Re: The official MCH'AQ' season thread
..., unless I stand corrected, State schools do not have the ability to get creative with their financial aid like the private institutions.
Note, NCAA (and ACHA) rules are very clear in that athletes can NOT be given any preferential treatment merely because they are athletes and no even half competent school (public or private) official would try to directly circumvent those rules.
That said, there is nothing wrong with athletic departments "getting creative" with their recruiting, that is to say, making maximum utilization of the schools financial aid packages that are available to every student.
A couple of examples:
As evidenced on many threads on this forum, under the official guise of creating "diversity, inclusion and pluralism" of their student bodies, many institutions offer "international scholarships", (includes Canada) and there is nothing in the rules that prevent athletic departments from utilizing these scholarships to lure potential athletes.
Also, most institutions offer financial aid to targeted groups that add to that institutions mission, one that comes to mind, is the
State University of New York's Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). Quoting from their website, "provides access, academic support, and financial aid to students who show promise for mastering college-level work, but who may otherwise not be admitted. Offered primarily to full-time students who are New York State residents, EOP accepts students who qualify, academically and economically, for the program" and " EOP is designed for
students who need special academic assistance as well as financial aid."
Additionally - "Income Guidelines Also Do Not Apply If...
•The student’s family is the recipient of
Family Assistance or Safety Net payments through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; or through a county Department of Social Services; or Family Day Care payments through the
New York State Office of Children and Family Assistance;
•The student lives with foster parents who do not provide support for college and the student’s natural parents provide no such support;
•The student is a ward of the state or county."
As is evidenced by the above, this program inherently (though NOT exclusively) targets New York's inner-city youth, and is widely used by SUNY's basketball programs to entice (and get accepted) potential athletes, as well as any other athlete who meets the programs guidelines.
I hear that team is pretty good.
