Compliance
Playing by the Rules (PDF) | Parents Guide to NCAA Rules (PDF) | Violations & Enforcement Policy (PDF)
Boston University Athletics is committed to ensuring compliance with NCAA, Patriot League, Hockey East and Intercollegiate Rowing Association rules and regulations. The commitment is part of the NCAA principle of institutional control whereby the university is responsible for the conduct of its staff members and any other individual or organization associated with the athletic department, including fans and boosters.
We operate under the assumption that it is always better to ask the question than to do something that may not be permissible. If you ever have a question about NCAA regulations, please do not hesitate to call the compliance office at 617-358-0384.
Thank you for your informed support of Boston University Athletics!
Information for Fans, Friends, Donors and Alumni
Have you ever:
- Been a member of any organization promoting BU Athletics?
- Made a donation of money, gifts or services to any BU Athletics fund?
- Helped to arrange employment for prospective or current student athletes?
- Been involved in promoting BU Athletics in any way?
- Been a member of a varsity team at BU?
- Are you the parent or guardian of a current or former BU student-athlete?
Recruiting and Prospective Student-Athletes
The NCAA defines a “prospective student-athlete” or “prospect” as any student who has entered the ninth grade, regardless of that student’s athletic ability or participation in athletics.
A student is considered a prospective student-athlete until that student arrives on campus for the first day of class or to report for preseason practice, whichever occurs earlier.
Transfer students from other collegiate institutions are also considered to be prospects.
A Boston University booster MAY NOT engage in any solicitation of a prospect or his/her family for the purposes of securing the prospect’s enrollment at Boston University. However, if you see a prospect who you think might be a good fit for BU, you are encouraged to forward the name and information of that prospect to Boston University coaches.
Permissible Activities Related to Recruiting
- MAY attend prospects’ games or contests on their own initiative, but no contact is permitted with prospects at the competition site.
- MAY speak to prospects on the telephone ONLY IF the prospect initiates the call and the call is not for recruitment purposes. Boosters must refer questions about the Boston University Athletics program to Department of Athletics staff.
- MAY continue a relationship with an established family friend or neighbor, with the understanding that contacts are not made for the purpose of recruiting.
- MAY write or telephone a Boston University coach with information concerning a prospect.
- MAY provide employment at regular rates of pay for similar employees during the summer or other permissible work periods.
- MAY NOT contact high school coaches, principals, or counselors in an attempt to evaluate prospects.
- MAY NOT make in-person, on- or off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or legal guardians. This includes e-mail, telephone calls, text messages, letters, in-person on- or off-campus with a prospect or his or her parents or contact through social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.)
- MAY NOT visit prospects’ schools to pick up transcripts or films.
- MAY NOT provide any transportation to prospects or their friends and family members.
- MAY NOT provide prospects or their friends and family members with tickets to Boston University athletic events.
- MAY NOT entertain or contact prospects during official visits.
- MAY NOT pay or arrange payment of transportation costs incurred by friends or family members of a prospect visiting the campus.
- MAY NOT contact an enrolled student-athlete at another institution for the purpose of encouraging transfer to Boston University and participation on an athletics team.
- MAY NOT provide cash or equivalent, merchandise, or gift certificates to prospects or their friends and family members
- MAY NOT treat prospects or their friends and family members to a meal at a restaurant or to entertainment services.
- MAY NOT arrange for a special discount, payment plan, or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing) or a service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning) for prospects or their friends and family members
- MAY NOT loan money, arrange for a loan, guarantee a bond, sign or cosign a note with an outside agency for prospects or their friends and family members
The NCAA defines an extra benefit as any special arrangement by a BU staff member or booster to provide a student-athlete or his/her relatives or friends with a benefit that is not generally available to other BU students or the general public.
Permissible Activities Related to Extra Benefits
- DO call a BU coach or the compliance office to ask questions about permissibility of activities.
- MAY provide employment to a student-athlete at regular rates of pay for similar employees during the summer or other permissible work periods.
- MAY provide a team or student-athlete an occasional family home meal provided the meals take place in the booster’s home, at a home athletics event or on-campus facility or restaurant. The meal MAY be catered and reasonable local transportation MAY be provided as long as the meal takes place at the booster’s home. This requires prior approval from the Department of Athletics and should be facilitated through the program’s head coach.
- MAY maintain a mentor/mentee relationship with a current student-athlete. An NCAA bylaw states, “A student-athlete MAY use career counseling and internship/job placement services available exclusively to student-athletes, provided the student-athlete is not placed in a position in which the student-athlete uses his or her athletics ability.”
- MAY continue a relationship with an established family friend or neighbor, with the understanding that the nature of the relationship is consistent with benefits provided before the student-athlete attained athletic success.
- MAY NOT provide any transportation to student-athletes or their friends and family members.
- MAY NOT provide friends and family members of student-athletes with tickets to Boston University athletic events.
- MAY NOT arrange for payment of tuition, room or board for student-athletes or their friends and family members.
- MAY NOT provide cash or equivalent, merchandise, or gift certificates to student-athletes or their friends and family members.
- MAY NOT treat student-athletes or their friends and family members to a meal at a restaurant or to entertainment services.
- MAY NOT arrange for a special discount, payment plan, or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing) or a service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning, storage of person items) for student-athletes or their friends and family members.
- MAY NOT loan money, arrange for a loan, guarantee a bond, sign or cosign a note with an outside agency for student-athletes or their friends and family members.
Consequences of NCAA Violations
Violations of NCAA rules can cause a prospect or current student-athlete to be ineligible to compete for Boston University. Further, violations of NCAA rules can lead to sanctions against Boston University and its athletic programs.
Boosters found to violate NCAA rules are subject to losing benefits and privileges, including but not limited to dissociation from Boston University.
Reporting Possible NCAA Rules Infractions
Rules compliance is a critical responsibility for all NCAA member institutions, including Boston University. All Athletic Department coaches, staff members and student-athletes, as well as university staff, are obligated to report any possible violations of NCAA or conference rules. Other individuals, including alumni, parents, boosters and friends of Boston University may report a possible rules violation by contacting the compliance office
Athletic Compliance Contact Information
Laura Flaherty
Associate Director for Compliance
Boston University
300 Babcock Street
Boston, MA 02186
Telephone number: 617-358-0357
