FHSU Athletics

Terms to Know:
Prospective Student-Athlete (PSA or Recruit)
    - Any student that has started classes for the ninth grade
    - A student of any age if the institution provides benefits to the student that they institution does not provide the prospective students in general
    - A student remains a prospect until the start of classes or official team practice at Fort Hays State University (signing a National Letter of Intent (NLI) does NOT remove the status of prospect)
Recruiting
    - Any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect’s family by an authorized institutional staff member for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment and participation in athletics
Student-Athlete
    - A student who presently is participating in intercollegiate athletics or has participated in intercollegiate athletics and is still receiving athletics aid
Extra Benefit
    - An extra benefit is any special gift or arrangement provided to a student-athlete, or a student-athlete’s friend or family member, which is not available to the general FHSU student body or the general population

Examples of Extra Benefits (this is not an exhaustive list):
Applies to Prospective Student-Athletes and Enrolled Student-Athletes
- Use of an automobile or transportation
- Admission to an event (e.g., movies, athletic events, banquets, clubs, special events/parties, concerts, etc.) except allowable on official/unofficial visits.
- Cash or loans in any amount
- Gifts of any kind, including those on special occasions such as birthday, religious holidays, graduation, etc.
- Free or reduced-cost services, rentals, or purchases of any type (e.g., meals, drinks, clothing, laundry, haircuts, legal fees, tattoos, rounds of golf, car repairs, etc.)
- Free or reduced-cost housing for any length of time
- Entertainment
- Assistance with paying bills (e.g., cell phone, gas money, rent, etc.)
- Awards
- Loans (including co-signing)
- Use of your telephone or credit card
- Providing a meal outside of your home or at a local restaurant (occasional meals must be approved by the FHSU Athletics Compliance Office prior to taking place)

Representative of Athletics Interest (Booster):
A booster is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer), or another organization that is known to:
- Hold, or have ever held, season tickets for any sports with FHSU Athletics
- Have participated in, or be a member of, an agency or organization promoting any FHSU Athletics program (e.g., FHSU Alumni Association, Tiger Club, sport booster groups, etc.)
- Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution (e.g. booster groups)
- Provide allowable benefits (e.g., summer jobs) to enrolled student-athletes; or
- Promote FHSU Athletics in any way

Prospective Student-Athletes:
The NCAA restricts the involvement that you may have with prospective student-athletes. Only coaches and authorized employees may be involved in the recruiting process. NCAA rules prohibit boosters from engaging in recruiting activities designed to secure a prospect’s enrollment at Fort Hays State University. If a prospect contacts you regarding academic information, you may have correspondence discussing non-athletically related information at any time. Please remember any athletics recruiting conversation mush be directed towards the applicable coaching staff member.

Current Student-Athletes:
Hosting an Occasional Meal – You are permitted to host a meal for student-athletes on an occasional basis provided the following:
- The meal may be held in your home or a FHSU Athletics facility;  
- Local transportation may be provided to the student-athlete(s) in conjunction with the meal; and
- The meal must be approved by the Compliance Office prior to the meal taking place.  

Employment of a Student-Athlete:
Employment of a student-athlete is permissible, provided all six (6) of the following conditions are met:
- The student-athlete is only paid for the work actually performed;
- The student-athlete is paid at the rate commensurate with the going rate in that locale for similar services;
- The student-athlete may not be compensated in any manner for any value or utility that he or she may have for an employer because of any publicity, reputation, fame, or personal following that he or she may have obtained because of his or her athletics ability;
- The student-athlete must register his/her job(s) during the academic year and summer break by completing the Student-Athlete Employment Form and returning it to the Athletics Compliance Office;
- Employers MUST confirm their employment of a FHSU Athletics student-athlete prior to the student-athletes’ employment.

Academic Fraud & Unethical Conduct:
Academic fraud and unethical conduct are taken very seriously by both the NCAA and FHSU Athletics. The following examples of impermissible activity apply to both current and prospective student-athletes.
- Knowing involvement in arranging for fraudulent academic credit or false transcripts
- Fraudulence or misconduct in connection with entrance or placement examinations
- Providing or offering extra benefits or recruiting inducements
- Speaking with prospective student-athletes about athletics recruiting (all athletics recruiting conversations shall be directed to the appropriate coaching staff members)

Gambling Activities:
NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes, athletics department staff members and non-athletics staff members who have responsibilities within or over the athletics department from participating in any sports gambling activity or providing information concerning competitions to individuals involved in organized gambling activities. Additionally, it is a violation of federal law for boosters, student-athletes, or staff members to affect or attempt to affect the outcome of a collegiate contest.