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Eligibility

Initial Eligibility In order to compete in athletics at UTEP, a prospect must meet specific standards of eligibility, including the University of Texas at El Paso's requirements for admission and the NCAA initial eligibility requirements.

UTEP Admission Standards and Requirements:

Documents Required:

1. UTEP application
2. Official SAT, ACT, GED, TOEFL, or PAA scores, as appropriate
3. Final, official high school transcript indicating adequate high school preparation, rank, and graduation date.

Tests:

1. Graduates of U. S. High Schools: All first-time freshmen who graduated from high school within the past five years are required to take the SAT or ACT for admission.
2. Freshmen who graduated from U.S. high schools over five years ago are not required to take an admissions test.

Freshmen who rank in the top half of their class or who score a minimum of 920 on the SAT or a 20 composite on the ACT are automatically admitted to UTEP upon application and submission of the appropriate admission documents. This policy includes admission of graduates of an accredited Texas high school who graduated in the top 25% of their high school class, as described in Chapter 51 of the Texas Education Code.

To be eligible for admission as a Transfer Student, a prospect must have credit from another university or community college and must be in good academic standing and have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of college level work with a 2.0 overall grade point average.

If a student-athlete has completed fewer than 12 hours of college level course work they are eligible for admission to UTEP if they have earned grades of "C" or better in all courses taken, maintained a cumulative 2.0 GPA and meet requirements for regular freshman admission. An official high school transcript and an SAT or ACT test score must be submitted if applicable.

NCAA Initial Eligibility Requirements

A prospective student-athlete must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center to participate in intercollegiate athletics at an NCAA Division I or II institution as a freshman. The NCAA Eligibility Center ensures consistent interpretation of NCAA initial eligibility requirements for all student-athletes at all member institutions. The Compliance Office's document, Quick Tips for Registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center, provides a step by step guide to help high school students and their families understand how to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center as well as other important information concerning amateurism and initial eligibility. For a more in-depth look at the NCAA initial eligibility requirements, please utilize the NCAA Guide to the College Bound Student.

If a student-athlete enrolls in a Division I college on or after August 1st, 2008, and wants to participate in athletics or receive an athletic scholarship during their first year of enrollment they must:

• Graduate from high school;
• Successfully complete the required 16 core courses in high school as follows:
• 4 years of English
• 3 years of Math (Algebra I or higher)
• 2 years of Natural/Physical Science (1 year of lab if offered)
• 1 year of additional English, Math or Natural/Physical Science
• 2 years of Social Science
• 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy)
• Earn a minimum required GPA in the 16 core courses;
• Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches the core course GPA and test score sliding scale below:

Freshmen must establish eligibility using the following index:
Core GPA	SAT	Sum ACT
3.550 and above	400	37
3.525	410	38
3.500	420	39
3.475	430	40
3.450	440	41
3.425	450	41
3.400	460	42
3.375	470	42
3.350	480	43
3.325	490	44
3.300	500	44
3.275	510	45
3.250	520	46
3.225	530	46
3.200	540	47
3.175	550	47
3.150	560	48
3.125	570	49
3.100	580	49
3.075	590	50
3.050	600	50
3.025	610	51
3.000	620	52
2.975	630	52
2.950	640	53
2.925	650	53
2.900	660	54
2.875	670	55
2.850	680	56
2.825	690	56
2.800	700	57
2.775	710	58
2.750	720	59
2.725	730	59
2.700	730	60
2.675	740-750	61
2.650	760	62
2.625	770	63
2.600	780	64
2.575	790	65
2.550	800	66
2.525	810	67
2.500	820	68
2.475	830	69
2.450	840-850	70
2.425	860	70
2.400	860	71
2.375	870	72
2.350	880	73
2.325	890	74
2.300	900	75
2.275	910	76
2.250	920	77
2.225	930	78
2.200	940	79
2.175	950	80
2.150	960	80
2.125	960	81
2.100	970	82
2.075	980	83
2.050	990	84
2.025	1000	85
2.000	1010	86

Qualifiers:
Students who meet the academic requirements listed above are qualifiers. Qualifiers can:

• Practice or compete during their first year of collegiate enrollment
• Receive an athletics scholarship during their first year of collegiate enrollment
• Play four seasons in their sport if they maintain their eligibility from year to year

Nonqualifiers:
Students who do not meet the academic requirements listed above are nonqualifiers. Nonqualifiers:

• Cannot practice or compete during their first year of enrollment
• Cannot receive an athletics scholarship during their first year of enrollment
• Can play only three seasons if they maintain their eligibility from year to year (to earn a fourth season a non-qualifier must complete at least 80% of his/her degree requirements before beginning his/her 5th year of college)

Continuing Eligibility
Student-athletes must meet all UTEP and NCAA regulations in order to remain eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Continuing eligibility is certified by the Compliance Office and the Miner Athlete Academic Center at the end of each semester.

UTEP Academic Eligibility

In order to practice or compete, each student-athlete MUST:

• Be enrolled in 12 credit hours (full time) at all times
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 to avoid academic probation and/or suspension
• Complete all registration and add/drop activity in person at the MAAC

NCAA Academic Eligibility

First Year Eligibility Requirements

• Student-athletes must pass 24 hours in the first year of enrollment (18 hours must be completed in the academic year-including 6 hours per semester to remain eligible for the following term)
• Summer session hours cannot be used to make up the 18 hour rule; however, a maximum of six hours in a summer session may be used toward the 24 hour rule
• A maximum 6 credit hours of developmental, prerequisite, and ESOL classes may be used in the 1st year toward the 24 hour rule

Continuing Eligibility Requirements

• Student-athletes must pass 18 hours every academic year-excluding summer
• Student-athletes must complete 6 hours per semester and maintain NCAA GPA standards (90/95/100% of 2.00 after the first, second, and third year) to remain eligible for the following term
• Developmental courses and prerequisites (not specifically listed on a degree plan) do not count for progress toward degree requirements after the first year of enrollment
• To remain eligible student-athletes must meet percentage of degree requirements. Percentage of degree is calculated based on the total number of hours required to graduate under a specific degree plan
• Following completion of the 4th full-time semester, 40% of a degree must be met
• Following completion of the 6th full-time semester, 60% of a degree must be met
• Following completion of the 8th full-time semester, 80% of a degree must be met
• There is no limit on the number of summer session hours used to make up percentage of a degree

International Student Athletes
The NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility has been prepared to provide specific criteria to be used as a guide in reviewing the initial eligibility of students who have completed any portion of their secondary education in a non-United States educational system for intercollegiate athletics participation. To access this guide please click below:

2008 Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility

If a student-athlete never previously enrolled as a full-time student in a university (the use of the word university is important because college/collegiate often implies secondary school) they must meet minimum academic standards in order to be eligible for practice, competition and athletics financial aid their first year. The minimum required standards will vary depending on the country

Transfers
NCAA regulations prohibit an Athletic Department staff member from making contact with a student-athlete enrolled at another NCAA or NAIA four-year institution without first obtaining the permission of the student-athlete's current institution to do so, regardless of who makes the initial contact.

Transfers to UTEP
If a student-athlete enrolled at another institution contacts a UTEP coach or if a coach wishes to contact a student-athlete at another four-year institution, the staff member must provide the Compliance Office with the student-athlete's name and his/her institution's name. The Compliance Office will then contact the compliance officer at the student-athlete's current institution via e-mail requesting such permission. Once permission to contact a student-athlete at another institution is granted, the Compliance Office will notify the coach that such permission has been granted.

If a student-athlete is currently enrolled (or has previously been enrolled) as a full-time student at a university in a foreign country, they will be considered a transfer student upon enrolling at an NCAA university.

Transfers from UTEP
If a student-athlete is interested in transferring to another NCAA or NAIA institution, he/she must first provide that institution with permission to contact from the UTEP Compliance Office per Bylaw 13.1.1.3. The student-athlete must receive a release from his/her head coach before the Compliance Office will provide another institution with permission to contact. If a student-athlete wishes to transfer, please submit the Student-Athlete Release Form to the Compliance Office.

C-USA Intraconference Transfers
The eligibility of a student-athlete or prospective student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) with a Conference USA institution who transfers directly or indirectly from one conference member institution to another shall be determined by NCAA regulations. In the event NCAA regulations require the student-athlete to complete one full academic year in residence before being eligible to compete in a sport, the student-athlete shall also forfeit one season of competition in that sport.

In addition, a 4-2-4 transfer student-athlete who is in compliance with NCAA Bylaw 14.5.6 must complete one full academic year in residence before being eligible to compete in a sport and forfeits one season of competition unless, in sports other than football and basketball, the director of athletics of the conference member institution of initial enrollment consents in writing to the student-athlete's enrollment at the second conference member institution. Any consent given relating to a direct or indirect intra-conference transfer may be unconditional or conditioned on the student-athlete completing one full academic year in residence at the second conference member institution before competing.

For more information regarding NCAA Transfer guidelines, please visit the NCAA Transfer Guide.