Compliance

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Welcome to Missouri Western State University! As a prospective student-athlete, you have certain responsibilities to attend to before you may join the Missouri Western family.  Please read the Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes produced by the NCAA.

If you are interested in participating as a Missouri Western Griffon, please check with your high school advisor or the NCAA Eligibility Center to find out the steps it takes to participate in collegiate athletics. Work with your high school guidance counselor or college admissions office to find which college is right for you.

Prospective Student-Athlete
You become a "prospective student-athlete" when you start ninth-grade classes. Before the ninth grade, you become a prospective student-athlete if a college gives you (or your relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the college does not provide to prospective students generally.

Recruited Student-Athlete
You become a "recruited prospective student-athlete" at a particular college if any coach or representative of the college's athletics interests (booster or representative) approaches you (or any member of your family) about enrolling and participating in athletics at that college. Activities by coaches or boosters that cause you to become a recruited prospective student-athlete are:

• Providing you with an official visit

• Placing more than one telephone call to you or any other member of your family

• Visiting you or any other member of your family anywhere other than the college campus

• Signing a National Letter of Intent and/or a Tender of Assistance with Missouri Western

Official Visit
A visit to a college campus paid in whole or in part by the college. Official visits can be no longer than 48 hours. A prospective student-athlete is limited to 5 official visits. (one per university)

Unofficial Visit
A visit made to a college campus at the prospect's expense. The college may provide free tickets to an on-campus athletics event in which the college team competes.  There is no limit on the number of unofficial visits a prospect can make.

National Letter of Intent
Official documentation used by universities to establish a prospect's commitment to attend a certain university.

Recruiting Contact
Any face-to-face, off-campus encounter between a prospect, prospect's parents (or legal guardian) or relative and a college staff employee or athletics representative; if the conversation goes beyond a greeting.

Recruiting Evaluation
Any off-campus activity designed to assess a prospect's academic qualifications or athletic ability (reviewing transcripts on the high school campus or watching practices/games).

Telephone Calls
Telephone calls to a prospect or prospect's relatives or legal guardians, may not be made before June 15 before the prospect's senior year.  Thereafter, a coach or institutional staff member can call no more than once per week*. 

*Exception – During a football contact period, telephone contact may be made at the institution’s discretion.

Electronically Transmitted Correspondence (i.e. e-mail, faxes, etc.)

The only permissible form of electronically transmitted correspondence that you may receive from an institutional staff member or coaches during the recruiting process are e-mails and faxes.  E-mails and faxes may be received starting on September 1 at the beginning of your junior year in high school.  Thereafter, there are no limitations on the number of e-mails and/or faxes that you may receive from an institution.

ALL other forms of electronic communication are strictly prohibited during the recruiting process, including but not limited to: texting, instant messaging, posting a message on a Facebook or MySpace wall.  However, once you sign a National Letter of Intent or Tender of Assistance with an institution, these forms of electronically transmitted correspondence are no longer prohibited with that institution.

The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies athletics eligibility for Division I and II student-athletes. The Eligibility Center uses high school courses and test scores (ACT/SAT) to determine freshman athletics eligibility.  The Eligibility Center also certifies the amateur status of all incoming freshmen and transfers.

NCAA Eligibility Center Website

WARNING: If you are a student-athlete enrolled at another four-year institution or if you have been enrolled at another four-year institution in the last year (Division I, II, III, or NAIA), NCAA rules and regulations strictly prohibit Missouri Western coaches (or athletics staff members) from having any communication* with you, directly or indirectly, until that first institution grants our institution permission to contact you. You may obtain this permission to contact from the athletics compliance office or the director of athletics at your current or previous institution.

Once the release is obtained from your current or previous institution, then Missouri Western coaches will be able to contact you.

* Types of communication include via email, phone or written form.

All international prospective student-athletes are required to complete the following steps to become a student at Missouri Western:

1)  Application for Admission, Admission Supplement, and Educational Background Statement with $50 application fee.

2)  Official transcripts for secondary education (freshman) or from all US Colleges and Universities attended (transfers).

3)  TOEFL test score of at least 500 on paper test, 173 on computerized test, or 61 on the internet based test. 

4)  Financial supporting documentation showing at least $18,000 in US dollars.  Documentation of available funds is required.

5)  Health Insurance – Required of all International Students with a F1 visa.  The cost of the health insurance will not be paid by your athletic scholarship.  You must provide the funds on your own to pay for the health insurance.

6)  All current immunization records must be on file

7)  Official student visa (F1) must be presented to admission counselor prior to registration

Additional links:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) general testing information

• American College Testing Program (ACT) general testing information

Banned Drug List
Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes

NCAA Guide to Transfers
Missouri Western Graduation Rates Report

Missouri Western Academic Success Rate Report

NCAA Initial Eligibility Standards Report