LVC Athletics Code of Conduct –
As an LVC student-athlete, you are expected to represent LVC in a positive manner at all times. Each head coach is required to develop and submit for approval, by the athletic director, a team code of conduct specific to their program. The coach will provide, in writing, the code of conduct to their respective student-athletes, prior to or on the first date of practice in the fall. Student-athletes are expected to abide by that code as well as College policies and local, state, and federal laws. Should a violation of the code/policies/law occur, the student-athlete is expected to report that violation to their head coach within 24 hours of the incident.
NCAA Ethical Conduct –
While you are a student-athlete at Lebanon Valley College, you are obligated to abide by NCAA, Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), and College rules. The compliance officer will conduct an annual rules orientation session with each team at the beginning of each academic year. This is a mandatory meeting for all NCAA student-athletes. In order to compete as a student-athlete at LVC, you must do your part to stay within the NCAA guidelines.
You need to remember that participation in athletics is a privilege, not a right. Unethical conduct by a prospective or enrolled student-athlete or a current or former institutional staff member may include, but is not limited to, the following:
a) Refusal to furnish information relevant to an investigation of a possible violation of an NCAA regulation when requested to do so by the NCAA or the individual’s institution;
b) Knowing involvement in arranging for fraudulent academic credit or false transcripts for a prospective or an enrolled student-athlete;
c) Knowing involvement in offering or providing a prospective or an enrolled student-athlete an improper inducement or extra benefit or improper financial aid;
d) Knowingly furnishing the NCAA or the individual’s institution false or misleading information concerning the individual’s involvement in or knowledge of matters relevant to a possible violation of an NCAA regulation;
e) Receipt of benefits by an institutional staff member for facilitating or arranging a meeting between a student-athlete and an agent, financial advisor or a representative of an agent or advisor (e.g., “runner”); or
f) Knowing involvement in providing a banned substance or impermissible supplement to student-athletes, or knowingly providing medications to student-athletes contrary to medical licensure, commonly accepted standards of care in sports practice, or state or federal law.
A student-athlete who participates in any sports wagering activity, through the Internet, a bookmaker, or a parlay card, shall be ineligible for all regular-season and postseason competition for a minimum period of one year, this includes Fantasy Leagues. Casino gambling is allowed as long as there is no betting on an NCAA sponsored sport and you are of legal age to gamble.
The use of tobacco products is prohibited by all game personnel (e.g., coaches, trainers, managers, and game officials) during all practice and competition.
Bylaw 18.4.1.5 provides that a student-athlete who, as a result of a drug test administered by the NCAA, is found to have used a substance on the list of banned drugs shall be declared ineligible for further participation in regular-season and post-season competition during the time period up to one calendar year after the student-athlete’s positive drug test.
NCAA/LVC Academic Requirements
To be eligible to represent the institution in intercollegiate athletics competition, a student-athlete must meet all Lebanon Valley College academic policies/regulations, along with the following criteria:
- Full-time status - In order to practice or compete, a student-athlete must carry 12 credit hours. During the first five days of each semester (during the add/drop period), a student- athlete may practice while below 12 credit hours, but may NOT compete while below 12 credit hours. After the first five days of the days of the semester, should a student-athlete fall below 12 credit hours, he/she will become immediately ineligible for practice and competition. A student-athlete who drops or withdraws from a class must notify his/her coach and the compliance officer immediately.
An exception to the above rule is when an athlete is in his or her final semester of the baccalaureate program and the institution certifies that the student is carrying (for credit) the courses necessary to complete the degree requirements, as determined by the faculty of the institution.
*Graduate student-athletes need to be enrolled for a minimum of nine credits to be eligible.
- Good Academic Standing – In order to practice or compete, student-athletes must be in good academic standing. After each fall and spring semester, members of the Academic Affairs Council meet to review the academic performance of all undergraduate students. Also, the academic performance of students in accelerated programs is reviewed at the end of the summer term.
To maintain good academic standing at the College, students must achieve minimum cumulative grade point averages appropriate to progress toward their degree and must complete coursework at a regular and sustained pace. Minimum cumulative GPAs are as follows:
Credit Hours Completed |
Required Cumulative GPA |
1-27 |
1.800 |
28-55 |
1.900 |
56-or more |
2.000 |
A 2.000 cumulative GPA is also required for students to graduate. Students who have not achieved a 2.000 cumulative GPA will be given an
Academic Warning, placed on
Probation, or
Academically Suspended from the College.
Academic Warning - Students who do not achieve a 2.000 cumulative GPA will be given Academic Warning. Academic Warning constitutes a formal notification that a student’s academic performance requires improvement and that they need to devote increased attention to academic work. Students receiving Academic Warning are cautioned that unless they achieve an acceptable cumulative grade point average, they may be placed on Probation and thereby lose the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities (including such activities as intercollegiate sports, student government, campus media, student clubs, and Greek and service organizations).
Probation - Students who previously received an Academic Warning (regardless of the semester) and who do not achieve the required cumulative GPA to maintain good academic standing will be placed on Probation. A student on Probation will not be permitted to take part in extracurricular activities.
Up-to-date LVC academic policies and procedures