Cont. 3. Will I have access to campus if I am living off campus? A: Juniors and seniors who are enrolled and living off campus will have access to campus. In order to reduce travel and on-campus density, first-year students and sophomores will not have access to the campus during the semesters in which they are studying from home. Yale Athletics will provide access to necessary athletic facilities for enrolled in-season first year student-athletes if athletic competition is permitted in the spring semester; these student-athletes will need to adhere to the community compact. 4. If I am on a Leave of Absence or a Deferral will I be permitted to train with my team? A: No. Current NCAA rules do not permit a student-athlete who is not enrolled to take part in any required athletically related activities, including virtual activities. 5. If I am on a Leave of Absence or a Deferral, will I have access to Yale athletics facilities, athletics medicine services, and other services provided to student-athletes? A: Student-athletes who are not enrolled will have access to Yale facilities in the same manner as the general public. It is likely that some or all of Yale’s athletics facilities will be closed to the general public due to public health concerns. Athletic medicine services will be available to student-athletes with existing injuries that were incurred during prior participation with Yale athletics. 6. Is it permissible for me to participate with an outside team or compete as an individual in events during the fall or Spring semester? A: NCAA rules permit a student-athlete to participate as a member of an outside team during institutional vacation periods (e.g., Thanksgiving break, winter break) only. Competition on an outside team is otherwise impermissible during the academic year. It is permissible for student-athletes to participate as an individual in his or her sport during the academic year, but anyone interested should complete an outside competition form via ARMS with the Athletics Compliance Office first. Student-athletes on deferral or a leave of absence should contact the Athletics Compliance Office before competing with an outside team. Eligibility, Leaves of Absence and Deferrals—Incoming First Year Student-Athletes 7. I am an incoming student-athlete and would like to defer my admission to 2021-22. What do I need to consider? A: Many questions regarding a leave of absence can be found in the YCDO FAQ. You should also consult with the Admissions Office regarding admissions regulations. Student-athletes that opt to defer their enrollment must take the full 2020-21 academic year off and will not be able to enroll until fall 2021. Deferrals must be requested by July 15th through the postponement request form. A student-athlete’s NCAA eligibility clock will not start until the student-athlete initially enrolls in a full-time program of study. Therefore, a deferment will not impact your athletics eligibility provided you do not enroll as a full-time student at any other collegiate institution. Incoming student-athletes who plan to continue to compete in their sport during their deferral year should contact the Athletics Compliance Office to ensure their eligibility will not be impacted. If you have questions about how a deferral will impact your financial aid, please refer to the Yale Financial Aid FAQ. If you wish to take a deferral you should also review questions 4 and 5. Eligibility, Leaves of Absence and Deferrals—Current Student-Athletes 8. I am a returning student-athlete. How will my athletics eligibility be impacted by the cancellation of fall semester athletic competitions? A: Should you wish to use your missed season of eligibility at Yale, you will need to notify the Athletics Compliance Office prior to the fifth year that you wish to return. The Athletics Compliance Office will file a fifth-year waiver with the Ivy League to ensure that you are permitted to compete in that season. Because Yale undergraduates must complete their degree within eight terms, you must take either one or two leaves of absence in order to extend your eight terms of enrollment, should you wish to use your missed season of eligibility at Yale. Please see question 10 for information related to a leave of absence. 9. What if I previously planned to file for a fifth year? A: In certain circumstances, NCAA rules permit student-athletes to apply for and utilize a sixth year to complete their four seasons of eligibility. These questions will be addressed on an individual basis due to the complexity of each individual case, and you should contact the Athletics Compliance Office directly to discuss your particular situation. 10. I am a returning student-athlete and would like to consider taking a Leave of Absence (LOA). What should I do? A: Many questions regarding a LOA, including information regarding the July 20th deadline on campus housing, can be found in the YCDO FAQ. Should you wish to decide about taking a LOA, you should: - check with Degree Audit to ensure you will not exhaust your eight terms prior to the conclusion of your final season of eligibility - review carefully the Leave of Absence section of the Academic Regulations Some basic information on LOAs: - To be eligible for a LOA you must be in academic good standing. - To request a LOA, you need only email the following request to your Residential College Dean’s office: “I request a leave of absence for fall term 2020,” OR “I request two terms of leave of absence for fall term 2020 and spring term 2021.” Please be sure to copy the Athletics Compliance Office. - That LOA request is due no later than the 15th day of the fall term (September 14th). This deadline is very strictly enforced. Of course, if you make your decision sooner, you can and should act sooner. If you decide to take a LOA after the term is started, please contact the Compliance Office before finalizing your plans. - If you have contracted for fall term housing, you should explicitly state that you are relinquishing that housing. - Once you have been approved for a LOA for the fall term, you may cancel your desire to take it no later than the first day of the classes in the fall term (August 31st). This deadline is very strictly enforced. - At the conclusion of your LOA, you need only return to enrollment in the following term. If you wish to contract for on-campus housing for that term, alert your dean’s office to this fact as soon as possible. Even if you do not want on-campus housing, you should still alert your dean’s office to your planned return, if only as a courtesy, as there is no formal process to go through when you return from a LOA. If you have questions about how a LOA will impact your financial aid, please refer to the Yale Financial Aid FAQ. If you wish to take a LOA you should also review questions 4 and 5. Transfer to another collegiate institution 11. What is the NCAA Transfer Portal and how do I enter it? A: If you desire to transfer, you must enter the NCAA transfer portal to speak with other institutions and coaches about the possibility of transfer. To enter the transfer portal, you must provide a written request to the Athletics Compliance Office. Entrance into the transfer portal does not guarantee transfer. You can remove your name from the portal at any time and opt to remain at Yale. 12. How does the NCAA temporary recruiting dead period affect my transfer? A: During the temporary recruiting dead period, institutions are not allowed to host official or unofficial visits, nor are they permitted to recruit off-campus at evaluation events or in-home contacts. Coaches may still make contact with recruits, including transfer recruits, via phone calls, zooms, email, etc. 13. How do admissions and financial aid work at other non-Ivy institutions? A: Coaches and administration at the transfer institution are the best resources for questions about that institution’s admissions and financial aid process. 14. I compete in the sport of football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, or baseball. Will I have to sit out a year at my new institution? A: NCAA rules require student-athletes in the sports of football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, and baseball to serve a year in residence (two semesters without competition) upon transfer. The NCAA has indicated greater flexibility regarding waivers citing COVID-19 and a lack of participation opportunity at the previous institution. In addition, student-athletes in these sports who opt to transfer to Division II or III institutions have access to the onetime transfer exception and will be immediately eligible, provided they meet all other transfer requirements. 15. I compete in a sport other than football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, or baseball. Will I have access to the one-time transfer exception? A: Provided you have not previously transferred and meet all other transfer requirements, you will have access to the one-time transfer exception and be immediately eligible at your next institution.
