletic Association(NCAA)DivisionIIManual and otherofficial NCAA bylawsandregulations. All areasarenot coveredhere, but anefforthas been madeto touch on criticalmatters of compliance. This manual ismeant to serveas aguidefor coaches and staff and designed to:

  • Assist athletics personnelin understandingand applyingcompliance policiesandproceduresrequiredbySaint Michael’s College, the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10)and theNCAA.
  • Facilitateandhelp ensure compliance standardswithin theDepartment ofAthletics.
  • Providestaffmemberswith samples &materialsrequired fortheir usebytheinstitution, theNE-10 and the NCAA.
  • Assist with the institution's responsibilityofmonitoringthe compliance standards within theDepartment ofAthletics.
  • Anyquestions regarding NCAA regulations or information related to this manual should bedirected to the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance.

Saint Michael’s CollegeDepartment of Athletics

Saint Michael’s College Mission Statement

It is the mission of Saint Michael’s College to contribute through higher education to the enhancement of the human person and to the advancement of human culture in the light of the Catholic faith.

Department of Athletics Mission Statement

The Saint Michael’s College Athletic Department seeks to provide high quality, broad-based athletic and recreational experiences while holding intellectual, personal, social, moral, and spiritual growth paramount in the process of developing the whole “human person.”

Department of Athletics Guiding Principles

These principles shall guide the administration and implementation of the Saint Michael’s College Intercollegiate Athletics program:

  • The Department is committed to providing programs to meet the needs of all students and will offer quality programs in varsity sports, intramurals, recreation, and wellness programs.
  • The programs offered will foster the development of teamwork and cooperation as well as competitiveness, and promote the expectation of good sporting behavior and ethical conduct both on and off the field.
  • The Department is committed to offering programs which reflect an ongoing commitment to gender equity and are conducted in harmony with the educational purposes of the institution.
  • We are committed to the physical, emotional and social welfare of our student-athletes, including issues related to gender, sexual orientation, and racial and ethnic diversity.
  • The intercollegiate coaches will recruit talented student-athletes who are representative of the student body, and will challenge them to excel in a highly competitive regional and national academic and athletic environment.
  • The department is fully committed to NCAA Division II, Northeast-10 and other affiliated conferences’ ideals and values, including the principles related to rules compliance and amateurism.

Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

As a core value, the Saint Michael's College Athletics Department believes in and is committed to diversity, inclusion and gender equity among its student-athletes, coaches, and staff. We seek to establish and maintain an inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student-athletes and career opportunities for coaches and administrators from diverse backgrounds. Diversity and inclusion improve the learning environment for all student-athletes and enhance the excellence within the College.

The Saint Michael's College Athletics Department will provideor enable programming and education which sustains foundations of a diverse and inclusive culture across dimensions of diversity, including, but not limited to: age, race, sex, class, national origin, creed, educational background, disability, gender expression, geographical location, income, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation and work experience.*

We expect all Purple Knight student-athletes and staff to contribute to and embrace diversity in our program offerings. Any Saint Michael’s student or staff that needs or desires special accommodation related to diversity and inclusion is encouraged to speak directly with any member of the athletics administrative team.

*The SMC Diversity & Inclusion commitment statement mirrors that adopted by both the NCAA and the Northeast-10 Conference.

Athletic Conference Affiliations

The Department of Athletics adheres to the rules and regulations of Saint Michael's College (SMC), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10).

NCAA Division II

TheNCAAis the largestintercollegiate athleticassociation in theUnited States.It hasapproximately1,200 members.Ithas threedivisions (I,IIIII).There areapproximately300NCAADivisionIIinstitutions and 24 conferences. The Division II schools and conferences emphasis for the student-athlete experience is a comprehensive program of learning and development in a personal setting. Our approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletic competition and development of positive societal attitudes in service to community. The balance and integration of these different areas of learning opportunity provide our student-athletes a path to graduation while cultivating a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead.

TheNCAADivisionIImembershiphasdefinedthe DivisionII experience throughasixprongstrategic positioningplatformthat aims to differentiate the DivisionIIexperience from that ofDivisionIandIIImember institutions.

Learning: Student-athletesparticipate in athleticsto enhance their lives. ASaint Michael's Collegeeducation will providestudent-athleteswithknowledge,understanding,and the abilityto be life-longlearners.Student-athletesare constantlylearningand being educated;in the classroom, inthe community,attheir jobs, in everydaytasks,and also on the field, court, track,etc. Student-athleteslearnaboutthemselves and otherscontinuously. Theylearn how todeal with their emotions; how to motivatethemselves andstaymotivated whengoals arenot obtained.

Balance: Student-athletes must maintainbalance in their everydaylives to achievesuccessacademically,athleticallyandsocially. Student-athletes must serve in eachof theirroleseffectivelyall while balancingtime andenergybetween them. Student-athletes that overemphasizeanyaspect oflifecould have a negative impact on themselves and those around them.Balance is thekeytoanystudent-athletessuccessin academics, social lifeandathletics.

Resourcefulness: InDivisionII,student-athletes rarelyreceive fullathleticscholarshipsandcoaches rarelyhave largebudgets to operate. Manystudent-athletes, coaches and administratorsin DivisionIIhold otherjobs outsideof theCollege. Student-athletes, coaches andadministratorsalike must be creative with the resourcestheyhavein order to be successful. Thisis especiallybeneficial for thegrowth of student-athletes asproductive members ofsociety.Theymust use theirenergy, talent, organizational skillsandallresources availableto them such astutors, facultycoaches and staffto achieve theiracademic andathletic goalsalike. Workingdirectlywith coaches, facultyandadministrators has helpedSaint Michael’s College student-athleteslearn theskills to succeed on the field, in the classroom andbeyond.

Sportsmanship:Saint Michael's CollegeDepartment of Athletics is committed to the principlesandideals ofsportsmanship.Student-athletesshall win with humilityand suffer losses with dignity. Student-athletes must be respectfulto theiropponents,officials and fansat all times.Student-athletesshall do nothingin a contestthat is contraryto what wewould want othersto do to us. “Treatothersasyouwant to betreated.”Sportsmanship must be exhibited at all times if we areto serveas rolemodels and to create afamily-friendlyatmosphereateveryevent that Saint Michael's Collegehosts.

Passion: Student-athletes,coachesandadministrators should care about and have anappreciationforall things in life.Live life andplay,coach, orsupervise intercollegiate sportswith passion. Without passion individuals areincapable ofachieving greatthings.Passionshallmotivate all.

Service: Department ofAthletics representatives(student-athletes, coaches, staff,administrators)shallofferservice to Saint Michael's College, to thedepartment and to the communitybecauseindividuals in suchpositionsareprivileged, havetheopportunityto serve and arelikelyto makeapositive impact on thosein the community. Servingothers in thecommunitymakesSaint Michael's College, the Department of Athletics, andour communitya betterplace. Servingothers is also anexcellentwayto enhancelives of those involved. All student-athletesparticipate in communityservicesinitiatives;eitherwith theirrespective teams and/or withSAAC.

Northeast-10 Conference

The Northeast-10 has continued to grow stronger year by year since its inception and now stands as a model conference of NCAA Division II. The NE-10 stands as the second largest and one of the premier NCAA Division II conferences in the nation. The NE-10 prides itself in developing leaders and celebrates the academic and athletic excellence that its member institutions have and continue to achieve.

NE-10 members include: Adelphi University, American International College, Assumption College, Bentley University, Franklin Pierce University, Le Moyne College, Merrimack College, University of New Haven, Pace University, Saint Anselm College, Saint Michael’s College, The College of Saint Rose, Southern Connecticut State University, Southern New Hampshire University and Stonehill College.

The NE-10 sponsors the following championship sports: baseball; men’s and women’s basketball; men’s and women’s cross country; field hockey; football; men’s golf; men’s ice hockey; men’s and women’s lacrosse; men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field; men’s and women’s soccer; softball; men’s and women’s swimming and diving; men’s and women’s tennis; and women’s volleyball.

The Northeast-10 Conference’s mission is to encourage sound academic practices and contribute to the total personal development of all student-athletes, stimulate good sports like behavior and healthy environments for competition, and promote mutual trust and harmonious relations between its member institutions.

NCAA COMPLIANCE
NCAA COMPLIANCE OVERVIEW

Each institutional staff member is bound by all of the regulations contained within the NCAA Manual. This manual is intended as a supplement to the NCAA manual and other official NCAA bylaws and regulations. All areas are not covered here, but an effort has been made to touch on critical matters of compliance. This manual is specifically meant to serve as a guide for coaches and other institutional staff members. Any questions regarding this information should be directed to the Associate Director for Compliance.

SMC Athletics Compliance Office Mission Statement

Saint Michael's College (SMC) is committed to the principle of institutional control, asdefinedbyNCAA Bylaw6.01.1, in the operation of its athletics department through rules educationforcoaches,Department of Athleticsstaff, institutional staff,student-athletesand boosters of the athleticsprogram. All areresponsible forknowingthe rulesandabidingbythem. This means following the letter and spirit of the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA, Northeast-10 Conference and Saint Michael's College.

The SMC Athletic Compliance Office coordinates, monitors, and verifies compliance with all NCAA requirements. The SMC Athletic Compliance Office also educates members of the university community regarding NCAA and NE-10 rules and regulations. Through educational programs and interpretive support, the SMC Athletic Compliance Office strives to ensure that all individuals associated with Saint Michael's College’s Department of Athletics understand and abide by the rules and regulations of the institution, NCAA and the NE-10.

The goal of the SMC Athletic Compliance Office is to proactively educate, monitor, and oversee the intercollegiate athletic programs at Saint Michael's Collegein order to cultivate and support a campus-wide culture of compliance.

SMC Athletics Compliance Office Philosophy

Saint Michael's Collegemaintains intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational program. For each student-athlete, athletics is used as an opportunity to expand the personal commitment toward a lifetime of excellence. A significant component of developing this excellence is to instill the highest degree of academic and athletic integrity.

The opportunity to participate in intercollegiate athletics is an integral component of education at Saint Michael's College. The College is committed to providing the highest quality co-curricular programs, including intercollegiate athletics in a manner consistent with the operating principles of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and The Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10).

As a member of the NCAA, participation in athletics at Saint Michael's Collegeis guided by operating principles regarding amateurism, equity, nondiscrimination academic integrity, student-athlete welfare, sportsmanship, ethical conduct and related matters. These principles, adopted by the NCAA membership, serve as the standards by which all Division II athletic programs are judged. The College’s commitment to these principles is underscored in the three-fold mission of intercollegiate athletics: to compete in a broad spectrum of sports at the highest competitive NCAA Division II levels attainable; to compete with integrity, and to link athletic participation to all aspects of learning while striving to achieve at the highest academic level.

Institutional Control

Pursuant to NCAA DivisionII Bylaw 6.01.1, “thecontrol andresponsibilityfor the conduct ofintercollegiate athletics shall be exercisedbythe institution itself.”As such, it is theresponsibilityofSaint Michael's College, the Department of Athletics and the Compliance Officeto ensure its intercollegiateathleticsprogramis in compliancewith the bylawsandregulations of the NCAA. While compliance responsibilities are shared campus-wide, ultimate responsibility and authority over athletics rests with the President of Saint Michael's College. The President is responsible for theadministrationof allaspects of the athleticsprogram,including approval of the budgetand audit of allexpenditures.It is the responsibilityof theinstitution to monitorits athleticsprogramto assurecomplianceand to identify,report to theNCAA instances in whichcompliance has been compromisedand take appropriate corrective actionwhennecessary.

Institutional Control is demonstrated throughthefollowing: (1) creation and implementationof formal institutional policies and procedures forNCAA rules compliance;(2)monitoringand enforcement of policies and procedures thatare established in such awayas to deterviolations before theyoccur;(3)regular and clear communication of compliance procedures; (4) takingof corrective actions to altera compliance systemwhen thesystem is not working; (5) swift actionafter learningof a violation;(6)clearcommunication that violations of NCAArules will result in discipline and possible discharge;(7)clearcommunication that individualsmust self-report anyNCAA rulesviolation without fear ofnegativeconsequences;and(8)theexistence and support ofa meaningfulrulescompliance-education programs forpersonnelengaged in athletically-relatedoperations.

NCAA Rules Compliance Standards

Thefollowingstandardsapplyto Saint Michael's College Department of Athletics staff andanyfacultyor staff outsidethe Department of Athletics involved in the administration oftheintercollegiate athletic program.

  • Coaches andDepartment of Athleticsstaffareresponsible for knowingand adheringtoallNCAA and NE-10rules and regulations.When indoubt,askbeforeacting.
  • Saint Michael's College monitors its athletics programs to ensure compliance.Anyinstance ofnon-compliance is reportedto the NCAA.
  • Saint Michael's College personnel will self-report anyknowledgeof NCAA violations to an appropriate authority including but not restricted to, the Director of Athletics, Associate Athletic Director of Compliance, Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) or, NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR).
  • All Department of Athletics staffandselect College personnelareprovidedaccess to a variety of resources for their reference including the online NCAA Division II Manual; regular communication from the Department of Athletics Compliance Office; the Saint Michael's College Athletic website; publications from the NCAA. All staff members are responsible for knowing and acting on the content of such materials.

Ethical Conduct

Individualsemployedby(orassociatedwith)a memberinstitutiontoadminister,conductorcoachintercollegiateathleticsandallparticipatingstudent-athletesshallactwithhonestyandsportsmanshipatalltimessothatintercollegiateathleticsasawhole,isrepresented withhonoranddignityoffairplayandthegenerallyrecognizedhighstandardsassociatedwithwholesomecompetitivesports.

Unethical Conduct

Unethicalconductbyaprospectiveorenrolledstudent-athleteoracurrentorformerinstitutionalstaffmember,whichincludesanyindividualwhoperformsworkfortheinstitutionortheDepartmentofAthleticsevenifheorshedoesnotreceivecompensationforsuchwork,mayinclude,butisnotlimitedto,thefollowing:

a.Refusaltofurnishinformationrelevanttoaninvestigationofapossibleviolationofan NCAA regulation when requestedto do so bythe NCAA orthe individual’sinstitution;

b.Knowinginvolvementinarrangingforfraudulentacademiccreditorfalsetranscriptsforaprospectiveoranenrolledstudent-athlete;

c.Knowinginvolvementinofferingorprovidingaprospectiveoranenrolledstudent-athleteanimproperinducementorextrabenefitorimproperfinancialaid;

d.KnowinglyfurnishingorknowinglyinfluencingotherstofurnishtheNCAAortheindividual’s institution false or misleading information concerningan individual’sinvolvementinorknowledgeofmattersrelevanttoapossibleviolationofanNCAAregulation;

e.Receiptofbenefitsbyaninstitutionalstaffmemberforfacilitatingor arrangingameetingbetweenastudent-athleteandanagent,financialadvisororarepresentative ofan agent or advisor (e.g.,“runner”);

f.Knowinginvolvementinprovidingabannedsubstanceorimpermissiblesupplementtostudent-athletes,orknowinglyprovidingmedicationstostudent-athletescontrarytomedicallicensure,commonlyacceptedstandardsofcareinsportsmedicinepractice,orstateorfederallaw.Thisprovisionshallnotapplytobannedsubstancesforwhichthestudent-athletehasreceivedamedicalexception perBylaw31.2.3.5;however,thesubstancemustbeprovidedinaccordancewithmedicallicensure,commonlyacceptedstandardsofcareandstateorfederallaw;

g.FailuretoprovidecompleteandaccurateinformationtotheNCAA,theNCAAEligibility Center orinstitution’sadmissionsofficeregarding an individual’sacademicrecord(e.g.,schoolsattended,completionofcoursework,grades,testscores);

h.Fraudulenceormisconductinconnectionwithentranceorplacementexaminations;

i.Engaginginanyathleticscompetitionunderanassumednameorwithintent otherwisetodeceive;or

j.FailuretoprovidecompleteandaccurateinformationtotheNCAA,theNCAAEligibilityCenterortheinstitution’sDepartmentofAthleticsregardinganindividual’s amateurstatus

Knowledge of Use of Banned Drugs

Amemberinstitution'sDepartmentofAthleticsstaffmembersorothersemployedbytheintercollegiateathleticsprogramwhohaveknowledgeofastudent-athlete'suseatanytimeofasubstanceonthelistofNCAA banneddrugs,assetforthinBylaw31.2.3.4,shallfollowinstitutionalproceduresdealingwithdrugabuseorshallbesubjecttodisciplinaryorcorrectiveactionassetforthinBylaw19.5.2.2.

Sport Wagering Activities

The NCAA has defined sports wagering as putting something at risk – such as an entry fee – with the opportunity to win something in return, which includes many fantasy league games (e.g. Fan Duel; Draft Kings). Student-athletes, coaches, and athletic department staff members MAY NOT participate in a fantasy league that requires an entry fee of any amount for an opportunity to win a prize.Thefollowingindividualsshallnotknowinglyparticipateinsportswageringactivitiesorprovideinformationtoindividualsinvolvedinorassociatedwithanytypeofsportswageringactivitiesconcerningintercollegiate,amateurorprofessionalathleticscompetition:

a.Staffmembersofaninstitution's DepartmentofAthletics;

b.NonDepartmentofAthleticsstaffmemberswhohaveresponsibilitieswithinorovertheDepartmentofAthletics(e.g.,chancellororpresident,facultyathleticsrepresentative,individualtowhomathleticsreports);

c.Staffmembersofaconferenceoffice;and

d.Student-athletes

NCAA Rules Education

Rules education is a critical component of thecompliance. Education and knowledge of institutional, conference, andNCAA rules are the firststeps in maintainingcompliance and upholdingthe integrityofintercollegiate athleticsatSaint Michael's College.Although coaches and staff arenot expected to knoweveryNCAArule, theyareexpected to know thebasic rules, to use the NCAA Manual and thisdocument as a referenceand to ask for interpretations before acting when the rules orsituation seems unclear.NCAA rules education is intended toprepare coachesand staff to identifyareas where compliance problems mayexist and to identifyinfractions, should theyoccur. Such education is also intended to inform coachesand staffof proposals and changes to NCAArules throughoutthe legislative process.In addition,the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance will seek input from coaches, staff, the FAR and SAAC regardinglegislationthat relates to their specific sport or area.

NCAA Rules Interpretation

Theinterpretationprocess is a keypart ofensuringcompliancewith NCAA legislation. TheNCAAManual alonedoes notprovide a definitiveanswerto somequestions and inthoseinstances, aninterpretation is required. Itis the responsibilityof all coachesand staffto seek anaccurateinterpretation from the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance before acting. The Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance is the designee for all NCAArulesinterpretations.Coaches andstaffmust seek anaccurateinterpretation before acting.In the absence of the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance, coachesandstaffmaycontact theFARor Director of Athleticsfor assistance.Ifthe Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance or designee cannot readilyanswer the question, and the NCAA LegislativeServicesDatabase(LSDBI) provides insufficientresults to the query,the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance willcontactthe conferenceofficeand/or NCAA forfurther clarification. OnlytheAssociate Director of Athletics for Compliance, President,Directorof Athleticsand FAR maycontactthe NCAA orNE-10 offices forruleinterpretation assistance. Coaches and otherstaff members cannotcontactthe NCAA or NE-10withan interpretativerequest.

Procedures for Requesting NCAA or NE-10 Rule Interpretations

Beforerequestinga ruleinterpretation, staff members mustfirstattempt to findthe bylaw in theNCAAmanual. All coaches and staffmembers must direct ruleandinterpretationquestions tothe Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance.Coaches and assistant coaches can submit theirrequestsvia email.If a questionisdiscussedverbally, the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance asks the coachto follow-upthe discussionwithan emailregardingthe question.Ifthe Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance cannot provide a definitiveinterpretation,the questionwill be forwarded, in writing, tothe conferenceoffice.