MISSISSIPPI CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT-ATHLETE HANDBOOK
Please refer to the Student-Athlete Handbook for departmental and institutional policies and procedures. Information shared below is only a snapshot of some of the topics covered in the handbook.
ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY
Effective August 5, 2026, Student Athletes may choose which eligibility model benefits them the most
NEW MODEL - A Student Athlete has a 5-year period of eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
- The 5-year period of eligibility (referred to as the "clock") will begin with the earlier of either (A) initial, full time collegiate enrollment, or (B) the start of the regular academic year immediately following the student athlete's 19th birthday. For individuals who turn 19 on or after September 1st, the period of eligibility begins at the start of the subsequent academic year.
- Exceptions that would delay the start of OR pause a student athlete's period of eligibility include: pregnancy, official religious mission and active military service
OLD MODEL - Eligibility is based on two considerations:
(1) Seasons - a student-athlete may participate in four seasons of a sport or;
(2) Full-Time Semesters - a student-athlete receives ten, full-time semesters to get four seasons of competition in.
A student-athlete receives 4 seasons or 10 full-time semesters of eligibility. Therefore, a student has exhausted eligibility when he/she has either competed in 4 seasons of a sport OR completed 10 full-time semesters of enrollment in regular academic terms (fall and spring only).
Beginning with the Fall of 2026, semesters must be used consecutively!
ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY
Returning/Continuing student-athletes will be evaluated on the following criteria to determine eligibility for practice or competition. The student must:
- Be enrolled in at least 12 hours (undergraduate student), or 6 hours (graduate student);
- Be in good academic standing;
- Have earned at least 9 PTD hours in the previous regular full time term (Fall or Spring);
- Have earned at least 24 PTD hours in the previous academic year (Fall, Spring, and summer); and
- Have earned a minimum 2.0 grade point average (undergraduate student or a minimum of a 3.0 (graduate student) on work completed at Mississippi Christian University (transfer work does not count in your institutional GPA)
PROGRESS TOWARDS DEGREE [PTD]
Successfully completing the credit hours mentioned above in courses that are required for the specific degree/major the student is pursuing.
MISSISSIPPI CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY DRUG TESTING
MC Drug Testing Policy & Sanctions
NCAA YEAR ROUND DRUG TESTING
Drug Testing Q&A
NCAA Banned Substances
NAME, IMAGE & LIKENESS [NIL]
See Teamworks for NIL Reporting Form
Teamworks
CAMPUS SEXUAL VIOLENCE POLICY - PREVENTION & MISCONDUCT
Campus Sexual Violence Misconduct Policy
EXTRA BENEFITS - WHAT IS AN "EXTRA BENEFIT"?
The NCAA defines an extra benefit as any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interest (i.e., a "Representatives of Athletics Interests") to provide a student-athlete (or a student-athletes relative or friend) a benefit that is not generally available to other students and their relative and/or friends, unless expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.
SPORTS WAGERING
NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from participating in any gambling activity that involves any amateur or collegiate sporting event. Wagering is considered to have taken place if the student-athlete puts something at risk for the chance to win something in return. This includes tournament bracket pools, fantasy leagues that meet the previously listed criteria. For more information, visit the
NCAA Sports Wagering website.
OUTSIDE COMPETITION
Student athletes can jeopardize their eligibility by participating on any outside team during their sport's season. These activities are only permissible outside of the sport season and during the summer vacation period.
OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
All outside scholarships (local scholarships, booster club awards) received by all Mississippi Christian University student-athletes must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid for review. Outside scholarships could impact scholarship limits and your eligibility so it is very important that you notify the Financial Aid office upon receipt of such award. You may report this by completing and returning the Outside Financial Aid Resources Self Reporting Form.
SQUAD LIST DELETION
If a student-athlete voluntarily withdraw from active participation, is cut from the team or dismissed from a team he/she will be asked to sign a Squad List Deletion form. This is an internal department form and process the compliance office requires for coaches to submit in order to remove student-athletes from an active roster. This form can be accessed in Teamworks.
ENTERING THE TRANSFER PORTAL
Student-athletes are required to notify Mississippi College of their intent to transfer.
Student-athletes wanting to enter the transfer portal must:
1. Login to Teamworks at my.armssoftware.com and sign in with the "Organizational Account". Select "Workflow Launchpad", and choose the "Notification of Intent to Transfer" workflow.
2. In this workflow you will be asked to view the NCAA Division II Transfer educational module. At the end of the module you will have an opportunity to enter your name and email address. Once you submit this, you will receive an automated email from ncaa.org verifying the completion of this task;
3. You will be able to upload a copy of this email (a screenshot will work also) into the workflow.
4. Once all documents have been received, the compliance office will enter the student-athlete's information into the NCAA Transfer Portal within seven calendar days of receipt of the written request.
FORMS
