Welcome to Lewis University! As a prospective student-athlete, you have certain responsibilities to attend to before you may join the Lewis family. Please read the Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes 
produced by the NCAA.
If you are interested in participating as a Lewis Flyer, please check with your high school advisor or the NCAA Eligibility Center to find out the steps it takes to participate in collegiate athletics. Work with your high school guidance counselor or college admissions office to find which college is right for you.
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| IMPORTANT TERMS & DEFINITIONS |
Prospective Student-Athlete
You become a "prospective student-athlete" when you start ninth-grade classes. Before the ninth grade, you become a prospective student-athlete if a college gives you (or your relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the college does not provide to prospective students generally.
Recruited Student-Athlete
You become a "recruited prospective student-athlete" at a particular college if any coach or representative of the college's athletics interests (booster or representative) approaches you (or any member of your family) about enrolling and participating in athletics at that college. Activities by coaches or boosters that cause you to become a recruited prospective student-athlete are:
Official Visit
A visit to a college campus paid in whole or in part by the college. Official visits can be no longer than 48 hours. A prospective student-athlete is limited to 5 official visits. (one per university)
Unofficial Visit
A visit made to a college campus at the prospect's expense. The college may provide free tickets to an on-campus athletics event in which the college team competes. There is no limit on the number of unofficial visits a prospect can make.
National Letter of Intent
Official documentation administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association and used by universities to establish a prospect's commitment to attend a certain university.
Recruiting Contact
Any face-to-face, off-campus encounter between a prospect, prospect's parents (or legal guardian) or relative and a college staff employee or athletics representative; if the conversation goes beyond a greeting.
Recruiting Evaluation
Any off-campus activity designed to assess a prospect's academic qualifications or athletic ability (reviewing transcripts on the high school campus or watching practices/games).
Telephone Calls
Facsimiles and other electronically transmitted correspondence (email) are not considered telephone calls. Telephone calls to a prospect or prospect's relatives or legal guardians, may not be made before June 15 before the prospect's senior year. Thereafter, a coach can call no more than once per week.
The NCAA Eligibility Center is a central clearinghouse that certifies academic and amateurism eligibility for Division I and II student-athletes. The NCAA Eligibility Center uses high school courses and test scores (ACT/SAT) to determine freshman academic eligibility and uses information provided to determine amateurism for all freshman and transfers from NCAA Division III, NAIA and NJCAA institutions.
NCAA Eligibility Center Website
WARNING: If you are a student-athlete enrolled at another four-year institution or if you have been enrolled at another four-year institution in the last year (Division I, II, or III), NCAA rules and regulations strictly prohibit Lewis coaches (or athletics staff members) from having any communication* with you, directly or indirectly, until that first institution grants our institution permission to contact you. You may obtain this permission to contact from the athletics compliance office or the director of athletics at your current or previous institution.
Once you obtain this release, you may fax the release to the Lewis University Athletics Compliance Office at (815) 836-5835. Once the release is obtained from your current or previous institution, then Lewis coaches will be able to contact you.
* Types of communication include via email, phone or written form.
NCAA Transfer Guide
Additional links:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) general testing information and information on locating and scheduling the SAT overseas
- American College Testing Program (ACT) general testing information and information on locating and scheduling the ACT overseas.
