NCAA SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FUND

The goal of the NCAA Special Assistance Fund is to enhance benefits to student-athletes who have a demonstrated financial need. The guiding principles of the fund are to meet the student-athletes' needs of an emergency or essential nature for which financial assistance is not otherwise available. The fund is made available by the NCAA and administered through the Atlantic Coast Conference to its member institutions.

The following student-athletes are eligible for the fund:

1. Pell-eligible student-athletes including student-athletes who have exhausted their athletics eligibility or no longer are able to participate because of medical reasons.
2. Student-athletes who are receiving countable athletically-related financial aid and who have demonstrated financial need as determined by an analysis conducted consistent with Federal methodology or the methodology usedfor all students at the institution.
3. For a foreign student-athlete, an official foreign student-athlete advisory entity of the institution outside the athletics department must certify in writing that the student-athlete has financial need.

The following uses of the fund are permissible:

1. Cost of clothing and other essential expenses (not entertainment) up to $500 for Pell-eligible student-athletes and full grant-in-aid student- athletes who demonstrate financial need.
2. Cost of expendable academic course supplies (e.g., notebook and pens) and rental of non-expendable supplies (e.g., computer equipment and cameras) that are required for all students enrolled in the course.
3. Medical and dental costs not covered by another insurance program (e.g., premiums for optional medical insurance, hearing aids, vision therapy and off-campus psychological counseling).
4. Costs associated with student-athlete or family emergencies.

The following are restrictions on the use of the fund:

1. Financing any portion of an institutional grant-in-aid that could have been awarded to the student-athlete is prohibited.
2. Non-qualifiers may not receive special assistance funds during their first academic year in residence.
3. Entertainment expenses for student-athletes are not permissible.
4. The purchase of disability, illness, or injury insurance to protect against the loss of potential future professional sports earnings is not permissible.

Be sure to see your coach if you think you are a qualifier for the NCAA Special Assistance Fund.