The purpose of the athletic grant-in-aid program at UW–Madison is to ensure that financial assistance to the student-athlete is in accordance with the regulations of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Big Ten, and Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) conferences, and the primary educational values of the university with the standard towards achieving a single, undergraduate degree. To receive financial assistance from the Athletic Department is a privilege that student-athletes earn not only on the playing field but also in the classroom. The grant-in-aid is awarded to make this dual commitment possible. The value of the program resides in its capacity to permit student-athletes to meet the university’s academic expectations while encouraging participation in an intercollegiate sport.
A student-athlete must meet applicable NCAA, Big Ten, WCHA, and institutional regulations to be eligible for institutional grant-in-aid. If these regulations are met, the student-athlete may be awarded institutional grant-in-aid under the following circumstances:
A full grant-in-aid will consist of (1) tuition and fees, (2) room and board, (3) books, and (4) other expenses related to attendance at the institution, up to the full cost of attendance. According to the NCAA, a grant-in-aid may neither be awarded for a period less than one academic year nor for a period that would exceed the student’s five-year period of eligibility (exceptions are specified in the NCAA Manual). It can be renewed during the period of the student-athlete’s eligibility if recommended by the coach and the appropriate university officers. The renewal of the grant-in-aid is contingent upon the student-athlete’s compliance with NCAA, Big Ten, WCHA, and university regulations and policies governing grant-in-aid. The student-athlete will be notified of their status on or before July 1 after the period of the award.
All funds received by a student-athlete (except those used for supplies) may be required to be reported as income to the Internal Revenue Service for tax purposes. The institution is not under any obligation to file tax information or withhold any income tax from such payments.
All student-athletes, except non-recruited walk-ons in their first year on the squad list, are eligible to apply for use of the Student Assistance Fund.
Eligible student-athletes may utilize a maximum of $300 of the Student Assistance Fund by submitting receipts and receiving reimbursement toward academic-related items, ground travel, and clothing expenses. Unless otherwise noted below, all purchases must be made for yourself (i.e., not for family members, friends, etc.). Itemized receipts are required for all reimbursements.
The Student Assistance Fund application will be available beginning October 1, 2019 on JumpForward in the ‘Forms Library’ and titled “Student Assistance Fund Application for 2019-20”. The last date to submit the application and all required receipts/documentation will be April 1, 2020 by 5 p.m.
A student-athlete who is no longer able to participate in athletics due to an incapacitating illness or injury may still receive athletics aid per the terms of their scholarship through the application of a medical exemption. If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact your head coach, athletic trainer, and/or compliance liaison.
The Athletic Department is committed to supporting each student-athlete in the active pursuit of one college degree and will provide financial aid to a student-athlete after eligibility has been exhausted to attain that goal. Post-competition aid may be provided according to the following guidelines:
The Athletic Department is committed to supporting each student-athlete in the active pursuit of one college degree. In general, the Athletic Department will provide summer school financial aid only for student-athletes who must take courses during the summer in order to be academically eligible for the subsequent fall semester.
Exception 1: In the sports of football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s hockey, women’s hockey, and volleyball, student-athletes may request summer school aid for reasons other than academic eligibility.
Exception 2: In all other sports, exceptions may be granted in cases such as the following:
Additional guidelines for all sports:
A student-athlete who wishes to withdraw from sports participation must 1) notify their head coach, and then 2) meet with their sport administrator to complete necessary paperwork.
Student-athletes whose athletic financial aid is reduced, non-renewed, or canceled in accordance with NCAA and Big Ten Conference rules may appeal the decision pursuant to the following process. A student-athlete may discontinue their appeal prior to the final step by notifying the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA).
After the decision to reduce, non-renew, or cancel a student-athlete’s athletic aid, the student-athlete will receive a letter and an email from the OSFA officially notifying the student-athlete of the reduction, nonrenewal, or cancellation of athletic aid. The student-athlete must contact the director of the Office of Student Financial Aid, or the director's designee, in writing within 14 calendar days of the date of issue on the letter or email to officially state the student-athlete’s intention to appeal the decision.
The student-athlete may appeal the athletic department’s decision to the institution’s faculty athletic representative(s). Appeals to the faculty athletic representative(s) will be conducted as follows.
The student-athlete may appeal the faculty athletic representative(s) decision to the OSFA review committee. The student-athlete must notify the director of the OSFA or the director's designee within two business days of the faculty athletic representative(s) decision of the student-athlete’s intention to appeal to the OSFA review committee.