The USCAA recognizes the hardships and struggles that our student-athletes, administrators, counselors, and faculty have been under during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is my sincere hope that this is a once in a lifetime event. We also believe that unique problems require unique solutions. In order to provide some rational means of reprieve for those affected by the changes to educational delivery and to ensure that students aren’t overburdened by unnecessary costs and changes due to COVID-19, the following provisions have been approved by the USCAA Eligibility Committee and Board of Directors:
1. Students who were enrolled full-time during the entirety of the 2019-20 academic year, and meet the thresholds listed below, will begin class in the fall of 2020 with a granted exemption of Bylaw 24.5.5 regarding the status of receiving 24 credit hours passed during the academic year.
a. Students who pass 16 credit hours (semester system) or 18 credit hours (quarter system) shall be granted this exemption. Students who have earned less than the required 16/18 credits will be required to submit a hardship waiver which will be evaluated by the USCAA Eligibility Committee on a case by case basis.
2. All GPA mandates will be adhered to with loosened restrictions for case by case hardship waivers. Hardship cases dealing with pass/fail situations for GPA shall require the submitter to present whether the student had the opportunity to accept GPA or not. Those who had the option will be given less leniency for reaching the 2.0 threshold.
3. All seniors listed in ACS eligibility documentation in 2020 who received a season of competition back from the USCAA shall be able to split their remaining credit hours between the fall and spring term, at their discretion to appease Bylaw 24.6.7.
The USCAA expects a high volume of hardship waivers regarding COVID-19. Therefore, all Athletic Directors are encouraged to submit their waiver requests as soon as possible (and before July 1) to permit the appropriate time for review, appeals (if necessary), and guidance of your student-athletes. I will be available to all Athletic Directors on my direct line to answer any questions/concerns related to these provisions and their effects on student-athletes moving forward.