If you are currently competing on a Houghton College athletics team, this page provides helpful resources to ensure you are up to date on Houghton, Empire 8 and NCAA Division III rules regarding eligibility.
Houghton Student-Athlete Handbook
Compliance Forms
NCAA DIII Rules Manual
NCAA Student Website
NCAA Banned Substances
Don't Bet on It
NCAA Get in the Game (video)
Summary of Regulations

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

As a a current student-athlete, how do I know if I'll be eligible to compete?
Any student-athlete who wishes to compete in intercollegiate sports must carry a full-time load of course work (12 credits), must be making satisfactory progress toward a degree and must be in good academic standing to be eligible for participation throughout the playing season. Returning students to Houghton, whether they are sophomores, juniors, or seniors, must adhere to the same continuing eligibility requirements, which are set forth in the course catalog. All student-athletes must have a GPA of 1.7 after their first full semester of attendance at Houghton and, thereafter, must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Also, student-athletes must have accumulated a minimum total of 24 institutional or approved credit hours during the two immediately previous semesters of attendance. Institutionally approved credit hours earned during the summer and/or May term and/or non-term following one of the previous two full-time semesters may be applied to meet the 24-hour rule. Also, student-athletes who are on disciplinary probation are ineligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics.

What do I do about missed class time when I'm on a team? Do I have to miss class for practice?
Under no circumstances is a student-athlete to miss class time for team practices. Student-athletes will occasionally need to miss class for travel to and participation in approved college competition. In such cases, the student-athlete should use the forms provided by their coach to communicate that absence to their professors in advance. Student-athletes cannot miss class time for intercollegiate contests played during the non-traditional season of their respected sports (fall baseball, spring soccer, etc.). Students are required to make up all academic work missed as a result of intercollegiate contests played in-season. Students must inform their professors of missed time no later than 48 hours prior to missing class, and a signed Class Excuse Form, signed by the Director of Athletics, must be presented to the instructor, on each missed occasion. Every effort possible is made to ensure student-athletes will not miss excessive classroom time for intercollegiate competition; however, it is important for student-athletes to consider their academic schedules when registering for classes. Traditionally, student-athletes have a higher cumulative grade point average than the general student body, while retention rates are also higher for student-athletes in general.

If I get hurt during the season, do I lose that season of eligibility?
A student-athlete who plays in a single contest is considered to have used an entire year of competition in that respective sport. Should a student-athlete get injured or have a personal affect which forces them to step away from the sport prematurely during the season, a student-athlete may have the opportunity to have this year of competition stricken from their record by filing a Medical Hardship Waiver. In order for a Hardship Waiver to be granted there must be an incapacitating injury or illness which forces the student-athlete to miss the rest of the playing season. There must be medical documentation (from the time of injury) from a doctor that states the nature of the injury and establishes the student-athlete's inability to compete. The injury must have occurred during the first half of the playing season AND the student-athlete must not have competed in more than one-third of the total number of scheduled contests. The waiver request is generated through the Compliance Office and is processed through the conference office. The conference office will either grant or deny the request based on the application presented.

I'm thinking about transferring out of Houghton, but I'm hesitant about what to do. What is the process?
If you are seeking a transfer, you should contact your head coach or the Director of Athletics. If you seek a transfer via the Director of Athletics, you should understand that your head coach will be informed of your intentions, should you ultimately decide to contact other institutions regarding a possible transfer. However, if you wish to leave Houghton for another NCAA Division III institution, you do not need authorization via our athletic department for permission to contact. The NCAA has issued a "Self-Release Transfer Form" specifically for Division III athletes, which will allow release to other NCAA Division III institutions. Normally, the institution in question will contact us to inquire about your eligibility status, so we recommend coming to us first. Current Houghton student-athletes who have intentions of transferring to Division I and Division II institutions MUST have permission through our athletic offices to contact such schools and vice-versa. Should you seek a transfer to a NCAA Division I or II institution, you should inform your coaching staff and the Director of Athletics at once. Impermissible contact between a student-athlete and an institution that has not been granted permission to contact can lead to eligibility implications for the student-athlete. Therefore it is advised that student-athletes make every effort to comply with these standards. Houghton College wishes the best for all of its student-athletes. If it is in your best interests to transfer away from Houghton, we will do our best to provide a smooth transition the entire way. Don't be afraid to talk about a transfer.