From my understanding there technically haven't been any "partial qualifiers" in D1 since 2006. I say technically because coming out of high school a student athlete either qualifies, or does not. However, they can apply to waivers from the NCAA if they are classified as a "non-qualifier" that may cause them to be treated in much the same way partial qualifiers were prior to 2006 (able to practice with the team but not play and receive financial aid.)
1. >>In 2005, the NCAA no longer allowed for partial qualifiers. They do provide a waiver process for non-qualifiers and if granted, then that SA has a similar situation that a former partial qualifier would have had. Now, a SA is either a qualifier or non-qualifier. Leaving the waiver process out of this discussion, a non-qualifier has two routes they can take to become eligible to compete at the D-I level.
The student can continue to attend the 4-year institution without any athletically related aid and is unable to compete and practice. A non-qualifier can not even attend practices
in any capacity (read: manager). After one year in residence, the student can request a re-evaluation of their status with the NCAA and the institution and can become eligible to compete and practice if they meet certain Progress Toward Degree (PTD) requirements (another article on PTD and continuing eligibility to come).
The second route a non-qualifier can take is the 2-year college route. Most non-qualifiers take this route, because they can attend a 2-year institution, receive athletically related aid, practice and compete immediately. However, if a non-qualifier takes this route, there are strict requirements to be eligible to transfer to a 4-year institution and compete:
- Earn Associates Degree from 2-year institution
- Have a minimum of three full-time semesters
- Have a 2.0+ on all transferable coursework (key word is transferable)
- Earn 48 transferable hours toward a specific degree at the 4-year institution
- Earn 6 hours of College Level English
- Earn 3 Hours of College Level Math
Those are the
basicstipulations (there are more for Men’s Basketball) to be a 2-4 non-qualifier and compete at the 4-year institution. As I said earlier, in 2005 the NCAA removed all legislation pertaining to partial qualifiers and no longer have that designation. Thus, all NCAA institutions and conference abide by these minimum standards for qualification status."<<
2.
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/sacl/genrel/auto_pdf/ncaa-requirements.pdf (sliding scale - look @ #'s)
3.
http://www.midpac.edu/counseling/downloads/Mid Pacific college night Freshman Eligibility.pdf
The question that needs to be asked is "what is the numbers of non-qualifiers (if any) that are allowed on campus that can become eligible after one year." That I believe is addressed by individual conferences. I believe that I read somewhere that the ACC allows up to 4 total (2 male & 2 female) but no more than one per sport.
