OUA FINANCIAL AWARDS POLICIES

Rule VI, Athletic Financial Awards

6.0 Athletic Financial Awards Policy (also referred to as Athletic Scholarship Policy)

6.1 Principles The following principles are observed in the formulation of Ontario University Athletics Athletic Financial Awards (AFA) rules:

6.1.1 OUA supports the provisions of athletic financial awards (may also be referred to as athletic scholarships) to OUA athletes according to acceptable ethical practices and within the guidelines and policies established by OUA and the awarding university.

6.1.2 OUA will work in conjunction with member institutions to ensure the provision of any athletic financial award to an OUA athlete conforms with the policy of the University and/or guidelines and policies established by OUA and the awarding university.

6.1.3 OUA supports equal opportunity for all OUA athletes within the context of the established rules of OUA.

6.1.4 All OUA athletes must demonstrate progress towards furthering their education and maintaining academic success.

6.1.5 OUA promotes gender equity in the implementation of the awards policy.

6.1.6 Matters of complaints, investigation and discipline for violations of guidelines and policies on athletic financial awards will be conducted enforced by the OUA Management Committee.

6.17 That the envelope of total dollar amounts provided by an institution should be equal for male and female student-athletes.

6.2 Definitions

6.2.1 Academic Year – as per CIS Policy 40.10.3.1.1 (Academic Year), an Academic Year is defined as being 365 consecutive days calculated from the first day of fall classes as set out in a member institution’s official calendar; within an Academic Year, and for the purpose of AFA Policy, “fall semester” will reference that time period from approximately September through December, “winter semester” will reference that time period from approximately January through April, and “spring and/or summer semesters” will reference that time period from approximately May through August.

6.2.2 Entering Student – A student is considered an "Entering Student", for the entirety of the academic year when he / she registers for the first time at any member school in either the fall or winter semesters. Note 1: A transfer student is an Entering Student. Note 2: A student who attends two (or more) schools during their CIS career will be considered an Entering Student during the academic years that they register for the first time at each of the two (or more) member schools.

6.2.3 Non-Entering Student – A student is considered a “Non-Entering Student” in the academic years subsequent to the first academic year that he / she registers for the first time at any member school in either the fall or winter semesters. Note: a non-entering student includes a transfer student that is transferring from another post-secondary institution (excluding CEGEP).

6.2.4 Athletic Financial Award – An AFA is any award that is conditional to being listed on the Official CIS Eligibility Certificate and administered by the university’s awards office consistent with the awarding university’s calendar. These awards include, but are not limited to, scholarships, bursaries, prizes, leadership awards, merit awards, housing, and all other related non-employment financial benefit received by an athlete from their institution.

6.3 Other Financial Award – an award, excluding those identified in 6.2.4.

6.4 Maximum Team Compliment Maximum team Compliment for calculating eligible awards will be:

Badminton	10	Nordic Skiing	6
Baseball	25	Rowing	34
Basketball	12	Rugby	22
Cross Country	7	Soccer	18
Curling	6	Squash	8
Fencing	12	Swimming	18
Field Hockey	16	Tennis	8
Football	45	Figure Skating	16
Golf (M/W)	M-5 / W-4	Track & Field	29
Hockey	20	Volleyball	14
Lacrosse	20	Water Polo	13
		Wrestling	12

6.5 Restrictions

6.5.1 Restrictions on Receipt of Athletic Financial Awards

6.5.2 OUA is opposed the provisions of financial awards or assistance to an athlete unless the benefit or assistance conforms with the OUA rules and policy of the member institution.

6.5.3 Entering Student Restrictions (inclusive of transfer students)

6.5.3.1 In order to qualify for an AFA, an Entering Student must: i) have a minimum entering grade average of 80%, or the equivalent G.P.A., on those courses used to determine his/her university admission, and, ii) be listed on the Eligibility Certificate and eligible to participate in at least one OUA conference competition on behalf of their school (or non-conference competition if there is no formal conference schedule for that sport at that school);

6.5.4 Non-Entering Student Restrictions (for individuals who have previously qualified for an AFA at the school they are attending)

6.5.4.1 In order to qualify for an AFA, an Non-Entering Student must: i) have satisfied OUA Academic Standing Requirements to remain eligible for OUA competitions during the last academic year he/she was listed on an Eligibility Certificate of the awarding school, and ii) have attained a minimum 70%, or the equivalent G.P.A., on all registered course work within the last academic year he/she was listed on an Eligibility Certificate of the awarding school, and iii) be listed on the Eligibility Certificate and be (have been) eligible to participate in at least one OUA conference competition (or non-conference competition if there is no formal conference schedule for that sport at that school) on behalf of their school in the academic year he/she is receiving the AFA.

6.5.4.2 In the event a Non-Entering Student, who has previously qualified for an AFA at the school they are attending, becomes unqualified for an AFA as a result of either not having satisfied OUA Academic Standing Requirements (6.5.4.1.i) and/or as a result of not having attained a minimum 70% (6.5.4.1.ii), he/she may requalify for an AFA if he/she: i) has satisfied the equivalent of OUA Academic Standing Requirements to become eligible for OUA competition in a subsequent academic year, and, ii) have attained a minimum 70%, or the equivalent G.P.A., on all registered course work within the subsequent academic year, and, iii) be listed on the Eligibility Certificate and be (have been) eligible to participate in at least one OUA conference competition (or non-conference competition if there is no formal conference schedule for that sport at that school) on behalf of their school in the academic year he / she is receiving the AFA.

6.5.5 Non-Entering Student Restrictions (for individuals who have NOT previously qualified for an AFA at the school they are attending, or who are being listed on an Eligibility Certificate for the first time) 6.5.5.1 A Non-Entering Student, who has not previously qualified for an AFA, or who is being listed on an Eligibility Certificate for the first time, may qualify for an AFA if he/she: i) has satisfied OUA Academic Standing Requirements in either the preceding or current academic year that he/she is receiving the AFA, and, ii) attained a minimum 70%, or the equivalent G.P.A., on all registered course work at the conclusion of either the winter or spring or summer semesters in the preceding or current academic year he/she is receiving the AFA, and, iii) is listed on the Eligibility Certificate and is (was) eligible to participate in at least one OUA conference competition on behalf of their school (or non-conference competition if there is no formal conference schedule for that sport at that school) in the academic year he/she is receiving the AFA.

6.5.6 Total Value of AFA Restrictions There is no restriction on the number of athletic financial awards that a student-athlete may receive in one academic year, except that they may not aggregate to more than $3,500.

6.5.7 Non-University Administered (3rd Party) Award Restrictions A student-athlete cannot be in receipt of an award or benefit that is provided independent of the university and which is conditional upon being listed on a member institution’s Official Eligibility Certificate and designated exclusively for the member institution in question.

6.5.8 Gender Equity Management In order to achieve Principle 6.1.7. a management tool has been created. Of the total dollar amount of Athletic Financial Awards provided by an institution annually it must provide no less than 45% per gender of the total dollar amount. Example: Based on a total dollar amount of $100,000 that distribution would be compliant in any of the examples below:
Male - $55,000 Female - $45,000
Male - $50,000 Female - $50,000
Male - $45,000 Female - $55,000

6.5.9 Athletic Financial Awards Ceiling 6.5.9.1 The ceiling of the number of award units available at each institution will be as listed below. The awards units are established by the CIS Athletic Financial Awards Committee using a bench mark of 70% of the maximum team compliment for each sport.

Badminton	7	Nordic Skiing	4.2
Baseball	17.5	Rowing	23.8
Basketball	8.4	Rugby	17.5
Cross Country	4.9	Soccer	12.6
Curling	4.2	Squash	5.6
Fencing	4.2	Swimming	5.6
Field Hockey	11.2	Tennis	5.6
Football	28	Figure Skating	11.2
Golf (M/W)	M-3.5 / W-2.8	Track & Field	20.3
Hockey	14	Volleyball	8.4
Lacrosse	14	Water Polo	9.1
		Wrestling	5.6

6.5.9.2 Student-athletes who have achieved CIS Academic All-Canadian or OUA Academic Achievement status in the preceding academic year of study will be exempt from counting as part of the awards team complement limits. Example: Men’s Volleyball team complement: 12 players Each team can receive 70% of the total eligible awards. In this volleyball scenario, the team complement is 12 players. The calculation to determine the number of eligible award units is as follows: Team complement of 12 x 70% ceiling = ceiling of 8.4 award units (tuition and fees) 8.4 award units are based on tuition and fees. 8.4 X $4,400 (avg. tuition and fees) = $36,960. $36,960 divided by $3,500 (maximum award in OUA) = 10.56 maximum awards in OUA.

6.6 Reporting Financial assistance of any kind, awarded by a university to an OUA athlete, shall be reported to the OUA office.

6.6.1 The timelines for submission will be aligned with the CIS deadline (October 6, 2007). Refer to OUA Constitution Unit II, 7.8.10 for fines for late filing of Annual Financial Awards Summary.

6.6.2 Upon request from the CIS office, institutions shall, in accordance with the request, complete, annually, the official CIS/OUA Athletic Financial Awards Compliance Report which records all financial assistance of any kind awarded by a university to each of its’ CIS/OUA student-athletes. The National Office shall ensure the Compliance Report request is forwarded to member institutions by June 30.

6.7 Interpretation of AFA Policy A member institution may request an interpretation of AFA Policy via its Director of Athletics or designate responsible for Athletic Financial Awards.

6.7.1 Procedure for Request A member institution requiring an interpretation of a OUA AFA Policy shall direct an e-mail request for same to the OUA Management Committee or designate representative responsible for awards, detailing the policy in question and the information required to enable an interpretation to be issued.

6.7.2 OUA Management Committee’s Duty As soon as possible, but within 5 working days of the receipt of such an e-mail request, the OUA Management Committee or designate representative shall issue via e-mail an interpretation of the CIS/OUA AFA policy to the requesting individual at the member institution, and provide a copy of same to the chair of the AFA Committee. The AFA Committee shall review a copy of all summaries semi-annually.

6.7.3 Review of Ruling of OUA Management Committee Representative A member institution who is affected by the decision of the OUA Management Committee Representative may request a final and binding review of that decision to the Appeals Committee.

6.8 New AFA Awards

1. Should the award recipient be involved in a CIS activity, Section IX Athletic (Financial) Awards, Rule D.2 Approval of New Athletic Awards of the CIS Regulations shall apply.

2. All OUA and CIS eligible athletic awards shall be submitted in writing to the OUA Management Committee and shall be signed by the University Awards Officer (or equivalent) and the Athletic Director. Each submission shall contain: i) name of the award, ii) the category, iii) the amount, iv) ALL of the criteria, v) the application and selection process, and vi) the selection committee.

3. Each member and each non-member with playing privileges shall annually update their listing of such awards and provide the listing to the OUA Executive Director.

4. The Athletic Director for each member and each institution with playing privileges shall ensure that their University Awards Officer has a current copy of the OUA Awards document. The Directors are responsible to review the appropriate regulations re: Awards, with the University Awards Officer.

5. OUA will support the approval of Athletic Awards at the institutional level with the assumption that both the CIS and OUA requirements will be adhered to for each award allocated.

6. OUA will coordinate an accessible link to each participating institutions’ awards listings from the OUA website. This list will contain all athletic awards offered by the OUA institutions. [Added July 2007]

CLARIFICATION NOTICE

Who is eligible for the financial awards?

No entering student-athlete with less than 80% may receive an AFA until September of their 2nd year. As a returning student they must meet all academic requirements in order to receive an AFA (sufficient credits and 70%). Please refer to the OUA Constitution, Unit III, Rule 6.5.3.1. - page 53.

Example - student-athlete graduates high school with 78% and enters an OUA institution. That student-athlete cannot qualify for an AFA in his/her first year regardless if his/her marks in the first year at that OUA institution exceeds 70%.