NCAA Annual Guidance

We want our student-athletes to be successful in the classroom and, like all our Texas Tech students, to attain their educational goals. In this context, we would like to remind you of several important University and NCAA policies.

First, as you likely are aware, O.P. 34.04 provides the following regarding students who miss class or an exam due to a university-approved trip (whether that student is representing Texas Tech as a student-athlete, as a member of the band, on a competitive academic team, etc.):

• Department chairs, directors, or others responsible for a student representing the university on officially approved trips must notify the student's instructors of the departure and return schedules. The instructor so notified must not penalize the student, although the student is responsible for material missed.
• Any student absent because of university business must be allowed to make up missed work within a reasonable span of time or have alternate grades substituted for work due to an excused absence. Students absent because of university business must be given the same privileges as other students; e.g., if other students are given the choice of dropping one of four tests, then students with excused absences must be given the same privilege.

NCAA rules additionally provide that “institutional staff members,” a term that includes both faculty and staff, “are expected to act with honesty and integrity in all academic matters” and shall not be involved in violating the University's policy regarding academic honesty and integrity regarding a student-athlete or by providing impermissible academic assistance to a student-athlete. This means that student-athletes may not be provided with any substantial assistance or favoritism that would not be available to any other student. As an example, an instructor should not provide a student-athlete with the ability to obtain extra credit for an additional project unless the same opportunity would be available to any other student in that instructor's course. Similarly, an instructor should not provide a grade change to a student-athlete unless a valid basis exists that would be equally applicable to any other student.  

A comparable rule applies to prospective student-athletes regarding all campus activities ranging from admissions to housing to academic scholarship determinations. Put simply, student-athletes and prospective student-athletes should be treated like all other students on campus, and neither more nor less favorably. To that point, in the event of a situation involving suspected academic misconduct on the part of a student-athlete, we urge you to address the matter according to  O.P. 34.12  and in a manner that would be the same for any other student in a similar situation. Specifically, it is Texas Tech policy that instructors are to report suspected or alleged academic misconduct by any student, including student-athletes, to the Office of Student Conduct consistent with the requirements of O.P. 34.12. 

Occasionally, as for any student, an independent studies course may be an appropriate option for a student-athlete. Whenever an independent studies course is used for any student, the student is to be presented, at the start of the course, a syllabus, "contract," or similar document stating the expected learning outcomes and grading policy. This document is to be the basis for assessing the student's attainment of learning outcomes and determining the student's final grade in the course. A copy should be retained along with the instructor's other course syllabi. 

Also, to avoid even the appearance of seeking any form of special treatment, Texas Tech Athletics maintains a written policy that coaching staff (including all coaches, support staff, volunteer coaches, graduate assistants, student assistants, interns, and managers) are strictly prohibited from initiating contact or otherwise communicating with any Texas Tech faculty member or associated instructional staff member with regard to the academic performance of a student-athlete.

A similar policy generally precludes coaching staff members from contacting campus, college, or departmental administrators or admissions staff regarding either academic issues concerning a student-athlete or admissions determinations for prospective student-athletes.

Any such communications are limited to representatives of the Athletics Academic Services office at the Marsha Sharp Center, directed by Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academic Excellence and Senior Woman Administrator Deedee Brown-Campbell, or the Faculty Athletics Representative.

Accordingly, please do not contact any member of the coaching staff directly regarding a student-athlete's academic performance, but instead communicate with the Athletics Academic Services staff or Ms. Brown-Campbell.

Questions about the intersection of athletics, academics, and NCAA rules, should be directed to:

• Deedee Brown-Campbell, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academic Excellence and Senior Woman Administrator; dee.brown-campbell@ttu.edu
• Jennifer Brashear, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Affairs & Compliance; jennifer.brashear@ttu.edu
• Brian Shannon, Horn Distinguished Professor of Law and Faculty Athletics Representative; brian.shannon@ttu.edu