The Hartwick College department of athletics serves as an integral part of the College by providing scholar-athletes with an opportunity for personal growth through athletic excellence.
Hartwick College prides itself on the principle that the pursuit of excellence in intercollegiate athletics must be accomplished within the framework of an academic community dedicated to firm institutional control of athletics and unquestioned integrity. This tradition can only continue if the alumni, boosters and friends of the College foster and maintain the values and goals of the College and the athletic program.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules and regulations explicitly outline what actions are permissible by a “Representative of Athletics Interests.” Commonly referred to as boosters, representatives of athletics interests can play a key role within the athletic department when they act within the guidelines of the NCAA rules.
Any intentional violation of NCAA legislation involving a booster or booster organization may lead to severe sanctions against the College by the NCAA. Athletics representatives found in violation of NCAA rules are subject to disassociation from the Hartwick College Department of Athletics and loss of any benefits or privileges related to the Athletics Department.
This guide was developed to offer a general overview of key NCAA rules regarding the interaction between representatives of athletics interests and prospective or current student-athletes. This is not a comprehensive guide. Should you have specific questions do not hesitate to contact the Athletic Department.
YOU ARE A REPRESENTATIVE OF ATHLETICS INTERESTS IF YOU:
** Have ever participated in or are a member of any organization promoting Hartwick athletics (i.e., WAA).
** Have ever made a donation of money, gifts, or services to any Hartwick College athletic program.
** Have ever assisted or been requested (by athletics department staff) to assist in the recruiting of prospective scholar-athletes.
** Have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled scholar-athletes or their families.
** Have been involved in otherwise promoting the athletic program of Hartwick College.
According to NCAA rules, once an individual has been identified as an institutional “representative of athletics interests” the individual retains the title for life.
Hartwick College is ultimately responsible for the actions of its athletics representatives in regard to NCAA rules and regulations. If you are aware of any NCAA or conference violation please report it to the Director of Athletics immediately. Even if a violation is unintentional, the eligibility of a prospect or enrolled student-athlete could be in jeopardy.
WHO IS A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE?
A prospective student-athlete is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A student who has not yet started ninth grade may become a prospect if Hartwick College or a booster provided the student, their relatives or friends, with financial assistance or benefits not generally provided to other students. In addition, student- athletes enrolled in preparatory school or two-year colleges, or those who have officially withdrawn from a four- year school, are considered prospects. A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after he/she has signed a National Letter of Intent (Division I) or accepted an offer of admission or financial aid to attend Hartwick College. A prospect becomes a current student-athlete only when he/she reports for preseason practice or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first.
WHO IS A CURRENT STUDENT-ATHLETE?
A current student-athlete is any Hartwick College student who is presently a member of an athletics team, or who has completed his/her eligibility but is still enrolled in the institution. NCAA regulations apply to all student-athletes, not just those student-athletes who were recruited.
WHAT IS AN EXTRA BENEFIT?
Members of the athletic staff and representatives of athletics interests are prohibited from providing an extra benefit to a prospective or current student-athlete. An extra benefit is any gift or arrangement provided to a prospective or current student-athlete or their relative or friend that is not expressly permitted by the NCAA. An extra benefit would include the provision of any transportation, housing, meals, clothes, entertainment, preferential loan terms, or other such benefits.
WHAT IS RECRUITING?
Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect’s parent/legal guardian by a Hartwick staff member for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment at Hartwick College and/or participation in the College’s athletic program. Recruiting activities include correspondence, e-mail, fax.,es, telephone conversations and in-person contacts (on and off campus).
WHO MAY RECRUIT?
In Division III, representatives of athletics interests may make in-person on-or-off campus recruiting contacts with a prospect so long as any off-campus contact occurs AFTER the completion of the prospect's junior year in high school. This does not mean a representative of athletics interest may entertain a prospect at any site off-campus or provide transportation costs incurred by relatives or friends to visit the campus.
If there is a potential scholar-athlete with the talent who might be interested in attending Hartwick College, it is best to contact the appropriate head coach.
WHAT MAY BOOSTERS DO?
Permissible activities with prospective student-athletes:
** You may continue to have contact with an established family friend or neighbor who is a prospect as long as such contact is not for recruiting purposes and is not initiated by a Hartwick College coaching staff member.
** You may bring outstanding prospects to the attention of the Hartwick College coaching staff by sending the coach newspaper clippings and other information about the individual.
Permissible activities with currently enrolled student-athletes:
** You may have contact with enrolled student-athletes on campus.
** You may invite a student-athlete(s) or the entire team for a meal at your home and provide transportation to the event. The meal, which may be catered, should be limited to infrequent or special occasions (holidays, birthday etc.) Please seek permission from the Athletic Administration first.
** You may invite an entire team for a meal when they are visiting your city for an away from home athletic event. When the team is on the road, this meal may take place at the booster’s home or at a restaurant, but must include the entire team.
** You may contribute to the Wick Athletic Association. This fund helps subsidize the College’s commitment to providing a quality athletic experience to the scholar-athletes.
Reporting Violations
Hartwick College takes great pride in the fact that its coaches, staff, scholar-athletes and fans make following the rules a priority. The athletic department wants to be sure that all potential violations are investigated and addressed as appropriate. If there is a possible violation of NCAA or conference rules, please use one of the avenues below to report the information so that it may be addressed.
Betty Powell
Interim Athletic Director / Associate Athletic Director
607-431-4701
powellb@hartwick.edu
James Mullen
Interim President
607-431-4991
mullenj@hartwick.edu
