FOR
FIFTH YEAR AID FOR STUDENTS-ATHLETES
WHO HAVE COMPLETED ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY
I. To be eligible for a grant-in-aid in the fifth 12 month period following the initial date of a student's matriculation at two or four year collegiate institution the student must:
A. Meet the Conference criteria for fifth year assistance as noted in Rule 15.01.5C:
1. Have exhausted athletic eligibility;
2. Be CURRENTLY enrolled as a full-time student or the credit level necessary to complete the degree requirements.
3. Have received certification from the college office that course work is a prerequisite to graduation; and
4. The grant-in-aid shall be limited to the maximum amount received during the student's preceding full academic year and shall be awarded for the shortest period of time necessary to achieve the baccalaureate degree.
B. Meets the University of Minnesota criteria for fifth year aid:
1. The student must have earned at least 105 semester credits toward a degree in the preceding 8 semesters; and
2. Must have maintained a cumulative Big Ten GPA of at least 2.0.
3. Must have completed the application procedure for U of M fifth year aid by the established deadline.
II. Student-athletes who signed a contract with a professional sports organization (or who for other reasons become "professionalized" under Conference and NCAA rules) but who are later released from contracts may be awarded financial aid in the fifth or sixth year after matriculation if the following conditions are met:
1. The student-athlete is no longer under contract nor is receiving compensation from a professional sports organization.
2. The student-athlete does not receive more than five years of aid during the five to six year period.
III. The Athletics Director will have the discretion to waive the University of Minnesota criteria for fifth year aid, due to mitigating circumstances.
REVISED FALL 2002
Approved by FAOCIA and the Assembly Steering Committee spring 2003