UAH Athletics

A student may receive unearned athletically related financial aid administered by the institution for any regular semester the student is eligible for athletic related financial aid and in full-time attendance, provided it does not exceed an amount equal to tuition and fees, room and board, and required course-related books and supplies, and provided the student is not under contract to or currently receiving compensation from a professional sports organization.  All aid should be thought of in terms of dollar amounts. Total of all money may not exceed the University’s stated cost of attendance.

All aid received by student-athletes that is not from a parent or legal guardian must be submitted to The University of Alabama in Huntsville financial aid department for payment of collegiate expenses. In addition, all aid received by student-athletes is to be formally communicated to the compliance area of athletics through documentation on paper during the fall of each academic year. These papers will be reviewed and matched again against what is submitted to financial aid. All employment and summer work is to be added to the formal list of aid. A form for this formal documentation will be completed by the student-athlete along with the NCAA paperwork at the beginning of the season, and no later than within a week of when the student athlete might be added to a team roster.

 

Continuing Financial Aid

All aid is awarded on a year-to-year basis for all student athletes. In no manner is aid promised for any reason beyond the one year academic term and as stated in the grant in aid agreement. This includes any and all other written or oral agreements between a student athlete/student athlete parents and coach or staff member. If athletics financial aid is reduced or cancelled after the academic year is over, the student-athlete will be mailed a notification from the Office of Financial Aid, postmarked no later than July 1. This letter will be sent to the official mailing address on file with the university.  This applies to returning student athletes. See section below regarding student-athletes who have completed their eligibility.

 

Hearing Policy and Procedure on Reduction and/or Cancellation of Athletics Aid Between Academic Years:

All athletics aid is awarded for one academic year.  There are no guarantees of any athletics aid continuing on a year to year basis.  Athletics aid may be reduced for various reasons between academic years, including but not limited to athletic ability.

University of Alabama in Huntsville student-athletes will be sent a non-renewal or cancellation of financial aid letter by U.S. postal service in the event their aid is cancelled or will not be renewed for the following academic year based on reasons other than the exhaustion of their NCAA eligibility for competition.  This letter will be postmarked no later than July 1 of the year and be sent to the student-athlete by the Director of Financial Aid.

A student-athlete has the opportunity of a hearing if notified that their past or current athletic financial aid is being reduced or canceled during the period of the award or for the following academic year.  The student-athlete whose aid is being reduced or canceled must personally contact and notify in writing the Director of Financial Aid of their request for a hearing.

Notification must be made within 10 days of receipt of non-renewal/cancellation letter.  The phone number for the Director of Financial Aid will be included in the notification letter.  The hearing will be conducted with the Director of Financial Aid and a committee comprised of other staff.  The hearing will be conducted on campus during a mutually agreed upon date and time during a weekday and within 30 days of the receipt of the student-athlete’s request for the hearing, but no later than July 31 of the year.

The decision of the financial aid committee will be final.  Aid will only be reinstated if the committee determines it is warranted based on the information provided in the student’s appeal and any other relevant supporting documentation.

 

Athletics Aid for Summer School:

All UAH student-athletes, with the exception of some Division I team members, are eligible to receive athletics financial aid for the summer terms providing there are funds available in the scholarship budget.  Student-athletes interested in summer money need to contact the Director of Athletics before the summer sessions begin. Approval is through the Director of Athletics who coordinates with the Senior Women’s Administrator.

As UAH hockey is an NCAA Division I team, different rules apply.  A non-scholarship student-athlete would not be eligible to receive any athletic related aid during the summer.  Student-athletes on the ice hockey team who receive athletic related aid during the fall and spring semesters are eligible to receive summer aid under the procedure described above and up to the same percentage as through the academic year.

A student-athlete must be academically eligible to compete through the spring semester prior to the summer term in order to qualify for UAH Athletic summer aid (assuming aid is available).

Athletics Aid for Student Athletes Who Have Completed Their Eligibility:

All athletic aid is on a year to year basis. UAH personnel make athletic aid recommendations to the Director of Athletics on a year to year basis. No recommendations for more than a year will be considered and verbal agreements are not binding. By no means is any aid awarded or verbally promised for more than one academic year.

 

Working if on Scholarship:

Specific rules apply per situation.  Anyone working while enrolled at UAH and on an athletics team should report their work situation to the Director of Athletic Compliance.

Non-Allowable Financial Aid:

A student-athlete SHALL NOT:

1. Receive financial aid other than that administered by the institution if the aid has any relationship whatsoever to athletics ability.  This prohibition shall not apply to earnings from a professional organization in a sport other than the student’s collegiate sport;

2. Accept financial aid from an organization, individual or agency outside of the student’s institution when selection for which is based primarily on athletics ability or participation;

3. Receive extra benefit not available to members of the student body in general.

 

Scholarship if on Academic Probation:

Student-athletes who are on academic probation are not guaranteed continuation of athletics financial aid.  In some cases aid may continue for the subsequent semester in the same academic year if approved by a committee consisting of the student-athlete’s coach, the Athletics Director and the Faculty Athletics Representative (or designee).

Further, should the student-athlete again be placed on academic probation, continuation of aid is not guaranteed in any manner.  The same committee will review the athlete’s case and make a decision concerning the continuation or cancellation of athletics financial aid.
 

Scholarship if quit the team:

Student-athletes who voluntarily quit the team have not fulfilled their contractual obligation with the University or their team and will forfeit all monies that have been or were scheduled to be dispersed during the academic year. If they quit after funds have been dispersed to their account, they will be liable to repay the University for that amount. Any appeals for student athletes who quit during the academic year of their obligation can appeal to their head coach, and then the Director of Athletics, but there is no guarantee for relief from this policy.