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For the last 8 years, the NJCAA has earnestly advocated for change in accessibility rules for our NJCAA student-athletes to transfer to the NCAA Division 1 level, but they have not been heard. Thus, we have come to a point where other organizations have aligned with our goal of advocating for change. In the meantime, we have found additional inequities NJCAA student-athletes must overcome to have the same opportunities that are afforded to 4-year student-athletes. On March 11, 2025, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association along with 15 other national coaches’ associations formally sent a request for change to the NCAA and its constituent groups requesting adjusted bylaws creating equal opportunities for two-year college transfers.

Click here to view coaches' associations letter to the NCAA.

NJCAA Talking Points on NCAA Legislation that Negatively Impact Two-Year College Student-Athletes

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is the national governing body of two-year collegiate athletics and continues to be a leader in championing academic and athletic opportunities for student-athletes. The NJCAA’s mission is to promote, govern and foster a competitive environment for two-year college athletics and has played a vital role in collegiate athletics for the past eight decades. The NJCAA is not affiliated with the NCAA and does not have a voice in the development of the NCAA’s bylaws, but those bylaws place a disproportionate requirement on benefits on two-year college transfers as compared to their four-year counterparts.

DID YOU KNOW? 

1) Off-Season Competition

  • The NCAA permits its DI student-athletes to participate in a limited number of off-season competitions (i.e. 8 softball contests in the fall) in their non-championship semester without using a season of eligibility; however the NCAA puts exponentially greater restrictions on community college student-athletes that are only permitted to participate in 2 scrimmages in their off-season where a score CANNOT be kept without triggering a season of eligibility. Also, the NJCAA rules allow for a similarly reasonable number of contests without triggering a season of eligibility.

2) Participation while enrolled part-time.

  • The NCAA stipulates that a student-athlete represents an institution in intercollegiate competition while enrolled part-time and must be held accountable for meeting academic eligibility requirements as if he/she were enrolled full-time. While this legislation is applicable to both four-year and two-year college student-athletes, the NCAA should not be permitted to force a two-year college student-athlete that is participating in accordance with their organizations bylaws to a higher standard of academic eligibility as a result.

3) Inequity between NCAA Divisions

  • NCAA Division II and Division III honor the governing body bylaws for the association which the student-athlete participates, in our case the NJCAA. In determining a student-athlete’s seasons of competition and academic eligibility standing, Division I places its own standards on what constitutes a season of eligibility for a two-year college student-athlete, which is grossly more stringent than how they govern their own student-athletes. (See point one.)

4) Transfer GPA Requirements

  • NCAA stipulates a four-year college transfer is only required to have been academically eligible at the previous institution, a GPA requirement that equates to a 1.800 to 2.000 GPA. A two-year college transfer who was a qualifier is required to present a transferable GPA of a 2.500. This GPA requirement also applies to student-athletes that originally enrolled at a four-year institution and became a 4-2-4 transfer and requires them to graduate from the two-year institution after previously being eligible at a Division I institution. Division I student-athletes have a far more robust level of academic support for student-athletes, even at the low-major level, than two-year college student-athletes, but they can transfer with a far lesser GPA requirement than two-year college student-athletes with limited to no resources at their disposal.

5) APR Transfer Requirements

  • NCAA members can exclude transfer athletes from the APR retention point who immediately enrolled at another four-year institution and were academically eligible at the previous institution (which equates to a 1.800 to 2.000 GPA depending on semesters of enrollment); however, if a student-athlete transfers to a two-year college the student-athlete must have a 3.30 to be excluded. Four-year college coaches are negatively advising student-athletes not to transfer to two-year colleges because it will hurt the institution’s APR.

6) Financial Aid Guarantees

  • NCAA rules require that an institution guarantees a four-year transfer athlete’s financial aid for a period no less than the student-athlete’s five-year clock or until they complete their undergraduate degree. The institution can only cancel or reduce the four-year transfer’s financial aid if they transfer to another institution or lose their amateur status. A student can voluntarily withdraw from the team, be cut from the team, be dismissed from the team, etc. and still retain their aid. This exception is not provided by two-year college transfers.

7) Basketball Specific – Outside Competition

  • NCAA prohibits basketball student-athletes from participating in outside competitions once a student has been recruited and subsequently enrolls at the institution until the completion of their eligibility. While this legislation is applicable to all basketball student-athletes, NCAA bylaw stipulates that a 4-2-4 transfer is limited to participation in June intercollegiate events. In the summer of 2024, the NCAA relaxed restrictions on outside competition in sports other than basketball and wrestling. Once a student-athlete has withdrawn from a four-year institution and has not subsequently enrolled at another four-year college, the NCAA should not restrict prospective student-athletes’ participation in outside competition that could benefit their further advancement both academically and athletically.

WHAT DO WE WANT?

We simply want equality. We want rules that do not separate the two-year college student-athlete from other student-athletes. We desire to create consistent rules for all transfers.  Guarantee our students the same scholarships as they come into the NCAA that they are giving other transfer students. Show an equal opportunity for overall success for all student-athletes, no matter where they first enroll in college.  Is that too much to ask?

“Our commitment to “Opportunities Starts Here“ compels us to act in the best interest of NJCAA student-athletes both academically and athletically. Please join our association in advocating for equity and access for all our students.”  -Dr. Christopher Parker

HOW TO HELP?

Please use the tools provided in this tool kit and use the below hashtag as well as tag our social media accounts to spread this message.

#SameGameSameRules

@NJCCA on X, Facebook, and Instagram

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