Important Definitions & Rules To Know

Prospective Student-Athlete

A prospect is an individual who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospect if the institution provides any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospects generally. A prospect remains a prospect until one of the following occurs (whichever is earlier):

• The individual registers and enrolls in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends classes in any term of a four-year collegiate institution’s regular academic year; or
• The individual participates in a regular squad practice or competition at a four-year collegiate institution that occurs before the beginning of any term; or
• The individual officially registers and enrolls and attends classes during the summer prior to initial enrollment and receives institutional athletics aid.

Official Visit

A visit by a prospect financed in whole or in part by the member institution. Prospective student-athletes may take a maximum of 5 (five) official visits, with no more than one permitted to any single institution.

Unofficial Visit

A visit to an institution’s campus at the prospects own expense. There is no limit on the number of unofficial visits a prospect may take to each institution. An institution may provide complimentary admissions to an on-campus athletics event in which the institution’s team competes and transportation to view off-campus practice or competition sites within a 30-mile radius of the institution’s campus when accompanied by a staff member.

National Letter of Intent

An official document administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association utilized by subscribing member institutions to establish the commitment of prospective student-athletes to attend a particular institution in return for receiving an athletics scholarship.

Telephone Calls to Prospective Student-Athletes

In sports other than football and basketball: Telephone calls to a prospective student-athlete [or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardian(s)] may not be made before July 1st following the completion of the prospect’s junior year in high school; thereafter, staff members shall not make such telephone calls more than once per week.

Football: One telephone call to a prospect [or prospect’s parents or legal guardian(s)] may be made during the month of May of the prospect’s junior year in high school. Additional telephone calls to a prospect [or a prospect’s relative or legal guardian(s)] may not be made before September 1st of the prospect’s senior year in high school; thereafter, such telephone contact is limited to once per week outside of a contact period. During a contact period, telephone contact may be made at the institution’s discretion.

Men’s Basketball: One telephone call per month may be made to a prospective student-athlete [or the prospect’s parents or legal guardian(s)] on or after June 15th of the prospective student-athlete’s sophomore year in high school through July 31st of the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school. An institution is permitted to make two telephone calls per week to a prospect [or the prospect’s relatives or legal guardian(s)] beginning August 1st prior to the prospective student-athlete’s senior year in high school. An institution is permitted to make one telephone call per week to a two-year or four-year college prospective student-athlete [or the prospect’s parents or legal guardian(s)].

Women’s Basketball: One telephone call to a prospective student-athlete [or the prospect’s parents or legal guardian(s)] may be made during each of the months of April and May of the prospect’s junior year in high school. One call may be made June 1st through June 20th and one call may be made June 21st through June 30th of the prospect’s junior year in high school. In addition, only three telephone calls to a prospect [or prospect’s parents or legal guardian(s)] may be made during the month of July following the prospect’s junior year in high school, with no more than one telephone call per week; thereafter, staff members shall not make such telephone calls more than once per week.

University of South Carolina Graduation Data

• 2005-06 Academic Progress Rate (APR) Report 
• 2006-07 Academic Progress Rate (APR) Report 
• 2002-03 Fed Graduation Rate 
• 1999-2002 Graduation Success Rate (GSR) 

USC Admissions Contact Information

Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete/Initial Eligibility

• 2007-2008 NCAA Guide to the College Bound Student-Athlete 
• NCAA Eligibility Center
• Freshman Initial Eligibility Requirements (Entering prior to August 2008) 
• Freshman Initial Eligibility Requirements (Entering August 2008 or after) 
• 2008-09 Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility 
• List of Approved NCAA Core Courses
• Information for Home Schooled Students
• Information for Learning Disabled Students
• Southeastern Conference Rules and Regulations 2006-2007
• NCAA Transfer Guide 
• NCAA Amateurism Legislation
• National Letter of Intent (NLI)
• FAQ-National Letter of Intent/Financial Aid

NCAA Eligibility Center Contact Information

ACT Information
www.act.org | (319) 337-1313
To report ACT scores to USC use code 3880
To report ACT scores to the NCAA Clearinghouse use code 9999

SAT Information
www.collegeboard.com | (866) 756-7346
To report SAT scores to USC use code 5818
To report SAT socres to NCAA Clearinghouse use code 9999

Additional fees apply if you register late or make changes to your test type, center or date after registering.

2012-13 National Letter of Intent
www.national-letter.org

If you have any questions concerning initial eligibility or admission to the University of South Carolina, please contact:

Kala Andrews
Associate Director of Compliance
University of South Carolina
Department of Athletics
1304 Heyward Street
Columbia, SC 29208
kandrews@mailbox.sc.edu