Ivy League, ECAC and NCAA Eligibility Regulations

Faculty Athletic Representative and Compliance Coordinator
Penelope Laurans, Associate Dean of Yale College was appointed by President Levin to serve as Yale's Faculty Athletic Representative. The role of the FAR is to provide advice and oversight of the intercollegiate athletics program in areas of eligibility, compliance and academics. The FAR ensures that student-athletes meet all NCAA, conference and institutional requirements for practice and competition. Dr. Laurans is a member of the Faculty Committee on Athletics and serves as the liaison between academics and athletic matters.

Amy Backus, Assistant Director of Athletics, serves as Yale's compliance coordinator. The compliance coordinator ensures that student-athletes are eligible for practice and competition and provides educational materials and updates about NCAA and Ivy League rules and regulations.

Eligibility Regulations
Four sets of principles and policies govern intercollegiate athletics at Yale. These policies come from the three conferences of which Yale is a member and from the Yale College handbook.

1. Rules & Regulations of Yale College
2. The Ivy Agreement
3. The Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC)
4. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

The University, the Ivy League, the ECAC and the NCAA require that an athlete be a full-time, matriculated student in a four-year baccalaureate program. The athlete must be enrolled in courses yielding 12 credits per semester (3 courses at Yale) while competing in his or her sport and be making normal progress toward the degree. Individuals registered as special, part-time, or non-matriculant students are ineligible.

To be eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics, a student must meet the standards set by the University, the Department, the Ivy League, ECAC and NCAA. At the beginning of each academic year or sport season each student must meet with an institutional representative to review the rules and regulations of the four governing bodies. Each athlete must have on file in the Varsity Sports Office a signed Ivy League and NCAA statement certifying that he or she understands and has abided by all rules and regulations of these two governing bodies.

If you have any questions, please contact the compliance office at 432-7668.