To: Faculty

From: Teresa Massoels, Faculty Athletic Representative

Subject: Athletic Policies

Below are the policies that relate to Athletics. If you have any questions throughout the year, please feel free to contact the Faculty Athletic Representative.

1. “Students are required to attend all officially scheduled lectures, discussions, laboratory exercises and examinations. Absences may be excused for reasonable causes, such as sickness, death or serious illness in the student’s immediate family, a wedding in the family, intercollegiate sports or other College activities (such as field trips), and circumstances beyond the student’s control such as government summons, bad weather, etc. The judge of reasonableness in any case is the instructor.

Sanctions for unexcused absences from class are the prerogative of the individual instructor. Sanctions may include a failing grade on any work due on the date of an absence, a reduction of the final grade for the course, or a failure in the course. Complaints of unfair sanctions will be considered by the Provost or a subcommittee appointed through the Academic Cabinet by the Provost.” (SJC Catalogue – EARNING ACADEMIC CREDIT – Course Attendance).

2. “No Class Time Missed for Practice Activities. No class time shall be missed for practice activities except when a team is traveling to an away-from-home contest and the practice is in conjunction with the contest”. (NCAA Manual, 17.1.5.5.1)

3. The Downard Rule: “The baseball team is limited to scheduling games on six (6) class days with no rescheduling of rainouts.” (original 1977)

4. The Downard Rule has been passed on to the other teams at Saint Joseph's College meaning that:

“No Student Athlete should miss more than 6 class days due to competition and there should be no rescheduling of rainouts (baseball, softball, soccer) unless mandated by the Great Lakes Valley Conference. (updated-1999)

5. It is the policy of the SJC Athletic Department that Student Athletes miss as few class days as possible due to competition. Student Athletes should not miss class for team meetings, team breakfasts, therapy with the Athletic Trainer, etc. On travel days, Student Athletes should attend all classes up to their departure time.

6. In case of home games, the Student Athlete should attend class, but should also be allowed reasonable time for pre-game preparation (i.e. taping, warming up, etc). If an instructor has a question concerning reasonable time for pre-game preparation, they should contact the coach of the student in question.

7. No team shall request a “special trip” that requires individual fund raising greater than $100 to occur more than once every four years. (November, 2002)

** Please note that a major portion of the scheduling of athletic events is done by the conference to which we belong and is not controlled by the SJC Athletic Department.

** Due to NCAA regulations, the President of the College has final say in all matters pertaining to athletics.