CURRENT STUDENT-ATHLETES
The San José State Compliance Office is committed to assisting student-athletes during their athletic and academic collegiate experience. This section of the SJSU Compliance Office website is intended to help currently enrolled student-athletes understand and act in accordance with NCAA, associated conferences, and University rules. It is difficult to cover every possible rule and regulation governing your participation as a Division I student-athlete. Therefore, please always contact a Compliance Office staff member before taking any action that may be contrary to NCAA rules.
Academic Eligibility
Spartan Speaks
Agent Information
Drug Testing
Employment
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Extra Benefits
Sports Wagering & Gambling
Outside Competition
Promotional Activities
Academic Eligibility
Student-athletes must meet all NCAA, Mountain West, and San Jose State University academic requirements in order to remain eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Continuing eligibility is certified by each student-athlete's Athletics Academic Advisor and the Academic Eligibility Coordinator at the conclusion of each academic term. Click here for requirements.
Spartan Speaks (Report an Issue)
Please text "Report an Issue" to 66595 to report any concerns or issues that you would like addressed by the San Jose State Athletics Department. Concerns may range from compliance or time management violations, gambling, hazing, drugs/alcohol, discrimination, sexual assault, domestic violence, social issues, health/wellness issues, COVID-19 health and safety concerns, etc. to less serious issues such as a maintenance problem in your locker room. Only cell phone numbers associated with student-athletes will be able to send a text to 66595.
Agent Information
A student-athlete or prospective student-athlete (any individual who currently participates in or who may be eligible in the future to participate in intercollegiate athletics) may not agree verbally or in writing to be represented by an agent in the present or in the future for the purpose of marketing the student-athlete's athletics ability or reputation. If the student-athlete enters into such an agreement, the student-athlete is ineligible for intercollegiate competition. The term "agent" includes actual agents, runners (individuals who befriend student-athletes and frequently distribute impermissible benefits), attorneys, and financial advisors.
Under California State law, Player-agents must be registered with the state of California prior to representing or attempting to represent any athlete. Please refer to the Miller-Ayala Act, California's State law on athletic agents, for more information.
Agents must be registered with the SJSU Compliance Office (this may only occur after being properly registered with the state of California). Proof of state registration must be presented to the Compliance Office with a completed Player-Agent Registration Form or Agent Renewal Form.
What happens if a violation occurs?
Example: A men's basketball student-athlete is befriended by a runner for an agent. The student-athlete is unaware of the connection between the runner and agent. The runner gives the student-athlete long-distance calling cards and pays for meals, articles of clothing and a new car stereo. The student-athlete never asks why the runner is providing him with these items.
The student-athlete's educational institution becomes aware of the runner's identity and the provision of benefits to the student-athlete. The institution must declare the student-athlete ineligible for intercollegiate competition and request reinstatement of the student-athlete's eligibility from the NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.
At a minimum, the student-athlete will be required to repay the value of the impermissible benefit(s) and will be withheld from a certain number of contests, based on NCAA case precedent.
Drug Testing
The NCAA drug-testing program was created to safeguard the health and safety of participants, and to ensure that no participant has an artificially induced advantage, or be pressured to use chemical substances in order to remain competitive. The misuse and/or abuse of drugs or chemicals endanger the safety and health of all student-athletes and are inconsistent with the educational atmosphere that should prevail in intercollegiate athletic programs.
Prior to participation in intercollegiate competition, student-athletes must sign the NCAA Drug Testing Consent Form. Failure to sign this form renders student-athletes ineligible for participation in intercollegiate competition. This form is issued at team meetings at the beginning of each academic year, along with all other required NCAA paperwork.
SAN JOSE STATE POLICY
If a student-athlete tests positive for a substance on the NCAA Banned Drug List or misses a scheduled SJSU drug test, the following penalties will be implemented:
- First positive test
- Will result in mandatory counseling through the University Counseling Center
- Discipline and/or suspension deemed appropriate by the Athletic Director;
- If a minor, parents or legal guardian will be notified
- Second positive test
- Removal from athletic participation with all financial aid being withdrawn for one (1) year to begin immediately
- Mandatory drug counseling through the University Counseling Center
- If a minor, parents or legal guardian will be notified
- Third positive test
- Immediate removal from all further athletic competition for the remainder of the athlete's career
- If a minor, parents or legal guardian will be notified
Any student-athlete who fails to appear for a drug test will be treated as if they had a positive test. The student-athlete will be disciplined just as any other student-athlete with a positive test. All student-athletes have the option to appeal a positive test. Upon appeal, the initial test will be retested in the laboratory. For additional questions concerning drug testing, visit the San José State Sports Medicine Webpage.
NCAA POLICY
If a student-athlete tests positive for a substance on the NCAA Banned Drug List or misses a scheduled NCAA drug test, the following penalties will be implemented:
- First positive test
- Withheld for one calendar year (365 days)
- Loss of a season of eligibility
- Second positive test
- If a positive test is triggered by a "street drug," an additional calendar year of suspension, as well as the loss of another season of eligibility.
- If a positive test is triggered by a drug other than a "street drug," a loss of all remaining eligibility will occur
A student-athlete who tests positive has an opportunity to appeal the positive drug test. The penalty for missing a scheduled drug test is the same as the penalty for testing positive for the use of a banned drug other than a street drug. For additional information concerning the NCAA's drug-testing program visit:
National Center for Drug-Free Sport
NCAA Drug Testing Program
NCAA Banned Drug List
SJSU Drug Policy
Employment
Student-athletes are allowed to hold jobs, but there are NCAA regulations regarding the employment of student-athletes. Additionally, you must register your job with the Compliance Office prior to beginning any employment. Click here for more information on student-athlete employment.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
The financial aid office will work with scholarship and non-scholarship students to provide adequate resources to cover expenses while attending the San José State University. Click here for more information on various forms of financial aid.
Extra Benefits
What is an extra benefit? By NCAA definition, an extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete's relative, coach or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.
Extra benefits for prospects are called offers or inducements and are prohibited. An institution's staff member or any representative of its athletics interests shall not be involved, directly or indirectly, in making arrangements for giving or offering to give any financial aid or other benefits to a prospect or to a prospect's relatives, coach or friends. Examples of impermissible extra benefits include but are not limited to:
- Cash or any type of gifts;
- Loans or cosigning of loans;
- Vehicle or the use of a vehicle;
- Payment for or arrangement of transportation costs;
- Free or reduced cost goods or services;
- Free or reduced cost housing;
- Concert or sporting event tickets; or
- Any item not expressly permitted under NCAA rules.
The San Jose State University is responsible for the actions of its boosters. If a booster provides an impermissible benefit to a prospect, a student-athlete, or their relatives or friends, the San Jose State University may be subject to penalties, even if the student-athlete has completed his or her eligibility. The prospect or student-athlete who accepts an impermissible benefit jeopardizes his or her eligibility for intercollegiate competition.
Preferential Treatment
A student-athlete may not accept any preferential treatment, benefits or services because of the individual's athletics reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a professional athlete.
Sports Wagering and Gambling
Placing bets of any kind on any intercollegiate or professional athletics competition in any amount with anyone or on the internet is strictly prohibited. Student-athletes should immediately report any offer to gamble on the outcome of an athletics competition, whether directly or indirectly, to the Athletic Director, Head Coach, Compliance Office, and/or Conference Office. Any individual seeking information or asking student-athletes to "arrange" the outcome of any athletics contest should be reported to the Compliance Office.
Any involvement in activities designed to influence the outcome of an intercollegiate contest or any solicitation or acceptance of a bet involving the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will result in an automatic loss of eligibility.
A student-athlete will be ineligible to compete if he/she does any of the following:
1. Provides information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition (e.g., participating in a "fantasy league" with an entry fee and/or cash prize);
2. Solicits a bet on any intercollegiate team (e.g., betting in a Final Four pool);
3. Accepts a bet on any team representing the institution;
4. Solicits or accepts a bet on any intercollegiate competition for any item (e.g., cash, shirt, dinner) that has tangible value; or
5. Participates in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate or professional athletics through a bookmaker, a parlay card, or any other method employed by organized gambling (e.g., betting on the World Series).
For more information on sports wagering please visit the following:
Don't Bet On It! - www.dontbetonit.org
NCAA Sports Wagering - http://www.ncaa.org/enforcement/sports-wagering
Sports Wagering Behaviors of Student-Athletes - http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2017RES_wagering_executive_summary_20171129.pdf
Outside Competition
Student-athletes must obtain prior approval from San Jose State University Athletics prior to practicing or competing in an event while not representing the institution during or between terms of the regular academic year. Student-athletes can submit the "Outside Competition" from through ARMs. The form must be received by compliance 48 hours prior to the start of the competition.
Individual Sports
For individual sports, anytime a member of a SJSU team wishes to participate in a competition while not representing the SJSU, the student-athlete is competing unattached. An unattached competitor cannot:
- Wear/use current SJSU uniform/apparel;
- Receive expenses from the SJSU; and
- Receive instruction from a SJSU coach.
Team Sports
For team sports other than basketball, a student-athlete may compete outside of the declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition during any official vacation period at SJSU. In the sport of basketball, a student-athlete may not compete in any organized competition except when representing the SJSU in intercollegiate competition (except Certified Summer Leagues). A basketball student-athlete must complete the Outside Competition form on ARMs before participating.
Promotional Activities
The name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete may not be used directly or indirectly to advertise, recommend or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.
Items that have been autographed by current student-athletes or coaches may not be sold, auctioned, or exchanged for value. These items are signed for fan enjoyment or to raise funds for certain pre-approved organizations.
A student-athlete may not be provided an honorarium (money or any other item) for any speaking engagement. Student-athletes may only receive necessary expenses (i.e. travel, meal) when speaking to educational or charitable groups that have received prior approval of the department.
According to NCAA Bylaw 12.5.1.1, San Jose State University student-athletes can participate in charitable/non-profit activities only under the following conditions:
- The student-athlete does not miss class;
- The student-athlete receives written approval (i.e. this form) from the Director of Athletics (or designee) before the event;
- All monies derived from the activity will go directly to the charitable/non-profit agency;
- The specific activity in which the student-athlete participates does not involve cosponsorship, advertisement, or promotion by a commercial agency;
- The student-athlete may only accept legitimate and normal expenses such as meals and travel from the institution or charitable/non-profit agency;
- The student-athlete signs this release statement prior to the activity;
- The student-athlete's name, picture, or appearance is not utilized to promote the commercial ventures of the agency.
San Jose State University Athletics Department, per NCAA Bylaw 12.5.1.1, is required to submit written approval for all student athlete participating in any charitable or nonprofit activities considered incidental to participation in intercollegiate athletics. Please submit any promotional activity requests to the Compliance Office. Click Here for the form.
Additional Resources