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Robert Morris University Athletics

Official Visit Principles and Practices

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY, OFFICE OF ATHLETIC COMPLIANCE


Official Visit Principles and Practices

NCAA Division I institutions are required to have written policies related to official recruiting visits that apply to prospects, student hosts, coaches, and other athletic administrators. Institutions are responsible for the development of appropriate policies related to all aspects of such visits and will be held accountable through the NCAA enforcement program for compliance with these policies.

Recruiting practices should reinforce that student-athletes are expected to contribute to the academic mission of the institution and in turn, benefit by gaining knowledge and tools through education in order to contribute to society. The principles established for campus visits should serve as a foundation that withstands public scrutiny and that serves to maintain public confidence in the integrity of those involved in intercollegiate athletics.

Robert Morris University subscribes to the following official visit principles and practices:

  1. The campus visit of a prospect is an opportunity for PSAs and their families to assess their opportunities for academic success and integration into the collegiate experience and should be a shared responsibility by all participants with minimal emphasis on preferences or inducements.
  2. The campus visit of a prospect is an opportunity for RMU to evaluate a PSA for admission and participation in the intercollegiate program.
  3. Practices and guidelines for the conduct of the recruiting process with full regard to reasonable and acceptable forms of behavior will be established.
  4. Principles of institutional and personal accountability will be maintained with a set of internal controls sufficient to monitor compliance and ensure public confidence. In order to achieve the above stated goals and abide by the principles outlined, all parties must comply with the following:

TRANSPORTATION

  1. If air transportation is provided to prospects to and from an official campus visit, commercial transportation at coach-class airfare without upgrades must be used. Use of private planes is not permitted.
  2. The use of special vehicles (e.g., modified with televisions or special décor or appointments) to transport prospects around campus during the official visit is prohibited.

LODGING AND MEALS

  1. During an official visit, prospects (and prospects’ parents or legal guardians) can only be housed in a dorm or in a standard hotel room; such lodging will not include special accessories (jacuzzi, suites) that are not generally available to all guests. It is not permissible for prospects to be housed in a student-athlete’s off-campus apartment.
  2. During an official visit, prospects (and prospects’ parents or legal guardians) will be offered standard meals and reasonable snacks (e.g., pizza, hamburger) that are comparable to those provided to student-athletes during the academic year.

GAME DAY ACTIVITIES

  1. Institutions are prohibited from arranging miscellaneous, personalized promotional activities and from engaging in any game day simulations during a prospect’s official visit. This would include personalized jerseys, personalized audio or video scoreboard presentations, and running onto the field with the team during pre-game introductions. This would not preclude prospects from being present in the locker room prior or subsequent to a competition or standing on the sidelines during pre-game activities prior to being seated in the stands during competition.

ENTERTAINMENT

  1. Hosts for prospects must be either current student-athletes who are members of the team in the sport in which the prospect is being recruited or be designated in a manner consistent with the institution’s policies for providing tours to prospective students generally who make campus visits.
  2. During an official visit, prospects and student hosts are required to adhere to a zero tolerance policy for drug and alcohol consumption. RMU Athletics will not provide alcohol to prospects or the parents of prospects.
  3. During an official visit, prospects and student hosts are prohibited from entering adult entertainment establishments (i.e., strip clubs and topless restaurants) as well as arranging for adult entertainment.

OTHER ITEMS

  1. NCAA unethical conduct regulations applicable to student-athletes and institutional staff members to address inappropriate behavior (e.g. under-age drinking, use of drugs, entertainment activities) also apply to prospective student-athletes during the prospect’s official visit.
  2. Prospects and student-athletes serving as host will be required to sign a form indicating that he or she will not engage in inappropriate conduct during a prospect’s official visit.
  3. During an official visit, prospects are prohibited from engaging in any gambling activities.
  4. Irrelevant or illegal inducements (sex, money, gifts, etc.) shall not be used as part of the recruiting process.

COACH'S RESPONSIBILITIES

Coaches are expected to thoroughly research the background and character of each prospect. Any issues regarding the prospect’s character, academic credentials, or criminal/legal history should be discussed with the Athletic Director.

Coaches are required to meet with prospects and student hosts during the first day of an official visit to review applicable NCAA and RMU rules as it pertains to acceptable behavior. Student hosts and prospects are to be told they must adhere to all federal, state, and local laws.

Coaches are required to monitor to the zero tolerance policy for drug and alcohol consumption for prospects, parents of prospects, and their student hosts. 

PROSPECT’S RESPONSIBILITIES

First and foremost, prospects have the responsibility to understand and abide by all NCAA, NEC and University regulations.

Prospects are to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the highest standards, treat others with respect and respect the rights of others.

Student host money may not be used for the purchase of souvenirs such as t-shirts, hats or other mementos for either you or the student host. Student host money may not be used to purchase drugs or alcohol.

No cash or apparel (e.g., t-shirts or shoes) may be given to a prospect or anyone accompanying the prospect on their official visit.

Prospects 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.

Prospects may be entertained no more than 30 miles from campus; further, entering adult entertainment establishments is prohibited at any location.

Prospects may not have contact with a booster on or off campus.

Prospects may engage in recreational 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.

It is against the law for prospects to consume or purchase alcoholic beverages if they are under the age of 21. There is a zero tolerance policy as it relates to drugs and alcohol.

Prospects are prohibited from engaging in any gambling activities.

Failure to abide by these guidelines could jeopardize the prospect’s eligibility to represent Robert Morris University and receive athletics aid.

STUDENT HOST’S RESPONSIBILITIES

Student hosts are critical in the recruiting process at Robert Morris University. They have a responsibility to understand and abide by all NCAA, NEC and University regulations. All student hosts must carefully review the following guidelines:

  • Student hosts are to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the highest standards, treat others with respect and respect the rights of others.
  • A maximum of $30 for each day of the visit may be provided to cover all actual costs of entertaining a host and the prospect, excluding the cost of meals and admissions to campus athletics events.
  • Student host money may not be used for the purchase of souvenirs such as t-shirts, hats or other mementos for either host or prospect. Student host money may not be used to purchase drugs or alcohol.
  • No cash or apparel (e.g., t-shirts or shoes) may be given to the prospect or anyone accompanying the prospect.
  • The host 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 host’s vehicle.
  • Hosts may not transport the prospect more than 30 miles from campus.
  • Hosts may not enter an adult entertainment establishment nor are hosts permitted to arrange for adult entertainment for the prospect.
  • Hosts should not allow recruiting conversations to occur on or off campus between the prospect and a booster of the athletic program.
  • A prospect 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 the athletic abilities of the prospect.
  • It is against the law to consume or purchase alcoholic beverages if you are under the age of 21. It is against the law for a host to provide alcoholic beverages to a prospect under the age of 21. There is a zero tolerance policy as it relates to drugs and alcohol. Hosts may not consume alcohol at any time while serving as a student-host.

A Host’s failure to abide by these guidelines could jeopardize their eligibility to represent the Robert Morris University and receive athletics aid.

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY

COOPERATION, CONSCIENCE, COMPLIANCE... COLONIALS!