| ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY | ACADEMIC FRAUD/DISHONESTY | AMATEUR STATUS | ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY | AWARDS & MEMORABILIA | COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS |
| EMPLOYMENT | EXTRA BENEFITS/PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT | FINANCIAL AID | GAMBLING | OUTSIDE COMPETITION | PLAYING & PRACTICE SEASONS |
| PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES | RECRUITING | SOCIAL MEDIA | SUPPLEMENTS & DRUG TESTING | TRANSFER REGULATIONS | VOLUNTARY WORKOUTS |
Louisiana student-athletes are expected to comply with all NCAA, Sun Belt Conference, and institutional rules and regulations. Student-athletes should contact the Compliance Office if they have any questions or concerns regarding any of the information contained within this section. For further information, please see our Student-Athlete Handbook.
| ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY |
To maintain eligibility, a student-athlete must:
- Be enrolled full-time (12 credit hours)
- Pass at least 6 credit hours each semester
- In the sport of football, a student-athlete must pass 9 credit hours in the Fall
- Pass 18 credit hours in the fall and spring combined
- Freshmen must pass 24 credit hours in the fall, spring, and summer combined
- Maintain the following GPA and degree completion requirements:
- Prior to 3rd semester- maintain a 1.8 GPA
- Prior to 5th semester- meet 40% of degree completion and maintain a 1.9 GPA
- Prior to 7th semester- meet 60% of degree completion and maintain a 2.0 GPA
- Prior to 9th semester- meet 80% of degree completion and maintain a 2.0 GPA
| ACADEMIC FRAUD/DISHONESTY |
Cheating may result in being dismissed from the University.
Cheating includes copying on exams or assignments, improper collaboration when instructor has not authorized working together, sharing answers in online classes, using your phone during exams, or sharing information on digital media without consent from the instructor.
If a student-athlete uses another person’s ideas or expressions in their writing without acknowledging the source, they are guilty of plagiarism and could be dismissed from the University.
| AMATEUR STATUS |
Student-athletes cannot receive payment of any kind, directly or through another person, for athletics participation. “Payment” does not only refer to money but can also be meals, drinks, clothes, transportation, services, and preferential treatment.
Student-athletes are also not permitted to sign a contract, accept any benefit from, or even orally agree to be represented now or in the future by someone acting as an agent or financial advisor.
If you, your relatives, or your friends violate these rules, you will be ineligible!
| ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY |
5-Year Clock
A student-athlete has 5 years to play 4 seasons. The 5-year clock begins when a student-athlete enrolls in his or her 1st full-time semester.
An extension of the 5-year clock can only be granted if there are circumstances beyond the control of the student-athlete for 2 separate years. Extensive documentation is required. Academic ineligibility and serving a year in residence are not considered circumstances beyond the control of the student-athlete.
Medical Hardship
A medical hardship waiver can be applied if all of the following are met:
- The injury or illness occurs in one of the 4 seasons of competition;
- The injury or illness occurs prior to the first competition of the second half of the playing season; and
- The student-athlete has not participated in more than 3 contests/dates of competition or 30 percent (whichever is greater) of the maximum number of contests/dates of competition plus one contest/competition.
A student-athlete can only receive a “redshirt” if he or she does not participate in ANY competition.
A student-athlete may apply for an extension of their 5-year clock if they receive a redshirt year during any year of enrollment, and they were denied an opportunity to participate for reasons outside of their control for a second season.”
A student-athlete serving a redshirt year may practice, travel with the team, and receive athletics aid.
| AWARDS AND MEMORABILIA |
If you sell any of your awards (e.g., SBC Championship Rings, varsity letter awards) or exchange them for anything of value, you will be ineligible to compete.
| COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS |
As a UL student-athlete, you are entitled to four (4) complimentary admissions for each home contest in your sport. Away-from-home contest complimentary admission availability varies by sport and event.
Complimentary admissions are only provided through a pass list and may be assigned to your family members, relatives, and friends.
Every guest receiving complimentary admission must present a photo ID.
You may NOT receive payment from any source for your complimentary admissions nor can you exchange your tickets for any item of value.
| EMPLOYMENT |
The Compliance Office is required to maintain written records of all student-athlete employment activities in order to ensure continued compliance with NCAA regulations.
All student-athlete employment must meet the following criteria:
- Pay rate must be the same as others performing similar tasks
- May only be paid for work actually performed
- Employer must sign and return the Employer Agreement
- Private lessons: May NOT use UL facilities
| EXTRA BENEFITS/PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT |
Student-athletes should not accept any extra benefits or preferential treatment from someone who is not an established friend or family member.
An extra benefit or preferential treatment is any special arrangement provided to a student-athlete, recruit, or his/her relatives that is not generally available to the general public.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Discounted merchandise
- Free use of a credit card, calling card, etc.
- Free or reduced rent or housing
- Birthday, graduation, or holiday gifts
- Cash or loan of money
- Free or reduced rates for services (auto repair, dry cleaning, haircuts, etc.)
- Receiving free tattoos
- Vehicle or the use of a vehicle
| FINANCIAL AID |
All athletic scholarships are one-year agreements.
If you receive an off-campus check, please sign up for direct deposit in the Student Cashier’s Office in order to receive your check faster, and not have it mailed to the address on file.
Fall semester off-campus check disbursement:
- Four equal disbursements at the end of each month (August, September, October, November)
- Four equal disbursements at the end of each month (January, February, March, April)
NCAA Student Assistance Fund—student-athletes may request SAF money for the following: costs associated with family emergencies, or medical or dental costs not covered by another insurance program.
| GAMBLING |
Student-athletes are prohibited from gambling or wagering on any sport that the NCAA sponsors (amateur, professional or otherwise).
Gambling includes the possibility of receiving or standing to lose anything of value. In addition, providing performance-related or medical information on any student-athlete to anyone (e.g., bookie) is considered gambling.
Examples of gambling include:
- Participation in a fantasy league that you have to PAY to join.
- Participation in a March Madness/Super Bowl pool that you have to PAY to join.
| OUTSIDE COMPETITION |
Outside competition is competition in which you represent yourself or a team other than UL.
Student-athletes in all sports (except football) are permitted to compete for an outside team in a non-collegiate, amateur competition during official UL vacation periods.
Student-athletes must receive prior approval from the compliance office before engaging in outside competition by completing the “Outside Competition Permission Request” workflow in ARMS.
| PLAYING AND PRACTICE SESSIONS |
The NCAA has limitations on the number of hours student-athletes can participate in countable athletically related activities with their coaches inside and outside of the playing season.
In-Season Limitations:
- Max of 4 hours/per day of required countable athletically related activities
- Max of 20 hours/per week of required countable athletically related activities
- At least 1 required day off per week
- Day of competition counts as 3 hours regardless of how long the competition actually takes
- Max of 8 hours/per week of required countable athletically related activities
- Max of 4 hours/per week of the 8 hour limit may be devoted to skill-related instruction
- Or max of 2 hours/per week of the 8 hour limit for film review in football only
- At least 2 required days off per week
- Practice
- Competition
- Team Meetings
- Film Review
- Strength Training
- Conditioning
- Skill Instruction
- Compliance Meetings
- Academics (Study Hall, Tutors, Mentors)
- Promotional Activities
- Geaux Cajuns Programming
- Training Room/Medical Treatment
- Voluntary Weight Training/Conditioning
| PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES |
Use of a student-athlete’s name, picture, or likeness is permissible only by UL, the Sun Belt Conference or the NCAA, or a charitable, educational, or non-profit organization. Student-athletes may not endorse any products or services.
All student-athletes must receive prior approval from compliance before participation in any promotional activities. They also may not be paid and may not miss class for any promotional activities.
If a student-athlete plans to start a GoFundMe website for any reason, they must receive prior approval from the compliance staff to ensure the crowdfunding website has been set up properly.
| RECRUITING |
Student-athletes can call or text a recruit as long as it is not at the direction of a coach.
If you serve as a student-host for an official visit, please make note of the following reminders:
- The entertainment allowance may not be used to purchase souvenirs, t-shirts, or Ragin' Cajuns gear.
- All entertainment on an official visit must be within a 30-mile radius from campus.
- A complimentary meal may be provided to a student host during a prospect’s visit.
| SOCIAL MEDIA |
You represent the University of Louisiana and the Ragin' Cajun Athletic Department. You must be aware of how your words and actions will affect your school, your team, and your reputation.
What to avoid:
- Doing anything that will potentially embarrass you, your family, your team, or UL; and
- Posting any content on social networking sites that could be construed as inappropriate.
| SUPPLEMENTS AND DRUG TESTING |
All student-athletes are subject to year-round testing by both the NCAA and UL.
Please check with your strength coach or athletic trainer prior to taking any medications and/or supplements.
NCAA rules also prohibit the use of tobacco during practice and/or competition.
| TRANSFER REGULATIONS |
A student-athlete may initiate the notification of transfer process by submitting a “Notification of Transfer” workflow in ARMS. UL will enter the student-athlete’s information into the NCAA transfer database within 2 business days of receipt of the ARMS “Notification of Transfer” workflow from the student-athlete.
The student-athlete’s scholarship may not be reduced or canceled until the end of the regular academic term in which the written notification of transfer is received. If a student-athlete provides written notification of transfer to the institution between regular academic terms (winter break, summer break), the institution may reduce or cancel the scholarship immediately.
| VOLUNTARY WORKOUTS |
In order for any athletically related activity to be considered “voluntary,” all of the following conditions must be met:
- Request to workout must be made by the student-athlete
- Coaches cannot be present during the activity
- No reporting information back to athletic department staff members
- No penalty/reward for choosing or choosing not to participate in the activity
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