The Compliance Office’s door at Cleveland State University is always open to its current student-athletes.  We are here to assist you in your athletic and academic endeavors.  Do not hesitate to ask us questions as they come up:

Erik Mathis
Senior Associate Athletics Director, Compliance
(216) 903-5609
e.s.mathis@csuohio.edu

The following information is designed to remind you of some basic compliance issues that affect NCAA Division I student-athletes:

Progress-Toward-Degree Requirements
Please read the following bylaws regarding eligibility based on credit hours completed and percentage of degree completed.  Do not hesitate to bring questions on these academic requirements to the Compliance Office and/or the Athletic Academic Advising Office.

• Credits used to fulfill PTD must count towards degree program in the official course catalog
• All coursework must be completed prior to the first day of class of the subsequent semester in order to be used for certification
• Student-athletes are not eligible for competition during the term if they are not eligible on the first day of class

Transfer Policy
Any student-athlete with eligibility remaining who wishes to contact and/or transfer to another institution must submit their notification of transfer via the Transfer Notification Form available in the Athletic Compliance Office and complete the Transfer Portal Education Module prior to being entered into the Transfer Portal. The Compliance Office must respond to such requests within two (2) business days.

Additionally, in order to utilize the One-Time Transfer Exception, the student-athlete must adhere to entering the Transfer Portal during the applicable Transfer Portal Window for the specific sport.  Failing to enter the Transfer Portal during the applicable sports window may result in serving a year in residence at the next institution.

The following Athletic Department services may or may not continue to be provided to a student-athlete once they submit their notification of transfer. Please note that each situation is different and exceptions to this policy can be made at the discretion of the Director of Athletics or their designee.

If a student-athlete submits their notification of transfer after they have either voluntarily quit their team or have been cut/dismissed from their team, the following will be:

i. Available services provided to the student-athlete:
   a. Academic services; and
   b. Sports medicine services solely for continuing treatment of an existing condition. 

ii. Unavailable services not provided to the student-athlete:
   a. Issuance of equipment;
   b. Weight room/strength and conditioning services; and
   c. Use of athletically-controlled facilities that are not open to all members of the student body.

If a student-athlete submits their notification of transfers but will be remaining on their team, the following will be:

i. Available services provided to the student-athlete:
   a. Academic services;
   b. Sports medicine services solely for continuing treatment of an existing condition;
   c. Issuance of equipment;
   d. Weight room/strength and conditioning services; and
   e. Use of athletically-controlled facilities that are not open to all members of the student body.

Please Note: If a student-athlete informs the institution of their intent to transfer via the Notification of Transfer process, their athletic aid can be reduced or canceled at the end of the current academic term (if notification is provided during winter or summer break, aid may be canceled immediately). If a student-athlete voluntarily quits/withdraws from their team, their athletic aid can be canceled immediately or at the end of the academic term.

One-Time Transfer Guide

Two-Year Transfer Guide

Four-Year Transfer Guide

One-Time Transfer Exception:
The notification of transfer and the one-time transfer exception are separate NCAA rules. An institution has the right to deny a student-athlete use of the one-time transfer exception. It is the general policy of Cleveland State University to deny the use of the one-time transfer exception to all Horizon League institutions. The Head Coach and/or the Athletic Director can extend that denial to additional institutions at their discretion. Use of the one-time transfer exception shall also not be granted to a student-athlete who wishes to transfer to an institution that has employed a coach who previously coached the student-athlete at CSU. Exceptions to this policy may be made at the discretion of the Athletic Director.

In accordance with NCAA regulations, the student-athlete has the right to appeal to a committee that hears student-athlete appeals, including appeals regarding the use of one-time transfer exception. Please see the Compliance Office for details on how to appeal the decision.

Countable Athletically Related Activities
Countable athletically related activities (CARA) are any required activities with an athletic purpose that involve student-athletes and occur at the direction of (or supervised by) one or more of Cleveland State’s coaching staff, including strength and conditioning coaches. Below are examples of what is and is not countable.

Daily and Weekly Hour Limitations
NCAA Bylaw 17.1.7 limits the amount of time coaches can require a student-athlete to be involved in CARA each week. These limitations are different depending on if a team is in-season or out-of-season. The distinctions between what is and is not permissible are as follows:

Voluntary Activities
Student-athletes are permitted to participate in voluntary activities as often as they would like. In order for an activity to be considered voluntary, the following conditions must be satisfied:

• The student-athlete must not be required to report back to a coach or athletics department staff member any information related to the activity;
• Staff members who observe the activity (i.e., strength coaches) may not report back to the student-athletes’ coach any information related to the activity – coaches may not observe voluntary activities (except for safety exception sports);
• The activity must be initiated and requested solely by the student-athlete;
• Attendance and participation (or lack thereof) may not be recorded for the purposes of reporting such information to coaching staff members; and
• Student-athletes may not be subjected to a penalty if they choose not to participate in the activity or rewarded if they do choose to participate.

Drug Testing and Banned Substances
The NCAA and Cleveland State University share the responsibility of promoting a drug-free athletics environment to protect the health of student-athletes and preserve fair competition. There is also a shared responsibility to educate student-athletes in order to prevent drug usage. The NCAA conducts drug testing at all of its championships and through its year-round testing program.

Student-athletes are responsible for what they put in their body! Student-athletes should always check with their Athletic Trainer before taking medications, supplements, or any other substances.

NCAA Banned Drug Classes
The NCAA bans drugs by class, along with any substance chemically related to those classes. The following classes of drugs have been banned by the NCAA:

• 1. Stimulants
• 2. Anabolic agents
• 3. Alcohol and beta blockers (banned for rifle only
• 4. Diuretics and masking agents
• 5. Narcotics
• 6. Cannabinoids
• 7. Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics
• 8. Hormone and metabolic modulators
• 9. Beta-2 agonists

For a complete list of the banned drugs, drugs and procedures subject to restrictions, and a warning about nutritional/dietary supplements, click here
NCAA Drug Testing Program, click here

NCAA Information on Gambling and Sports Wagering

DON’T BET ON IT!

NCAA Study on Collegiate Sports Wagering

The NCAA prohibits coaches, staff, and student-athletes from all sports wagering activities – legal and illegal.  Ask Before You Act!

Bylaw 10.3 Sports Wagering Activities.  The following individuals shall not knowingly participate in sports wagering activities or provide information to individuals in or associated with any type of sports wagering activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition: (Adopted: 4/26/07 effective 8/1/07)

(a) Staff members of an institution’s athletics department;

(b) Nonathletics department staff members who have responsibilities within or over the athletics department (e.g., chancellor or president, faculty athletics representative, individual to whom athletics reports)

(c) Staff members of a conference office; and

(d) Student-athletes.

SAAC
Formed as a voice for CSU student-athletes, the Student-Athlete Advisory Council has successfully served not only the participants in intercollegiate athletics at CSU but by creating a tie between Cleveland State and the community.

SAAC was developed by the CSU athletic department to:

• Promote communication between athletics administration and student-athletes.
• Disseminate information.
• Provide feedback and insight into athletics department issues.
• Build a sense of community within the athletics program involving all athletics teams.
• Solicit student-athlete responses to proposed conference and NCAA legislation.
• Organize community service efforts.
• Promote a positive student-athlete image on campus.

CSU – SAAC

Agents and Financial Advisors
If you are fortunate enough to have the chance to continue your playing career at a professional level, the coaches and compliance staff are here to assist you.  However, it is imperative you do not jeopardize your intercollegiate eligibility by rushing into negotiations with agents or financial advisors.  The NCAA is increasing its attention to impermissible agent activity.  There has been a rash of misbehavior recently.  Please talk to the compliance specialist, Ed Zelaski, and your coaches before you agree to representation by an agent or advisor.  See the “Agents and Advisors” page on the Compliance website by clicking “here”.  More information on agents and advisors is detailed below:

Bylaw 12.3 - Use of Agents:

12.3.1 - General Rule. An individual shall be ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she ever has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation in that sport. Further, an agency contract not specifically limited in writing to a sport or particular sports shall be deemed applicable to all sports, and the individual shall be ineligible to participate in any sport.

12.3.1.1 - Representation for Future Negotiations. An individual shall be ineligible per Bylaw 12.3.1 if he or she enters into a verbal or written agreement with an agent for representation in future professional sports negotiations that are to take place after the individual has completed his or her eligibility in that sport.

12.3.2 Legal Counsel. Securing advice from a lawyer concerning a proposed professional sports contract shall not be considered contracting for representation by an agent under this rule, unless the lawyer also represents the individual in negotiations for such a contract.

12.3.2.1 Presence of a Lawyer at Negotiations. A lawyer may not be present during discussions of a contract offer with a professional organization or have any direct contact (in person, by telephone or by mail) with a professional sports organization on behalf of the individual. A lawyer's presence during such discussions is considered representation by an agent.

Outside Competition
No student-athlete is permitted to compete in any outside competition (either during the academic year or during vacation periods) without prior approval of the Athletic Director and/or the Compliance Office. If you are competing in any outside competition, you must complete the outside competition form on JumpForward.

CSU Student-Athlete Handbook
CSU Student-Athlete Handbook