The athletic program at DePaul University has a proud and storied tradition. Many athletes, administrators, coaches, supporters and others have played an important role in helping DePaul attain its level of athletic excellence. To ensure that the tradition continues, faculty and staff should be familiar with the rules that govern athletics at the university.

As a Division I member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the BIG EAST Conference, DePaul is responsible for compliance with the rules both organizations set forth. DePaul employees should have a general awareness of certain rules that could impact the eligibility of its student-athletes or impact the good name of DePaul and its Athletic Department. In fact, several staff members in various university offices (e.g., Registrar, Financial Aid, Admissions) have specific NCAA compliance responsibilities.

No "extra benefits"

Student-athletes should be treated the same way as other students. They should not receive an "extra benefit" that's not available to other students or because of their student-athlete status. For example, they should not be given jobs where they are paid more than the going rate for similar tasks.

Recruiting

The recruiting of prospective student-athletes is limited to Athletic Department staff with specific knowledge of recruiting rules. DePaul employees should not contact prospective students who have been identified as Athletic Department recruits or become involved in the recruiting process.

Amateurism

Faculty and staff should also be aware of the NCAA's emphasis on student-athlete amateurism. This ranges from interactions with agents and professional teams, to prohibiting the use of a student-athlete's name or likeness to promote commercial entities. The image of a student-athlete should never be used for a university publication or outside publication without the express permission of the Athletic Department's compliance office.

More information on rules governing DePaul's athletics can be found on the Athletic Department's compliance Web site at:http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/misc.asp?CatID=20&ID=3