Nicholls State University

Permissible Recruitment Activities by Current Student-Athletes

Telephone Calls - Enrolled student-athletes may receive telephone calls at the expense of the prospective student-athlete after July 1 following the completion of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school. An enrolled student-athlete may receive telephone calls made at the expense of a prospective student-athlete prior to July 1 following the completion of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school, provided there is no direct or indirect involvement by athletics department staff. (Bylaw 13.1.3.5.2)

Off-Campus Contacts - Off-campus, in-person recruiting contacts that are unavoidable incidental contacts between enrolled student-athletes (or other enrolled students) and a prospective student-athlete are permissible if such contacts do not occur at the direction of a coaching staff member. If unavoidable incidental contact between a student-athlete and a prospective student-athlete (even at the prospective student-athlete's high school), such contact is permissible, provided the institution had no prior knowledge of the occurrence of the contact. (Bylaw 13.1.2.7(a)

Written Correspondence - It is permissible for an enrolled student-athlete to engage in written correspondence, provided it is not done at the direction or expense of the member institution. (Bylaw 13.1.2.7(c))

Official Visits
13.6.7.5 Student Host. The student host must be either a current student-athlete or a student designated in a manner consistent with the institution's policy for providing campus visits or tours to prospective students in general. The institution may provide the following to a student host entertaining a prospective student-athlete:

(a) A maximum of $40 for each day (24-hour period) of the visit (maximum of $80 for two 24-hour periods) to cover all actual costs of entertaining the student host(s) and the prospective student-athlete (and the prospective student-athlete's parents, legal guardians or spouse), excluding the cost of meals and admission to campus athletics events. The cost of entertainment of the institution's athletics department staff members who accompany the prospective student-athlete is also excluded. If an athletics department staff member serves as the prospective student-athlete's host, his or her entertainment costs must be included in the entertainment allowance. The entertainment allowance may not be used for the purchase of souvenirs, such as T-shirts or other institutional mementos. It is permissible to provide the student host with an additional $20 per day for each additional prospective student-athlete the host entertains;

(b) Complimentary meals, provided the student host is accompanying the prospective student-athlete during the prospective student-athlete’s official visit; and

(c) Complimentary admissions to campus athletics events, provided the student host is accompanying the prospective student-athlete to the events during the prospective student-athlete’s official visit. 

13.6.7.5.1 Mulitple Hosts. If several students host a prospective student-athlete, the $40-per-day entertainment money may be used to cover the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the prospective student-athlete and all hosts. Only one student host per prospective student-athlete may be provided a free meal if restaurant facilities are used.

13.6.7.5.2  Nonqualifier Prohibtion. The student host must be enrolled in the member institution being visited by a prospective student-athlete. A nonqualifier may not serve as a student host during his or her first academic year in residence.

Unofficial Visits/Housing in Dormitories - A prospective student-athlete on an unofficial visit may stay in an enrolled student-athlete's dormitory room only if the prospective student-athlete pays the regular institutional rate for such lodging. (Bylaw 13.7.2.1.3)

Impermissible Recruitment Activities by Current Student-Athletes

Telephone Calls - Enrolled student-athletes or other enrolled students shall not make or participate in telephone calls to prospective student-athletes at the direction of a coaching staff member or financed by the institution or a representative of its athletics interests. (Bylaw 13.1.3.5.2)

Transportation and Expenses - An institution may not provide an enrolled student-athlete with transportation or expenses to recruit a prospective student-athlete except those expenses specified in Bylaw 13.6.7.5 when the student-athlete serves as a student host. (Bylaw 13.1.2.7(b))

Student Host - The student host must be enrolled in the member institution being visited by a prospective student-athlete. A nonqualifier may not serve as a student host during his or her first academic year in residence. (Bylaw 13.6.7.5.3) 

Student-Athlete Host Guidelines

If you are asked to be a student-athlete host for an official visit, you will be required to review and sign the Student-Athlete Host Form. Please review the rules on this Form prior to acting as a student-athlete host.

As a student-athlete host, you should be aware of and abide by the rules that apply to prospects while on an official visit. Please review the following guidelines that are provided to prospects before they make an official visit to the Nicholls campus.

Prospects have a responsibility to abide by all NCAA, Conference, and University regulations.

It is against the law to consume or purchase alcoholic beverages if you are under the age of 21. Nicholls State University prohibits illegal drug use on official visits. There is a zero tolerance policy relative to underage drinking and illegal drug use during a recruiting visit.

Nicholls State University explicitly condemns sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other sex offenses. Student-athlete hosts may not arrange for sexual encounters for prospects. You are prohibited from entering adult entertainment establishments (e.g., strip clubs and topless restaurants) while on your official visit.

During an official visit, prospects are prohibited from engaging in any gambling activities.

No cash or apparel (e.g., t-shirts, hats, shoes, etc.) may be given to you or anyone accompanying you on your official visit.

You may not use vehicles provided or arranged by any coach, institutional staff member, or booster of the athletic program. Prospects are not permitted to use or drive the vehicle of a current student-athlete.

You should not allow recruiting conversations to occur on or off campus between yourself and a booster of the athletic program.

While on your official visit, it is not permissible for you to discuss Nicholls State's recruitment of you with members of the news media. Should a member of the media approach you, it is important that you to tell the individual that you are unable to address their questions while on our campus.

You may engage in recreational or workout activities as long as the activities are not organized or observed by members of the athletic department's coaching staff and are not designed to test your athletic abilities.

You may receive up to three complimentary admissions (issued through a pass list) to a campus athletics event.