NCAA NEW Requirements for 2010-2011

Did you know that the NCAA Eligibility Center has just published NEW requirements for the 2010-2011 school year regarding non-traditional courses?   Here is the news! 

The rules regarding software-based credit recovery, virtual, online, independent study and correspondence courses have changed.  These types of courses, which are identified by the NCAA Eligibility Center as nontraditional courses, must meet new guidelines in order to be used for college-bound student-athletes who are planning to attend an NCAA Division I college or university.

What Are the Changes and How Can Blueprint Education Help You? 

Beginning August 1, 2010, nontraditional courses must meet the following requirements.  After each requirement is how Blueprint Education already has you covered!

Courses that are taught through distance learning, online, credit recovery, etc. need to be comparable in length, content and rigor to courses taught in a traditional classroom setting.  Students may not skip lessons or test out of modules.  The course must be four-year college preparatory.

Blueprint Education courses are designed to take 75-90 hours to complete.  Each course has 15 lessons that take approximately 5 hours to complete, and there is a midterm and final exam in every semester course.  Students must complete every lesson in its entirety -- assignments, quizzes, projects, essays, research paper, exams, etc. All core area courses which meet NCAA guidelines to be classified as four year college preparatory are listed on the NCAA website.  See below for directions on how to access.  

All courses must include ongoing access between the instructor and student, as well as regular interaction for purposes of teaching, evaluating and providing assistance.  This may include, for example, exchanging of e-mails between the student and teacher, feedback on assignments, and the opportunity for the teacher to engage the student in individual instruction.

All students taking Blueprint Education classes have the email address and direct phone number of their certified, highly qualified teacher.  Using an online system called Moodle, teachers also exchange instant messages with students as well as leave grades and feedback on all submitted assignments.    

Any course taken must have a defined time period for completion.  For example, it should be clear whether the course is meant to be taken for an entire semester or during a more condensed time frame, such as six weeks, etc.

Blueprint Education policies and procedures clearly defines how the courses are completed and the expected amount of time.

Nontraditional courses should be clearly identified as such on the high school transcript.

Blueprint Education sends official transcripts back to the school of record that then enter them on the student’s graduation transcript. Guidance counselors, parents, and students please let us know that a course is for NCAA eligibility so we can note that on the transcript we send.  

See no worries!  Blueprint Education has you covered!  We meet ALL of these requirements (and always have…!)

To access Blueprint Education courses on the NCAA approved list, follow these directions:

• Go to website: NCAA Eligibility Center Online
• Click on High School Administration
• Click on List of Approved Core Courses
• Enter High School Code 030296
• Click Search
• The Blueprint Education information will come up on this screen
• Students/Parents can see courses by subject area, all approved courses, or all denied courses by clicking on the box
• Scroll down for the list