August 7th: Providing Transportation

The Ocean State University, James River Institute and Country Roads College  (OSU) men’s soccer teams begin preseason practice later this week.  Some of the incoming freshmen are international and do not have transportation from the airport to campus.  Is it permissible for the OSU coach to pick up these incoming freshmen at the airport and provide transportation to campus?

Yes in all three Divisions.

Division I NCAA Bylaw 13.5.4 states that an institution or its representatives shall not furnish a prospective student-athlete, directly or indirectly, with transportation to the campus for enrollment. However, it is permissible for any member of the institution’s staff to provide: (Revised: 4/26/01 effective 8/1/01, 1/9/06, 10/17/13, 8/7/14)

(a) Transportation from the nearest bus or train station or major airport to the campus on the occasion of the prospective student-athlete’s initial arrival at the institution to attend classes for a regular term or to participate in preseason practice, or for initial enrollment for the institution’s summer term for a prospective student-athlete who has been awarded athletically related financial aid for his or her initial summer term; and

(b) Transportation from and to the nearest bus or train station or major airport on the occasion of the prospective student-athlete’s arrival and departure from the institution to attend the institution’s required new-student orientation, provided the prospective student-athlete has been accepted for admission to the institution.

Division II NCAA Bylaw 13.5.4 states that an institution or its representatives shall not furnish a prospective student-athlete, directly or indirectly, with transportation to the campus for enrollment. However, it is permissible for any member of the institution’s staff to provide transportation from a bus or train station or airport to the campus on the occasion of the student-athlete’s initial arrival at the institution to attend classes. [R] (Revised: 10/18/11)

Division II NCAA Staff Interpretation- 3.2.12- Transportation to Enroll (II)- states that an institution may provide transportation from a bus or train station or airport to the campus on the occasion of a prospective student-athlete’s initial arrival at the institution to attend classes, including the prospective student-athlete’s (including partial qualifiers and nonqualifiers) initial arrival to attend classes in a summer term, or the prospective student-athlete’s initial arrival at the institution to participate in preseason practice activities when the prospective student-athlete will remain in the locale of the institution to begin classes.

[References: NCAA Division II Bylaw 13.5.4 (transportation to enroll); an official interpretation (11/15/05, Item No. 1), which has been archived and a staff interpretation (09/14/90, Item No. d), which has been archived ]

Division III NCAA Bylaw 13.5.4 states that an institution or its representatives shall not furnish a prospective student-athlete, directly or indirectly, with transportation to the campus for enrollment. However, it is permissible for any member of the institution’s staff to provide transportation from any bus or train station or airport to the campus on the occasion of the student-athlete’s initial arrival at the institution to attend classes. [R] (Revised: 1/11/12)

Division III NCAA Staff Interpretation- 3.2.12- Transportation to Enroll (III)- states that an institution may provide transportation from any bus or train station or airport to campus on the occasion of a prospective student-athlete’s initial arrival at the institution to attend classes, including the prospective student-athlete’s initial arrival to attend classes in a summer term or the prospective student-athlete’s initial arrival at the institution to participate in preseason practice activities when the prospective student-athlete will remain in the locale of the institution to begin classes.

[Reference: Bylaw 13.5.4 (transportation to enroll) and an official interpretation (2/02/06, Item No. 7b) which has been archived]