Compliance
SMU Compliance Mission Statement
Southern Methodist University and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics are committed to the principle of institutional control and will continue to hold itself to the highest standards of ethical conduct in the operation of its athletics program. In performing our mission, the SMU athletics compliance office educates, monitors, and enforces all NCAA, ACC Conference and University rules, regulations and policies.
All coaches, student-athletes, athletics department personnel, faculty, staff, alumni, boosters and other supporters of SMU are expected to maintain reasonable knowledge of and act in full compliance of the rules and report any violations. The compliance office is charged with protecting the University and coordinating SMU's compliance efforts and shall act as a resource for internal and external constituencies regarding all compliance matters.
The SMU Athletics Compliance Office is dedicated to upholding the standards and regulations governing collegiate athletics for SMU student-athletes, coaches, staff, and supporters. Rooted in integrity, the SMU Athletics Department prioritizes adherence to NCAA, ACC and SMU rules. Our commitment involves effective communication, education, and ongoing oversight to ensure that everyone associated with SMU Athletics follows these guidelines.
While we trust that the SMU Community always acts with the university's best interests in mind, it's essential to be aware that unintentional actions could potentially pose risks of violating NCAA regulations or impacting the eligibility of our student-athletes, both current and prospective. If you have any uncertainties about your role in supporting SMU Athletics or any questions regarding NCAA, ACC or SMU regulations, please don't hesitate to reach out to a member of SMU's compliance staff. Together, we can uphold the highest standards of integrity within our athletics program.
The SMU Athletics Compliance Office is dedicated to upholding the standards and regulations governing collegiate athletics for SMU student-athletes, coaches, staff, and supporters. Rooted in integrity, the SMU Athletics Department prioritizes adherence to NCAA, AAC and university rules. Our commitment involves effective communication, education, and ongoing oversight to ensure that everyone associated with SMU Athletics follows these guidelines.
- Always "Ask Before You Act!" Our Compliance Office is here to help you navigate the rules and support your journey.
- Questions? Our Compliance Staff is always ready to help! (link compliance staff page)
Click here for access: Teamworks
- As a dedicated supporter of SMU Athletics, it is crucial to adhere to NCAA, ACC and SMU rules and regulations. Our Compliance Office is here to provide guidance, answer your inquiries and ensure a comprehensive understanding of these rules. While this site offers a concise overview of the regulations, we encourage you always to "Ask Before You Act!" If you have any questions or require clarification, please do not hesitate to contact a member of SMU’s Compliance Staff.
- Definition of a Booster -- Per NCAA regulations, a SMU Representative of Athletics Interests, also known as a "Booster," encompasses any individual who has:
- Made contributions of any kind to the SMU Department of Athletics;
- Joined the Mustang Club or any sport-specific support group;
- Provided benefits to prospective or enrolled student-athletes or their families;
- Assisted in any capacity with the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;
- Participated as a varsity student-athlete at SMU;
- Had a child who has participated as a varsity student-athlete at SMU; or
- Promoted the SMU athletics program in any way.
- Please note that once an individual is identified as a booster, this designation is for life.
- Permissible Activities for Boosters
- A Representative of Athletics Interests/Booster is permitted to:
- Notify our coaches about prospects in their area;
- Attend high school or two-year college athletic contests or other events where prospects may compete, but cannot contact the prospect, the prospect's relatives or coach;
- Continue existing friendships with families of prospects, but cannot attempt to recruit the prospect;
- Engage in permissible pre-enrollment activities with a prospect such as summer employment, provided the prospect has already signed a National Letter of Intent;
- Have a phone conversation with a prospect, but only if the call is initiated by the prospect and there is no recruiting conversation; and
- Provide an occasional meal to a student-athlete or an entire team on special occasions, subject to specific conditions:
- Such meals must be hosted in the booster's home, on SMU’s campus, or at a facility regularly used for home competition;
- The meal may be catered;
- The booster may offer reasonable, local transportation to student-athletes to attend the meal, but this is only permitted if the meal takes place at the booster's home;
- The Compliance Office must be informed in advance of these meals, and the Booster-Provided Occasional Meals Form must be completed by the booster for each meal provided.
- Impermissible Activities for Boosters
- A Representative of Athletics Interests/Booster is not permitted to:
- Make in-person on- or off-campus recruiting contact with a prospective student-athlete and/or his or her parents/legal guardians;
- Write or telephone a prospective student-athlete and/or his or her family members/legal guardians; or
- Contact a prospective student-athlete's coach, principal, or counselor in an attempt to recruit or evaluate the prospect.
- Extra Benefits and Recruiting Inducements
- NCAA rules prohibit boosters from providing enrolled student-athlete "extra benefits." The NCAA classifies any special discounts or arrangements that are not available to the general public or the student body as extra benefits, and such benefits can jeopardize the student-athlete's eligibility. Offering these benefits to prospective student-athletes or their family/friends is also prohibited, as it constitutes a "recruiting inducement."
- Examples of Extra Benefits and Recruiting Inducements include, but are not limited to:
- Arrangement of employment for a relatives or friends;
- Gifts of clothing or equipment;
- Co-signing of loans;
- Providing of loans to relatives or friends;
- Cash or like items;
- Any tangible items, including merchandise;
- Free or reduced-cost services, rentals, or purchases of any type;
- Free or reduced-cost housing;
- Use of athletics equipment;
- Sponsorship of, or arrangement for, an awards banquet for prospective student-athletes; and
- Presentation of award to prospective student-athletes for outstanding athletics accomplishments.
- SMU Booster FAQ
- SMU athletics is committed to the principle of amateurism in intercollegiate athletics. Therefore, the Compliance Office has developed a program to ensure that any interaction between SMU student-athletes and agents or financial advisors is consistent with NCAA legislation. The State of Texas, the NCAA, and Southern Methodist University have all instituted laws, rules, and procedures that must be followed in any communication between agents or financial advisors and student-athletes. Although the aforementioned laws, rules, and procedures are quite extensive, the following are provided as general guidelines to follow.
- All agents must register will the Compliance Office.
- Student-athletes must refer all unregistered agents to the Compliance Office.
- Student-athletes must notify the Compliance Office any time they have contact with an agent.
- Student-athletes who do not abide by the policies of the Compliance Office will be disciplined.
- Agents who do not abide by the policies of the Compliance Office may not contact student-athletes and may be reported to the governing body of the applicable professional sport and/or to local law enforcement.
- NOTE: For further information regarding the regulation of athletes' agents in the State of Texas, please visit the State of Texas Agent Act website.
- The Compliance Office has done its best to predict all potential issues that might arise in the operation of an intercollegiate athletic department. However, there are still situations that need special attention. Therefore, the Compliance Office asks you to peruse and use these forms as needed, but reminds you to "Ask Before You Act." If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to a member of the compliance staff.
- The Compliance Office has created policies and procedures that are designed to protect the integrity of Southern Methodist University athletics department. The following are forms that help the Compliance Office in monitoring and overseeing the intercollegiate athletic programs at SMU so that representatives of the athletic department are better able to perform their duties within the bounds of NCAA and American Athletic Conference rules and regulations.
- The transition from high school to collegiate athletics is both exciting and challenging. To ensure your success throughout this process, it is important that you understand NCAA rule governing prospective student-athletes.
- Am I a prospective student-athlete? -- You are a prospective student-athlete if you are a high school student who has begun the ninth grade, regardless of whether you participate in athletics. In addition, you are considered a prospective student-athlete if an institution provided you or your family financial assistance or any other benefit that is not offered to other prospective student-athletes.
- I want to be a collegiate athlete. What’s next?
- NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
- Students should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at the beginning of their junior year in high school. The NCAA Eligibility Center will certify the academic and amateur credentials of all college-bound student-athletes who wish to compete in NCAA Division I or II athletics. You may register online at the NCAA Eligibility Center link. At the end of the student's junior year, a transcript, including six semesters of grades, should be sent to the Eligibility Center directly from the high school. Additionally, students should have their SAT or ACT scores forwarded directly to the Eligibility Center (by using code "9999") whenever they take the exam.
As a parent of a SMU student-athlete, there are several NCAA, ACC and SMU rules and regulations to which you and your child must adhere. We are here to assist you throughout your child's career as a student-athlete by answering your questions and helping you understand the rules. While this site provides a brief overview of the rules and links to other helpful sources, we encourage you to always "Ask Before You Act!"
