2020-21 Eligibility Waiver Granted by NWAC Executive Board
November 5, 2020
ELIGIBILITY UPDATE
Vancouver, WA Today, the NWAC Executive Board met to discuss a possible waiver for NWAC student-athletes for the 2020-2021 academic year. The Executive Board voted to approve the following waiver language: For the 2020-2021 NWAC sports season, NWAC student-athletes regardless of the amount of games/matches played will not be charged a year of eligibility. The awarding of a grant in aid/tuition waiver along with the waiver is solely at the discretion of each member college. Returning sophomore student-athletes who are granted a season waiver/grant-in-aid tuition waiver will NOT count towards the maximum allowable grant-in-aid awards per sport 2021-2022.
According to Executive Board Chair and Pierce College Athletic Director Duncan Stevenson, "During these very difficult and uncertain times the Executive Board has worked diligently to make thoughtful decisions in the best interest of our student-athletes and member institutions. The Board's decision to grant a blanket waiver for 2020-2021, not charging our student-athletes a year of eligibility, allows our institutions and students to participate and compete to whatever degree they are able this year."
"The decision by the Executive Board helps put our student-athletes, coaches, and member colleges a little more at ease. As the conference continues to discuss, plan, and respond to the ever-changing dynamics of the pandemic, the waiver provides a sense of stability," stated Marco Azurdia, NWAC Executive Director.
Current academic and eligibility requirements are in effect for student-athletes to compete in the 2020-2021 regular and post seasons. For the 2020-2021 all current safety protocols and adjustments made because of the pandemic remain in place. Throughout the year the conference will continue to assess academic and participation requirements for 2021-2022. Any proposed changes will go to the Executive Board for their review, adoption, and approval.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS | [PDF]
Q: Would NCAA and NAIA member schools accept our waivers and not count a year of eligibility against an athlete who played a partial schedule?
A: Yes. NCAA and NAIA schools accept another conferences definition of participation.
Q: Would sophomores participating in a second year, being granted a waiver in 2020-21 in the NWAC, have opportunities to move on to the next level?
A: Yes. A student-athlete's ability to move to the next level is predicated on need at the next level, combined with academic success at our level.
Q: Would a sophomore, being granted a waiver in 2020-21 in the NWAC be guaranteed an opportunity to continue playing at the same NWAC school the following year?
A: No. Players returning to the NWAC after being granted a waiver are not guaranteed a roster spot at the same institution the following year. This would be an institutional/program decision.
Q: Would a student-athlete, granted a waiver in 2020-21 in the NWAC and asked not to return to the same program the following year be free to move to another NWAC institution?
A: Yes, but an exception to the three quarter transfer rule requires a petition.
Q. Will a freshman basketball student-athlete who is eligible for winter 2021 still be eligible as a freshman in fall 2021-22 regardless of credits or GPA earned?
A. Yes, the student-athlete who is eligible in winter 2021 will be eligible in fall 2021-22.
Q. Will the grant-in-aid awarded to a returning student-athlete who was granted a season waiver count towards the maximum allowable grant-in-aid award per sport the following year?
A. No, for returning sophomores only, it will not count towards the maximum allowable grant-in-aids per sport the next year.