UAPB Booster Information - Arkansas Pine Bluff Athletics
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF BOOSTER GUIDELINES
Department of Athletics
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF BOOSTER GUIDELINES Who is a Booster? The following basic information concerning NCAA rules that apply to a "Representative of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Athletics" is intended to assist you in your efforts to ensure that the UAPB tradition of fair play, academic excellence and athletics success continues. To preserve the UAPB tradition, we must always seek the highest standard of ethical conduct. With your assistance and cooperation in adhering to NCAA regulations, we believe these goals can be accomplished. The Department of Athletics thanks you for your continued support and loyalty to UAPB and its athletics program. 1.
NCAA Regulations The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff is responsible for insuring that its various constituencies (e.g., University faculty, staff, coaches, student-athletes, alumni and friends) abide by NCAA rules and regulations. Under NCAA rules, all alumni, friends and employees of the University are categorized as "representatives of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff's athletics interests."
2.
Representatives of UAPB's Athletics Interests Who is a representative of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff's athletics interests (i.e., a Golden Lions athletics booster")? NCAA Bylaw 13.02.11 defines "booster," in part, as:
"A booster (i.e., representative of the institution's athletics interests) is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g. apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who should have known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
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o Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program o Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution; o Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects; o Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program. The NCAA stipulates that once an individual has been identified as a “representative” of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s athletics program, he or she retains this status forever. This is true even if the individual no longer contributes to the athletics program.
3.
Q & A: Recruiting Issues Regarding UAPB's Athletics Representatives
Q: Do NCAA rules address the role of "boosters" in the recruiting process? A: Yes. NCAA recruiting regulations are based on the premise that individuals not employed by the university shall not be factors in the athletics recruitment of prospective studentathletes. Specifically, "boosters" may not: o
Call, write or e-mail a prospective student-athlete or the prospect's parents, legal guardians, relatives, coaches or counselors for purposes of athletics recruitment;
o
Have on- or off-campus contact with a prospect for purposes of athletics recruitment. Note: For purposes of this legislation, contact is defined as any face-to-face encounter during which any dialogue in excess of a greeting occurs. Additionally, any encounter that is prearranged or that takes place on the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff campus shall be considered a contact regardless of the conversation that takes place;
o
Provide a prospect or the prospect's family with gifts, loans, free or reduced cost for services or any other benefit/special arrangement as incentive for the prospect to enroll at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff;
o
Attend a prospect's competition for evaluation purposes at the request of a University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff coaching staff member.
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Q: What do NCAA rules permit a "booster" to do? A: Under NCAA rules, "boosters" are permitted to: o
Attend athletics events involving prospective student-athletes as they normally would, as long as no recruitment on behalf of the institution takes place;
o
Contact a signed prospect about a summer job. In such circumstances, the prospect must be paid the going rate and may not begin work until he or she has graduated from high school.
Q: Once an individual has been identified as a "booster," how long does he or she retain this identity? A: Forever. The NCAA stipulates that once you have become an "athletics representative" you always retain that identity, even if you no longer contribute to the athletics program. Q: Is the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff responsible for the acts of boosters and booster support groups? A: Yes. Boosters are governed by the same NCAA and institutional rules and regulations as those placed upon all institutional athletics staff members. Q: During the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete, or prior to an individual's enrollment at UAPB, can a booster be involved directly or indirectly in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect's relatives or friends to receive money, financial aid or equivalent inducements regardless if similar aid, benefits or arrangements are available to prospective UAPB students, their relatives and friends in general? A: No. Q: What are considered types of inducements that are prohibited by the NCAA? A: Other types of NCAA-prohibited inducements include, but are not limited to, the following: cash or loans; promise of employment after completion of college education; special discounts or payment arrangements on loans; employment of relatives or friends of a prospective student-athlete; involvement in arrangement for free or reduced charges for professional or personal services, purchases or charges; use of an automobile; providing transportation to or from a summer job or to any site; signing or co-signing a note for a loan; the loan or gift of money or other tangible items (e.g., clothes, cars, jewelry, electronic/stereo equipment); guarantees of bond; purchase of items or services from a
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prospect or the prospect's family at inflated prices; providing directly or indirectly transportation to enroll in class or the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff; any financial aid other than that administered by the institution. Q: Is it permissible for a booster to transport, pay or arrange for the payment of transportation costs incurred by relatives or friends of a prospective student-athlete to visit campus? A: No. Q: Can boosters entertain prospective student-athletes and/or relatives and friends of prospective student-athletes at any site either on- or off-campus? A: No. What is an Extra Benefit? The NCAA defines an extra benefit as any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interest ("booster") to provide a student-athlete (or a student-athlete's relative or friend) a benefit that is not generally available to other University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff students and their relative and/or friends or is not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Therefore, please be aware of the following: o
A student-athlete cannot accept anything from an employee of UAPB, athletics booster (e.g., use of a car, clothing, gifts, money, tickets for any kind of entertainment, payment of long distance telephone calls).
o
A student-athlete cannot accept free or reduced cost room and/or board from any UAPB employee or booster of UAPB athletics programs. This includes in Arkansas, in the studentathlete's home city or any other location. This would preclude a student-athlete from "house sitting" without paying rental costs at a comparable rate for similar housing in that locale.
o
A student-athlete may not accept free or reduced cost storage room for personal belongings for the summer months from any UAPB employee or booster of UAPB's athletics programs.
o
A student-athlete cannot accept free or reduced merchandise or services from any merchant unless that free or reduced cost item is also available to the general public.
o
On infrequent, special occasions (e.g., a birthday, Thanksgiving, etc.), a student-athlete may accept an invitation from an employee of UAPB or an athletics booster for a meal. Meals
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provided by UAPB employees may take place at any location, while meals provided by boosters are limited to that booster's home. o
A student-athlete cannot use a Department of Athletics copy machine, fax machine or make long distance phone calls using departmental equipment or the long distance access code of an employee of UAPB or an athletics booster, except as permitted by NCAA rules.
o
Members of the Department of Athletics staff or an athletics booster are not permitted to type reports, papers, letters, etc., for a student-athlete.
o
A student-athlete cannot receive a special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing), or service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning) from an employee of UAPB or an athletics booster.
o
A UAPB employee or a booster cannot provide a student-athlete with a loan of money, a guarantee of bond, the use of an automobile or the signing or co-signing of a note to arrange a loan.
o
A student-athlete is now permitted to accept frequent flier miles awarded in conjunction with institutionally funded air travel. However, miles may not be gained through institutionally funded non-flight activities, such as hotel stays.
o
A UAPB employee may provide a student-athlete only reasonable and occasional local (i.e., within a 30-mile radius of the UAPB campus) transportation. However, a UAPB employee may not utilize a University vehicle for purposes of assisting a student-athlete's move from one residence to another.
The acceptance by a student-athlete of any of the above extra benefits is a violation of NCAA regulations and places the student-athlete's eligibility for intercollegiate competition in immediate jeopardy. Whom to Call with NCAA Questions It is extremely important for both you and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff that you know and abide by all NCAA regulations. If you have any questions regarding NCAA rules, please contact an athletics administrator or the Compliance Office at (870) 575-7182 before doing something that may jeopardize a student-athlete's eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Remember to Ask Before You Act!" 5|Page
Department of Athletics
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF BOOSTER GUIDELINES Who is a Booster? The following basic information concerning NCAA rules that apply to a "Representative of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Athletics" is intended to assist you in your efforts to ensure that the UAPB tradition of fair play, academic excellence and athletics success continues. To preserve the UAPB tradition, we must always seek the highest standard of ethical conduct. With your assistance and cooperation in adhering to NCAA regulations, we believe these goals can be accomplished. The Department of Athletics thanks you for your continued support and loyalty to UAPB and its athletics program. 1.
NCAA Regulations The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff is responsible for insuring that its various constituencies (e.g., University faculty, staff, coaches, student-athletes, alumni and friends) abide by NCAA rules and regulations. Under NCAA rules, all alumni, friends and employees of the University are categorized as "representatives of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff's athletics interests."
2.
Representatives of UAPB's Athletics Interests Who is a representative of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff's athletics interests (i.e., a Golden Lions athletics booster")? NCAA Bylaw 13.02.11 defines "booster," in part, as:
"A booster (i.e., representative of the institution's athletics interests) is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g. apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who should have known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
1|Page
o Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program o Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution; o Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects; o Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program. The NCAA stipulates that once an individual has been identified as a “representative” of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s athletics program, he or she retains this status forever. This is true even if the individual no longer contributes to the athletics program.
3.
Q & A: Recruiting Issues Regarding UAPB's Athletics Representatives
Q: Do NCAA rules address the role of "boosters" in the recruiting process? A: Yes. NCAA recruiting regulations are based on the premise that individuals not employed by the university shall not be factors in the athletics recruitment of prospective studentathletes. Specifically, "boosters" may not: o
Call, write or e-mail a prospective student-athlete or the prospect's parents, legal guardians, relatives, coaches or counselors for purposes of athletics recruitment;
o
Have on- or off-campus contact with a prospect for purposes of athletics recruitment. Note: For purposes of this legislation, contact is defined as any face-to-face encounter during which any dialogue in excess of a greeting occurs. Additionally, any encounter that is prearranged or that takes place on the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff campus shall be considered a contact regardless of the conversation that takes place;
o
Provide a prospect or the prospect's family with gifts, loans, free or reduced cost for services or any other benefit/special arrangement as incentive for the prospect to enroll at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff;
o
Attend a prospect's competition for evaluation purposes at the request of a University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff coaching staff member.
2|Page
Q: What do NCAA rules permit a "booster" to do? A: Under NCAA rules, "boosters" are permitted to: o
Attend athletics events involving prospective student-athletes as they normally would, as long as no recruitment on behalf of the institution takes place;
o
Contact a signed prospect about a summer job. In such circumstances, the prospect must be paid the going rate and may not begin work until he or she has graduated from high school.
Q: Once an individual has been identified as a "booster," how long does he or she retain this identity? A: Forever. The NCAA stipulates that once you have become an "athletics representative" you always retain that identity, even if you no longer contribute to the athletics program. Q: Is the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff responsible for the acts of boosters and booster support groups? A: Yes. Boosters are governed by the same NCAA and institutional rules and regulations as those placed upon all institutional athletics staff members. Q: During the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete, or prior to an individual's enrollment at UAPB, can a booster be involved directly or indirectly in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect's relatives or friends to receive money, financial aid or equivalent inducements regardless if similar aid, benefits or arrangements are available to prospective UAPB students, their relatives and friends in general? A: No. Q: What are considered types of inducements that are prohibited by the NCAA? A: Other types of NCAA-prohibited inducements include, but are not limited to, the following: cash or loans; promise of employment after completion of college education; special discounts or payment arrangements on loans; employment of relatives or friends of a prospective student-athlete; involvement in arrangement for free or reduced charges for professional or personal services, purchases or charges; use of an automobile; providing transportation to or from a summer job or to any site; signing or co-signing a note for a loan; the loan or gift of money or other tangible items (e.g., clothes, cars, jewelry, electronic/stereo equipment); guarantees of bond; purchase of items or services from a
3|Page
prospect or the prospect's family at inflated prices; providing directly or indirectly transportation to enroll in class or the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff; any financial aid other than that administered by the institution. Q: Is it permissible for a booster to transport, pay or arrange for the payment of transportation costs incurred by relatives or friends of a prospective student-athlete to visit campus? A: No. Q: Can boosters entertain prospective student-athletes and/or relatives and friends of prospective student-athletes at any site either on- or off-campus? A: No. What is an Extra Benefit? The NCAA defines an extra benefit as any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interest ("booster") to provide a student-athlete (or a student-athlete's relative or friend) a benefit that is not generally available to other University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff students and their relative and/or friends or is not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Therefore, please be aware of the following: o
A student-athlete cannot accept anything from an employee of UAPB, athletics booster (e.g., use of a car, clothing, gifts, money, tickets for any kind of entertainment, payment of long distance telephone calls).
o
A student-athlete cannot accept free or reduced cost room and/or board from any UAPB employee or booster of UAPB athletics programs. This includes in Arkansas, in the studentathlete's home city or any other location. This would preclude a student-athlete from "house sitting" without paying rental costs at a comparable rate for similar housing in that locale.
o
A student-athlete may not accept free or reduced cost storage room for personal belongings for the summer months from any UAPB employee or booster of UAPB's athletics programs.
o
A student-athlete cannot accept free or reduced merchandise or services from any merchant unless that free or reduced cost item is also available to the general public.
o
On infrequent, special occasions (e.g., a birthday, Thanksgiving, etc.), a student-athlete may accept an invitation from an employee of UAPB or an athletics booster for a meal. Meals
4|Page
provided by UAPB employees may take place at any location, while meals provided by boosters are limited to that booster's home. o
A student-athlete cannot use a Department of Athletics copy machine, fax machine or make long distance phone calls using departmental equipment or the long distance access code of an employee of UAPB or an athletics booster, except as permitted by NCAA rules.
o
Members of the Department of Athletics staff or an athletics booster are not permitted to type reports, papers, letters, etc., for a student-athlete.
o
A student-athlete cannot receive a special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing), or service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning) from an employee of UAPB or an athletics booster.
o
A UAPB employee or a booster cannot provide a student-athlete with a loan of money, a guarantee of bond, the use of an automobile or the signing or co-signing of a note to arrange a loan.
o
A student-athlete is now permitted to accept frequent flier miles awarded in conjunction with institutionally funded air travel. However, miles may not be gained through institutionally funded non-flight activities, such as hotel stays.
o
A UAPB employee may provide a student-athlete only reasonable and occasional local (i.e., within a 30-mile radius of the UAPB campus) transportation. However, a UAPB employee may not utilize a University vehicle for purposes of assisting a student-athlete's move from one residence to another.
The acceptance by a student-athlete of any of the above extra benefits is a violation of NCAA regulations and places the student-athlete's eligibility for intercollegiate competition in immediate jeopardy. Whom to Call with NCAA Questions It is extremely important for both you and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff that you know and abide by all NCAA regulations. If you have any questions regarding NCAA rules, please contact an athletics administrator or the Compliance Office at (870) 575-7182 before doing something that may jeopardize a student-athlete's eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Remember to Ask Before You Act!" 5|Page
