Athletic Scholarship Policy

A recipient of an athletic scholarship must be academically eligible for the total sport season for which the scholarship was awarded. Standards for eligibility are set forth by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and IIT.
1. NAIA Eligibility - A full list of eligibility requirements can be found on the NAIA website here: NAIA Basics of Eligibility.
2. IIT Eligibility – A full list of scholarship policies can be found on the Office of Financial Aid website under Policy and Procedures.
3. Basic eligibility requirements include the following, but are not restricted to these:
  1. May compete during four seasons only.
  2. May compete during his/her first 10 semesters/15 quarters only.
  3. Must meet freshman and/or continuing eligibility requirements.
  4. Must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours.
  5. Must be making normal progress toward a baccalaureate degree.
  6. Must have a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (for juniors and seniors athletically or academically).
  7. Must meet transfer eligibility requirements (if applicable).
The full-time coaching staff at Illinois Institute of Technology will inform the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with the tentative athletic scholarship award commitment made to the student athlete via within 48 hours of making said offer to the student. Upon receipt of a signed letter of intent from the student athlete, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will send the student athlete official written notice to constitute a confirmed offer and commitment on the part of the university.
All new recruited athletes sign a formal letter of agreement of the athletic scholarship which will contain the terms and conditions of the athletic scholarship made to the student on behalf of the university by the Athletic Department.
1. A copy of this signed "letter of intent" will be provided to the following:
  1. The student athlete
  2. The Athletic Director
  3. The student's full-time athletic coach at the university
  4. The Office of Admission
  5. The Office of Financial Aid
2. Enrolled students are required to meet all of the terms and conditions of the athletic scholarship as other NAIA standards of eligibility and those of the university.
Exhausted athletic eligibility as set forth by the Office of Athletics and IIT Office of Financial Aid.
1. If a student continues to pursue the completion of degree requirements beyond once the student has exhausted athletic eligibility and demonstrates financial need, then the student may submit a Special Circumstance Review to the Office of Financial Aid. All appeals are reviewed by the Appeals Committee and decisions are made on a case by case basis.
2. Once a student is declared academically ineligible or has exhausted athletic eligibility (as established in Athletic Scholarship Policy 1 above), the athlete is no longer eligible for athletic scholarships.
Coaches have the discretion to increase or decrease any athletic scholarship on an annual basis as outlined in the letter of intent. In the event that a coach wishes to change the amount of a previously awarded athletic scholarship, the coach will notify the Office of Financial Aid via e-mail. As soon as the Office of Financial Aid has confirmed with the coach that the award has been adjusted, the coach will notify the student of the change via e-mail with a CC to the Office of Financial Aid and the Athletic Director.
If a student is injured in a practice session or game situation and this injury prohibits the student from further participation, he/she will retain the scholarship for the remainder of his/her athletic eligibility.
If a student develops an illness after he/she is actively involved in athletics at IIT and this illness prohibits him/her from further participation in athletics, he/she will retain the scholarship for one year maximum after declared unable to participate. The student may be required to provide a note from his/her doctor at the request of the Athletic Director. After the athletic scholarships are suspended, a student may submit a Special Circumstance Review to the Office of Financial Aid. All appeals are reviewed by the Appeals Committee and decisions are made on a case by case basis.
If a student decides that he/she does not wish to continue to participate in the sport for which the athletic scholarship is designated or if the student is eliminated from the athletic team for disciplinary reasons, then the scholarship will cease to exist from the day the student quits the team or the date of dismissal by the coach. The coach will confirm the loss of scholarship with the student via e-mail. The coach will also notify the Office of Financial Aid via e-mail within 48 hours. The Office of Financial Aid will provide a student with a revised financial aid package. The student will be responsible for any financial obligations to the university as a result of this change in athletic scholarship.
A student athlete — like all other students at the university — may petition for an additional semester or two toward their undergraduate studies to earn a 2nd BS degree, or as a result of a change in major. Students should see the relevant policy for additional details.
A graduate student is eligible to receive athletic scholarship monies if they have athletic eligibility remaining and they completed their undergraduate degree at IIT.
A student who receives an athletic scholarship will continue to receive that scholarship amount throughout the remainder of their athletic eligibility in the event that a given sport is eliminated from the sports offered at the university.
Student athletes will be notified of any change to the athletic scholarship policy via email.
A student's athletic scholarship will be counted toward a student's overall institutional scholarship award when determining the summer tuition discount for a student.
A student's athletic scholarship is viewed as a component of the entire IIT institutional scholarship/grant package and the total amount of IIT scholarship/grant monies may not exceed the cost of tuition, unless the scholarship is specified to cover housing expenses.
A student's athletic scholarship may impact federal and/or state need-based financial aid and certain types of institutional need-based scholarships.
1. STEM scholarship exception: Effective for 2011-2012, if a student has been awarded a STEM scholarship through Undergraduate Admissions and is subsequently awarded an athletic scholarship, the athletic scholarship will replace the STEM scholarship. In the case that the athletic scholarship is less than the STEM scholarship, the STEM scholarship will be reduced accordingly so that the student’s total institutional scholarships do not exceed the minimum guaranteed by the STEM Scholarship Program.
2. Athletic Room and Board scholarship exception: Effective 2011-2012, if a student is awarded an IIT Housing scholarship through Undergraduate Admissions, the Athletic Room and Board scholarship will be awarded in addition to any IIT Housing Scholarship, up to the cost of institutional charges on the student’s account.
Other financial aid policies may apply and a student/family is advised to contact the Office of Financial Aid and speak to a Financial Aid Counselor for additional questions regarding a student's overall financial aid package.
A student athlete when not in season — and with the permission of the Athletic Director and Coach — may use the athletic scholarship in an off-season to attend a study abroad program where the use of institutional funds is permitted for this purpose.
All appeals to the Athletic Scholarship Policy should be made directly to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid. The Vice Provost is advised by a Faculty Committee on Varsity Athletics; the Athletic Director is a member of this committee.
These policies govern all currently enrolled students receiving athletic scholarships as well as all students receiving athletic scholarships (new or continuing) for the 2011-12 academic year.
A student athlete must be enrolled full time (12 credit hours) to receive this athletic scholarship. A student athlete enrolled for 11 credit hours or less will become ineligible for all IIT scholarships for that term, including all athletic scholarships. This stipulation reflects the Less Than Full-time Enrollment Policy established by the Office of Financial Aid.
Student athletes will follow the Champions of Character responsibilities guideline established in the NAIA handbook and participate in at least one annual servant-leadership activity.

Recruiting and Compliance

We offer the following information regarding for Recruiting and Compliance. Whether you are a prospective student-athlete, current student-athlete, parent or booster, we hope you find the information here useful and informative.

Recruiting
If you are interested in being a student-athlete at Illinois Institute of Technology, this section will explain how to best contact a coach and learn more about each athletic program.
Compliance
The NAIA rules are complex and ever-changing. This section provides basic information on NAIA rules everyone should know, including specific information for boosters, recruits, and current student-athletes.
Office of Financial Aid
Aside from athletic scholarships, student-athletes also receive tuition assistance through academic scholarships, institutional financial aid, or federal and state grants. This section will provide you the information you need on non-athletic USC financial aid. You will find explanations for each type of financial aid, along with links for more information and applications.
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Find out more about the admission process at IIT. This section provides prospective students with information on the admission process and deadlines, admission standards, majors, specializations and minors at IIT, information on student life and an on-line application.
Athletic Student Graduation Report (link forthcoming)
Provide general information regarding the graduation rates of student athletes at the university.

[Last revised and updated: March 2011; authorized by Gerald P. Doyle, Vice Provost — Undergraduate Enrollment and Financial Aid]

Athletic Room and Board Scholarship Policy

Students awarded an athletic room and board scholarship must maintain the following guidelines to continue eligibility for this award:

In order to retain this scholarship, you must reside in McCormick Student Village, State Street Village, or Gunsaulus Hall and have a housing contract with Housing & Residential Services or undergraduate students approved to live in Carmen Hall and are a lease holder.
This scholarship is contingent upon maintaining consistent academic eligibility, not being removed from the team for disciplinary, behavioral, or attitude reasons, not being removed from the team for violating team policy, leaving the team of your accord, and the continued recommendation of the IIT Athletic Department.
Students must be enrolled in 12 credit hours in order to receive this scholarship; enrollment below 12 credit hours will remove this award from your account and will not be reinstated until you regain full time status.

Last modified: 05/02/2012 16:14:44

Office of Financial Aid

Athletic Scholarship Policy