Student-Athlete Handbook

Student-Athlete Handbook

Cougar LogoStudent-Athlete Bill of Rights

  • Every student-athlete has the right to be treated as if they were your son/daughter. 
  • Every student-athlete has the right to be given the academic support and encouragement necessary to graduate.
  • Every student-athlete has the right to be educated as to the proper off-the- field/court conduct expected of him or her as an ambassador of Saint Xavier University's Athletic Department.
  • Every student-athlete has the right to be treated the same regardless of their athletic talent.
  • Every student-athlete has the right to a prompt response when they ask us to help them solve a problem, even if it is not related to their sport. 
  • Every student-athlete has the right to request of the coach an honest evaluation of his/her talent.
  • Every student-athlete has the right to be treated in a professional manner with the understanding that we are the mature adult coach and we are sometimes dealing with the emotions of young people.
  • Every student-athlete has the right to be provided with a first class athletic and educational experience.

Student-Athlete Code of Conduct

The Saint Xavier University Athletic Department expects each student-athlete to conduct himself/herself in a manner that reflects a positive image of the values and traditions associated with the University.
 
As a member of the Saint Xavier University Athletic Program, you become a representative not only of your team, but the University. You have the freedom to manage your own life. It is essential that this freedom be handled in a responsible manner so as not to jeopardize the opportunity to obtain maximum results from your college experience. It is important that your personal conduct demonstrates good moral and ethical judgment. You are expected to conduct yourself both on and off-campus in a manner that brings credit to the University and your team. Be aware of the image you are projecting to those individuals with whom you come in contact.
 
Success in sports requires extensive time and energy. As a student-athlete, it is imperative that you budget your time wisely and establish sound objectives and priorities. Experienced student-athletes have found that good organizational skills are necessary to attend classes, practices, meetings, prepare out-of-class assignments and still have time for themselves. Create an effective schedule and stick with it. It is much wiser to make a strong start and keep current on assignments than to spend your time and energy always trying to catch up.
 
Saint Xavier University student-athletes are expected to remain in good academic standing with the University. Each student-athlete must adhere to the rules and regulations of his/her individual sport. Student-athletes are expected to remain in good standing with all campus officials, including public safety, residential life staff, Dean of Students, etc.
 
When you travel on the road as a member of a Saint Xavier University Athletic team you must represent the Athletic Department and the University in a professional manner. You are asked to conduct yourself according to the rules and regulations established by the coach of your particular sport. Prior to departure, you are responsible for informing your instructors that you will be absent. It is your responsibility to make arrangements to make up missed course work when you are traveling with the team.
 

In this book you will see a pledge sheet for the NAIA "Champions of Character" initiative. We at Saint Xavier University have always stressed good sportsmanship. We are proud to be part of this program.

Personal Web Sites (such as Facebook and MySpace)

The Saint Xavier University Athletic Department expects each student-athlete who uses the Internet and these sites to use extreme caution and good judgment. Do not post inappropriate, demeaning, hurtful or derogatory statements/materials about coaches, teammates, faculty, staff, etc. and do not post photos that would reflect a negative image of the values and traditions associated with the University.

Student-Athlete Housing Policy

The Saint Xavier University Athletic Department is committed to the educational development of the student-athlete both on and off the playing field. The coaching staff has developed a housing policy for all student-athletes, scholarship and non-scholarship, which will become effective August 1, 2006.

It is the desire of the Saint Xavier University Athletic Department to have all student-athletes reside in the Saint Xavier University Residence Halls.

If the student- athlete demonstrates the social skills and responsibility to live off campus, the approved living arrangements are as follows:

  1. The student-athlete will be allowed to live in off-campus, University-owned apartment living.
  2. The student-athlete will be allowed to live at home with their parents and/or guardians.
  3. The student-athlete will be allowed to live in a single family dwelling (house) if the owner of the home is the parent and/or guardian of one of the student-athletes who reside there.
  4. The student-athlete will be allowed to live in a house if the principal owner of the house resides in the premise and chooses to rent a room to the student-athlete.

Student-Athlete Anti-Hazing Policy

The student-athlete anti-hazing agreement reads as follows:

I have been informed by my Coach that the Saint Xavier University Athletic Department does not condone any type of activity within the Athletic Department which could be considered as a hazing or initiation.

My coach has informed me that any incident on my part in a hazing or initiation will result in disciplinary action.

As a part of the Saint Xavier University Athletic Program, I agree that I will not take part in any hazing or initiation during my career as a student-athlete representing Saint Xavier University.
 

NAIA Eligibility Requirements

An entering freshman student-athlete must meet two of the three entry-level requirements to be eligible for competition:

  1. A minimum score of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT.
  2. An overall high school grade point average of 2.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
  3. Graduate in the upper half of the student's high school graduating class.

To participate a second season in a sport, a student-athlete must have accumulated at least 24 institutional credit hours the previous two terms of attendance to be eligible for competition. (This may include a summer term.)

To participate the third season in a sport, a student-athlete must have accumulated at least 48 institutional credit hours and maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA to be eligible for competition.

To participate the fourth season in a sport, a student-athlete must have accumulated at least 72 institutional credit hours and maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA. At least 48 hours must be in general education and/or the student's major field of study to be eligible for competition.

A student-athlete may participate four seasons in one sport within 10 semesters. The 10 semesters need not be consecutive. A season of competition is defined by the NAIA and varies for each sport.

A student-athlete must sign the NAIA "Certificate of Clearance" before they are eligible for participation in a sport.

A student-athlete must be identified and enrolled in a minimum of 12 institutional credit hours per semester to be eligible for competition.
 

Student-Athlete Academic Requirements

A Saint Xavier University student-athlete must be in good academic standing, maintaining a 2.00 cumulative GPA at all times.

A Saint Xavier University student-athlete must be enrolled as an admitted student in a degree program.

A Saint Xavier University student-athlete must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 full-time undergraduate hours per term.

24-hour rule: A student-athlete must pass at least 24 credit hours in the two previous full-time terms of attendance to be eligible for competition. This may include a summer term.

Developmental courses (any course below a 100 level) may be applied to the 24-hour rule if they are required for graduation.

Transfer Students

A student-athlete who transfers to Saint Xavier University must have an understanding that the University will only accept certain credits and that their cumulative GPA starts over. (Ex. If a student transfers to SXU from another institution with a 3.00 GPA and earns a 2.00 GPA after one semester at SXU, their cumulative GPA is a 2.00.)

A student-athlete becomes immediately ineligible at the moment they drop below 12 credit hours in the term that they are participating in their sport.

A student-athlete becomes immediately ineligible at the moment their cumulative GPA drops below a 2.00.
 

Student-Athlete Financial Aid Policy

Saint Xavier University student-athletes must submit complete and correct forms to the Saint Xavier University Financial Aid Office and the Federal Offices by the March 1 priority deadline.

Saint Xavier University student-athletes must be "financially cleared" at the beginning of each term of attendance.
 

Athletic Aid Contracts

Saint Xavier University student-athletes must remain in good academic standing (maintaining a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA) at all times. Any student-athlete falling below a 2.0 cumulative GPA is in violation of his/her athletic aid contract.

The Saint Xavier University Athletic Department reserves the right to dismiss any student-athlete who does not conform to the standards as determined by the coach of his/her sport.

The Saint Xavier University Athletic Department assumes no responsibility for University bills incurred by its student-athletes that go beyond the terms of the initial agreement. This involves the cost of books, fees, the cost of an individual room, the cost of additional meal plans, etc.
The Saint Xavier University Athletic Department may revoke awarded athletic aid to any athlete who incurs a non-athletic injury (e.g. skiing, work injury, intramurals, automobile accident, etc.).
 

Athletic Training and Sports Medicine

The Saint Xavier University athletic training staff is:

Kate DeGaetano, A.T.C. (773) 298-3128
Dan Piet, A.T.C. (773) 298-3129
 
The Saint Xavier University team physicians:
 
Dr. Thomas Regan, M.D. Southside Orthopedics
11757 Southwest Highway
Palos Heights, IL 60463
(708) 361-3800
Dr. Michael Liston , M.D.
Dr. Edward Joy, M.D.
 
A pre-participation physical examination by the Saint Xavier University Team Physicians is required yearly. Saint Xavier University will not be financially responsible for any preexisting injuries that may be determined by these athletic physical exams. Strict adherence to the athletic trainers and/or team physician's rehabilitation guidelines/parameters must be followed.
 

Athletic Insurance

Any hospital confinement or surgery will be paid by the family's insurance policy. Any excess, the Saint Xavier University "athletic insurance policy" covers a maximum of $1,000.00 incurred throughout patient services related to an accident or injury while participating in a scheduled practice or intercollegiate contest, and any further cost will be filed with the Saint Xavier University insurance. Each student-athlete is expected to have his or her own health insurance coverage. The University has insurance for student-athletes but it may not cover all costs. Each student-athlete is responsible for completing the appropriate paperwork within 48 hours of the injury to ensure coverage or the student-athlete will be held responsible for the charges.