At Fordham University, we recognize that our donors are strong
supporters of our athletic teams and wish to assist us in as many ways
as possible.
However, NCAA legislation mandates that donors not be
involved in any aspect of the recruiting process. The areas that are
restricted include all of the following listed below and apply to the
prospect, prospect's parents/legal guardian(s) and relatives.
Gifts:
Any gifts (e.g., clothing, special discounts, tickets to
events, loans or arrangement of loans or any other items) to prospects
or their relatives are prohibited. Providing transportation for a
prospect, prospect's relatives or friends is strictly prohibited.
Evaluation:
A donor may not pick up transcripts, film or any other
information pertaining to the prospect's ability. Donors may observe a
prospect's athletic contest, but may have no contact with the prospect
or their relatives, coach, principal or counselor.
Employment:
Before the completion of a prospect's senior year in high
school, any such employment by or arranged through a donor is
prohibited. Upon graduation a prospect can be employed as long as the
compensation is for work actually performed and at the rate commensurate
with experience (provided that they have signed the National Letter of
Intent and the Compliance Office is aware of the employment).
Pre-existing Relationships:
As an athletic representative, it is permissible to continue
established friendships with families who have prospects or enrolled
student athletes (e.g., backyard barbecues, picnics). You simply cannot
encourage a prospect's participation in Fordham athletics or provide
benefits to a student athlete.
Things Donors MAY do:
Donors who are established friends or neighbors of a
prospect may have contact with the recruit as long as they do not try to
recruit the prospect on behalf of an institution and such contacts are
not made at the direction of an institution's coaching staff.
- A donor may have contact with a recruit
to discuss summer job arrangements only after the recruit has signed a
National Letter of Intent or an institution's written offer of financial
aid and/or admission.
- A donor may have incidental contact with a
prospect (e.g., not pre-arranged by the athletics department) as long
as no recruitment occurs. Any contact made at the prospect's practice or
game is not considered incidental and is prohibited.
- A donor may speak to a prospect by
telephone only if the prospect initiates the conversation and the call
is not for recruiting purposes. A prospect's questions about athletics
must be referred to the athletics department.
- A donor may view a prospect's athletics contest on his or her own initiative, but the donor still cannot have contact with the prospect.
Things Donors MAY NOT do:
- A donor may not have face-to-face contact
with prospects or their parents, legal guardian(s) or relatives to
encourage them to enroll at an institution.
- A donor may not telephone or write to
prospects or their parents, legal guardians(s) or relatives to encourage
them to enroll at an institution.
- A donor may not pick up films or transcripts relating to a prospect at the recruit's high school or junior college.
- A donor may not contact a prospect's counselor, principal or coach in an attempt to evaluate the recruit.
Special Note Regarding Team Banquets/Gatherings for Alumni:
Team banquets/gatherings (e.g., a preseason kick-off alumni
dinner or alumni day) involving student athletes, alumni, head coaches
and administrators are permissible, provided the following is in place:
- Where alcohol is served, access to and consumption of alcohol shall be strictly prohibited for student athletes.
- Attendance is restricted for prospective student athletes on official visits to the University.