Remove Article I, Section N as follows:

I  SECTION N         INTER-TERMS

1. Institutions having an inter-term that occurs between two regular terms may use the inter-term in one of three different ways in determining eligibility for students. The options are as follows:

a. The inter-term shall stand separate. Eligibility shall be determined at the end of the first term, again at the end of the inter-term (if the inter-term falls between the terms), and again at the end of the spring term.

b. The inter-term (if it falls between the two regular terms) is attached to the first term for eligibility purposes. This would, in effect, make the 4-1-4 calendar into a 5-4 calendar in determining eligibility.

c. The inter-term (if it falls between or at the end of two regular terms) is attached to the spring term for eligibility purposes. This would, in effect, make the 4-1-4 or the 4-4-1 calendar into a 4-5 calendar in determining eligibility.

The institution must notify its eligibility chair, in writing, as to which option it chooses. This notification is to be signed by the athletics director, registrar and faculty athletics representative. The written notification must be received by the eligibility chair, prior to September 1 of the academic year. Once decided, the option cannot be changed for the school year.

If an institution uses an inter-term and does not notify its eligibility chair as to which option it selects, the school shall be treated as allowing the inter-term to stand separate as in option a (Article I, Section N, Item 1a of the NAIA Bylaws).

2. The inter-term shall be treated as follows in determining eligibility:

a. Hours earned during the inter-term shall be applied toward eligibility.

b. A separate term of attendance shall not be charged for the inter-term.

c. Identification during an inter-term (unlike summer school) does identify the student with the institution provided the student is enrolled for at least three fourths (or two-thirds, if three-fourths is not appropriate) of the normal academic load and either participates in athletics or begins to establish residency. In this instance, the inter-term would not, however, be charged against the allotted 10 semesters of attendance but would count in meeting the institutional credit-hour rules of the NAIA.

NOTE:  Two-thirds would be used if the normal inter-term load is divisible by three, otherwise the fraction three-fourths will be used.

d. Should a student previously identified with an institution then attend an inter-term at another institution and return the following term of attendance to the preceding institution, the inter-term shall be treated as a summer session.

(Renumber sections accordingly.)

AND

Add Article V, Section B, Item 10 as follows:

10. Inter-Term: A session or a group of courses that occurs and is reflected on the official academic transcript between two regular academic terms and is reported on the official academic transcript. These sessions cannot meet the definition of a term of attendance as defined in Article V, Section B, Item 20. Summer terms cannot constitute an inter-term.

The inter-term shall be treated as follows in determining eligibility:

a. Inter-terms are considered non-terms. A student cannot identify during the inter-term, and hours earned during the inter-term are considered non-term hours and shall be applied toward eligibility accordingly.

b. Completed inter-term credit can be used toward eligibility requirements once the grades are posted in the normal manner and as long as the credit is shown to be earned before the start of the NAIA institution’s Winter/Spring term. Credit is considered earned at the end of the academic term that the course is attributed to on the issuing institution’s transcript, pursuant to Article V, Section B, Item 3. If the issuing institution’s transcript does not attribute the course to an academic term and instead includes specific start/end dates, the end date listed on the transcript will be used. If neither a term nor dates appear on the issuing institution’s transcript, dates of the course as verified by the institution’s registrar may be used.

For students with continuing identification at the same NAIA institution, the credit must be approved and accepted by the NAIA institution and appear on the NAIA institution’s transcript.

c. Courses taken in these sessions cannot be used to meet the 12-Hour Enrollment Rule as described in Article V, Section C, Item 3.

(Renumber section accordingly.)

AND

Amend Article V, Section C, Item 14 as follows:

14. A student who is eligible the last day of a term may retain eligibility until midnight of the 30^th calendar day following the close of a term to allow an institution time to recertify eligibility. For a student taking inter-term coursework at an institution that has determined the inter-term will stand alone or attach to the fall term (per Article I, Section N), the student may retain eligibility until midnight of the 30^th calendar day following the close of the fall term or midnight of the 10^th calendar day following the close of the inter-term, whichever is latest. This regulation does not apply to students who complete all requirements for graduation or complete 10 semesters of attendance (or equivalent). Further, students declared ineligible by the institution or conference shall lose eligibility immediately upon such declaration.

________________________________________________

Intent: To create a uniform definition and eligibility approach for inter-terms, which would define all inter-terms as non-terms and resulting coursework as non-term credits; specify that an inter-term course must be completed prior to the start of the NAIA institution’s winter/spring term for the coursework to be used towards winter/spring eligibility; and describe a process for determining the appropriate completion date of the course which relies on the issuing institution’s transcript.

Effective date: August 1, 2021 for terms occurring August 2021 or beyond

Submitted by: Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

Co-Sponsored by: Council of Faculty Athletic Representatives