COMPLIANCE TIP OF THE WEEK: Financial Aid and the National Letter of Intent (NLI)

· FINANCIAL AID REQUIREMENT:Financial aid awarded by an institution to a prospect must conform to the rules and regulations of the NCAA, the institution and of the conference. The athletics aid award shall not be awarded for more than one academic year. The offer must list the terms and conditions of the award and must be for the entire academic year.

· NO ATHLETICS AID AWARDED: An NLI signed by a "walk on" or "non-scholarship student-athlete" is not valid. An institution which submits an NLI to a prospect that does not meet the terms of NLI Provision for financial aid is in violation of the NLI program and subject to sanctions.

· REDUCTION OF ATHLETICS AID:Once a prospect signs the agreement fora written offer of athletics financial aid, the athletics aid limits must adhere to NCAA regulations and may not be reduced unless otherwise stated on the financial aid agreement. If changes occur per the stated agreement, allowing for athletics aid to be reduced accommodating for another source of financial aid, thetotal amount of financial aid (including athletics aid) shall not be reduced. Athletics aid must always remain a source of financial aid.

· RELEASE OF OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE ATHLETICALLY RELATED FINANCIAL AID:If a prospect is awarded institutional financial aid unrelated to athletics that is of equal or greater value than his or her signed award of athletically related financial aid, he or she may, on his or her initiative, release the institution of its obligation to provide the athletically related financial aid. In this case, the NLI would become null and void.

· VOLUNTARY WITHDRAW: If a prospect or student-athlete voluntary withdraws from the team, the NLI should remain binding. The institution shall not provide the prospect or student-athlete with a null and void NLI if he or she has not fulfilled the NLI agreement.

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Laurel Hanson, Director of Compliance

The University of Montana

Department of Intercollegiate Athletics

(406) 243-5729 (Phone)