KSU Athletics Board Policies on Scheduling of Competitions and Missed Classes

Policy 1: Scheduling of Athletic Competitions During Final Exam Periods

1.1
Athletic competitions will not be scheduled during final exam periods. The final exam period is defined as beginning one day prior to the first day of scheduled final exams through the last day of final exams. The published dates posted by the Registrar's Office will be used to determine the final exam period. Additionally, the two calendar days prior to the beginning of this scheduling blackout period may be used only for the scheduling of home contests. The calendar date following the blackout period may be used for a home contest or used as a travel day. Travel on the last day of finals is permitted, provided departure is no sooner than one-hour after the scheduled end of the last exam of the last student to finish final exams. It is permissible to send a player, or players, by separate transportation to allow the majority of the travel squad to leave for an event, provided departure for such a player, or players, is no sooner than one-hour after the scheduled end of the last exam taken by the last student.

1.2
In the event the published final exam period is changed by the Registrar's Office after athletic competitions have been scheduled, the head coach, working with the AD will seek to resolve the conflict in line with this policy. A request for an exception may be made to the Executive Committee of the Athletic Board (ECAB).

1.3
Exceptions may be granted by the ECAB when conference competitions are required on a Saturday and/or Sunday during the blackout period to comply with prior agreements with the athletic conference. Additionally, the ECAB will consider requests for exceptions for participation in Conference and/or NCAA National pre and/or post-season play.

1.4
In the event an exception should be requested, it will be incumbent upon the sport team's head coach and/or AD to make a request to the Chair of the ECAB for a special meeting to consider the request. The request should be accompanied with an academic impact analysis addressing number of student-athletes and exams impacted by the scheduling of such contest, a list of at-risk and high-risk students on the team with individual GPA's, as well as special efforts that will be taken to provide student-athletes with study/tutoring opportunities during the travel period required for the competition.


Policy 2: Commencement/Graduation Ceremony Blackout Period

2.1
Athletic competitions will not be scheduled during the commencement period published by the Registrar's Office. Every effort will be made to schedule home contests mandated by the Conference and/or the NCAA at times that will not interfere with the graduation process.

2.2
In the event that a team or individual athlete must travel for a major contest beyond our scheduling control such as Conference, NCAA or NIT competition, every reasonable effort should be made to return graduating student-athletes to campus for their respective commencement exercise.


Policy 3: Overnight, Mid-Week Competitions

3.1
While mid-week non-conference competition is necessary to complete schedules, any competition requiring an overnight stay must consider missed class days and the added missed class days total for that semester. Conference schedules often require a mid-week overnight stay; those missed class days must be considered in scheduling mid-week missed class competition.

3.2
Those scheduling overnight and mid-week competitions should bear in mind that no athlete should miss more than six (6) meetings of a particular class, or 20% of the scheduled class meetings, whichever is smaller, for competition in any one semester. Any number beyond that stated above must be approved by the ECAB.


Policy 4: Student-Athlete Missed Class Policy

4.1
Student athletes will not miss any regularly scheduled classes for any practice activities.

4.2
For home competition, student athletes may not claim a conflict as the cause for a missed class if that class ends two hours or more before the scheduled competition time.

4.3
For away competition with same day travel, student athletes shall not miss any classes prior to 30 minutes before the scheduled time of departure.

4.4
For away competition with overnight travel, no team shall depart more than 48-hours prior to the time of competition.

4.5
The Director of Athletics will provide to the Faculty Athletics Representative and the Athletic Board Chairperson at least one month prior to the start of a sport's season, a listing of all competition in that sport which will necessitate student-athletes being absent from class. This listing will include the time and date of competition, destination, conference/non-conference competition, departure time, travel time, and return time. The Faculty Athletics Representative and/or the Athletic Board Chairperson may request that modifications to the travel plans be made.

4.6
The Athletic Academic Support Office will present individual, written notifications of possible missed classes, to the instructors of all-student-athletes during the first week of classes. Athletes are required to retain a copy of this sheet and remind their instructor of their absence, at least 7 days prior to each contest which affects their class attendance.

4.7
The provision of/for excused absence policy is contained in the KSU Student Handbook. It is expected that student-athletes will be responsible for submitting all assignments on time and that advance arrangements will be initiated by the student-athlete for any tests which will be missed.

4.8
No athlete should miss more than six (6) meetings of a particular class, or 20% of the scheduled class meetings, whichever is smaller, for competition in any one semester. Any number beyond that stated above must be approved by the ECAB.

4.9
The KSU Faculty Handbook and the KSU Catalog contain the policy regarding excused KSU student absences. It is expected that faculty members will not penalize student athletes for missing classes due to conflicts with contractually scheduled athletic contests and related travel.

4.10
It is expected that coaches will not penalize student athletes for missing practices due to conflicts with regularly scheduled classes for which student-athletes are enrolled. This includes student-athlete required attendance for course field trips, special labs, etc.

4.11
Student-athletes who believe that they have received a lack of reasonable accommodation of the provisions of this missed class policy by a faculty member should immediately contact the Athletics Academic Advisor or the Faculty Athletics Representative.

4.12
Student-athletes who believe that they have received a lack of reasonable accommodation of the provisions of this missed class policy by a coach should immediately contact the Athletics Director or the Faculty Athletics Representative.