La Roche University recognizes that the development of students is not solely one of academic growth and that other activities contribute to the achievement of the goals set by the University in carrying out its mission with students.
Participation in varsity sports serves as an important function for participating students and also serves as a method of public relations, recruitment of students, visibility for the University and retention of students.
It is understood that academic growth of students has the highest priority. It is also understood that the University's membership in intercollegiate conferences or associations requires commitment to certain standards shared with other member schools.
To show concern for and to assure that academic growth is not impeded by participation in varsity athletics, certain restrictions are placed on student participation. These restrictions are intended for the student's guidance and assistance just as restrictions on students in general are imposed when academic growth is not satisfactory.
Policy
No student will be permitted to participate in an intercollegiate sports program during the time that the student is ineligible according to the standards of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and La Roche University.
Athletic academic eligibility is defined as having a cumulative GPA of 1.800 in the student's first year (first two semesters) at La Roche University. Students must receive a cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the completion of the following six semesters. If a first year student earns a semester GPA of more than 1.500, but less than 1.800 in the first semester of attendance, that student may participate during the second semester under the following conditions:
- The student, the academic advisor, the athletic director, and the coach agree to the participation.
- The student carries no more than 12-13 credits in the semester.
- A written contract is agreed to by the player, the academic advisor, and the coach, whereby the student adheres to a specific plan of study including regular involvement with the Academic Enrichment Center, tutoring if deemed advisable and continual reports and checks with instructors.
- The contract so established will be filed with the athletic director prior to the first game of the new semester. Any student who is in his/her third through eighth semester and receives a semester GPA below 2.000 while still maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.000 or above is athletically eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics. In any case when a student-athlete is brought to the Academic Standards Review Board at La Roche University and the review board, in coordination with the athletic department, finds that it is in the student's best academic interest not to participate in an intercollegiate sport for a particular semester; that recommendation will be upheld to meet La Roche University's academic standards. Thus, a student who is academically eligible by the NCAA standards must comply with the more stringent standards of La Roche University, if applicable.