Compliance Information for Prospects & Parents
Who is a prospective student-athlete?
A prospective student-athlete, better known as a “recruit” or “prospect,” is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade (or seventh grade for men's basketball). In addition, any younger student-athlete who receives any benefits from the institution would be considered a recruit.
Recruiting
Only coaches and athletic department staff may be involved in the recruiting process. Athletics representatives are prohibited from contacting a prospective student-athlete or members of his/her family by telephone, letter, e-mail, in social media (publicly or privately) or in person for the purpose of encouraging participation in athletics at Houston Christian University. This prohibition remains in effect even after the prospect signs a National Letter of Intent (scholarship offer).
NCAA Recruiting Definitions
Division I Recruiting Calendar
Visiting HCU
An “official visit” is a visit paid in whole or in part by the university and cannot exceed 48 hours in length. A prospect can make a total of five official visits, with a limit of only one per university.
Official Visit Checklist
An “unofficial visit” is a visit made at the prospect’s own expense. The university may provide (a) three complimentary tickets to an on-campus athletics event in which the university’s team is competing and (b) transportation to view off-campus practice and competition sites within a 30-mile radius. Prospects can make as many unofficial visits as they want.
National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a binding agreement between a prospective student-athlete and an institution in which the institution agrees to provide a prospective student-athlete who is admitted to the institution and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules athletics aid for one academic year in exchange for the prospect's agreement to attend the institution for one academic year. All colleges and universities that participate in the NLI program agree to not recruit a prospective student-athlete once he/she signs an NLI with another college or university. Therefore, a prospective student-athlete who signs an NLI should no longer receive recruiting contacts and calls and is ensured an athletics scholarship for one academic year. The NLI must be accompanied by an institutional financial aid agreement. If the student-athlete does not enroll at that institution for a full academic year, he/she may be subject to specific penalties, including loss of a season of eligibility and a mandatory residence requirement.
National Letter of Intent
Admissions and Initial Eligibility
Please see below for helpful links to guide you in becoming an official HCU Husky through the Admissions office and getting cleared through the NCAA.
HCU Admissions
NCAA Division I Toolkit
ACT
SAT
TOEFL
FAFSA
NCAA Educational Resources
NCAA Eligibility Center
NCAA Transfer Guide
