Compliance

Resources

Penn Compliance Staff

Rachel H. Kuperinsky
Associate Athletic Director, Compliance/SWA
(215) 573-9697
rhiller@upenn.edu

Steph Z. Brennan
Director of Compliance
(215) 898-6241
szewe@upenn.edu

For further information, please contact the Penn Compliance Office at athlcomp@upenn.edu.

EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) shall comply with all applicable National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Ivy League rules and regulations in the conduct of its intercollegiate athletics programs. Penn shall monitor its programs to ensure compliance and to identify and report to the NCAA/Ivy League instances in which compliance is not achieved. In any such instance, Penn shall cooperate fully with the NCAA/Ivy League and take appropriate cooperative actions.

Student-athletes, coaches, athletics department staff members and other individuals and groups representing Penn’s athletics interest shall comply with all NCAA and Ivy League rules and regulations. Penn shall be responsible for such compliance.

This website is designed as a resource for all individuals with interests and/or inquiries regarding NCAA compliance as it relates to Penn and its athletics department. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact anyone in the athletics department.
Compliance is everyone's responsibility and your help is essential to ensuring the growth and success of Penn Athletics.

Go Quakers!
Alanna Wren, Ed.D.
T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W'69 Director of Athletics and Recreation

Objective

Penn is charged with following the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA and the Ivy League. Specifically, the NCAA Constitution stipulates that each institution shall be responsible for:

Controlling its intercollegiate athletics program in compliance with NCAA rules and regulations;
Monitoring its programs to ensure compliance, identifying and reporting to the NCAA instances in which compliance has not been achieved and taking appropriate corrective measures;
Ensuring that members of the institution's staff, student-athletes, and other individuals or groups representing Penn's athletic interests comply with all applicable NCAA rules.

The Athletics Compliance Office has setup processes and procedures to monitor various activities, including but not limited to, amateurism, recruiting, eligibility, financial aid, and extra benefits.

Student-Athletes

As student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics, you assume responsibilities for ensuring Penn's compliance to all rules and regulations pertinent to participation in intercollegiate athletics, especially those established by the University of Pennsylvania, Ivy League and NCAA. For further expectations review the Penn Athletics Student Athlete Handbook.

Student-athletes should contact the Compliance Office if they have any questions or concerns regarding any of the information contained within this section.

Prospective Student-Athletes

If you are interested in becoming a student-athlete at Penn, please review the below resource published by the NCAA: Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

College-bound student-athletes joining NCAA sports must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to ensure they meet amateurism standards and are academically prepared for college coursework. Please visit the NCAA Eligibility Center to register and learn more. All SAT and ACT scores must be reported to the Eligibility Center directly from the testing agency. When registering for the SAT or ACT, prospects should input the code 9999 to make sure that the score is reported directly to the Eligibility Center.

Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) Statement
In response to the "Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act" (EADA), DRIA prepares a report covering the prior year which contains financial information, rates of participation and other data related to women’s and men's athletic programs. A copy of this report is available for review after October 15 of each year in the office of the Director of Athletics.

Parents of Penn Student-Athletes

NCAA rules are in place to protect the integrity of collegiate athletics. While they may seem restrictive, it is important to always seek the advice of Penn Athletics as you become closely involved with a team. Penn is dedicated to remaining in full compliance with the bylaws and regulations of the NCAA and Ivy League. We encourage your involvement in your son or daughter’s program but ask that you do so in a manner that will help us achieve our compliance goals. Please review our Penn Parents Guide NCAA Rules.

Friends of Penn Athletics

All donors are subject to Ivy, NCAA, and University of Pennsylvania legislation. Once you have been identified as a booster, you retain that status forever. Please note that not all alumni are considered boosters.

You are also considered a Penn booster if you have done any of the following:

Participated in (or been a member of) an agency or organization promoting Penn Athletics;
Made financial contributions to Penn Athletics or to a Penn Athletics booster organization;
Been asked by a Penn Athletics Department staff member to assist in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete; or
Been involved in promoting Penn Athletics.

Important reminders for Penn fans and boosters:

Do not provide anything to prospective or enrolled student-athletes (or their families) without prior approval from the Compliance Office. If a student-athlete or his/her family accepts any benefits of special consideration (e.g., transportation, meals, money, etc.) based on his/her athletic skill, the student-athlete will lose his/her eligibility and Penn will be subject to NCAA penalties.
Boosters are permitted to host occasional meals for student-athletes at their home, on campus, or at a facility that is regularly used for home competition, but these meals must be preapproved by the Compliance Office through the team's head coach. Boosters may provide transportation to the meal only if it takes places at the booster's home.
Boosters are prohibited from any involvement in recruiting activities. Penn coaches and athletics department staff members are the only individuals permitted to be involved in the recruiting process.
Boosters may not make contact with Penn prospects or their relatives, coaches, teachers or school administrators for the purpose of recruiting. Boosters may only speak with prospects (or their families) if it is unavoidable, incidental contact, and the discussion does not include anything related to Penn Athletics.
A prospect remains a prospect even after he/she submits a financial deposit to attend Penn. The prospect does not lose his/her prospect status until the start of classes at Penn or the beginning of official team practice prior to the start of classes (whichever occurs earliest), at which time they become an enrolled student-athlete.
Once identified as a booster, an individual remains a booster for life.

To learn more about what you may and may not do as a fan or booster of Penn, click HERE.

Enforcement

The University and everyone involved in its athletic program are committed to maintaining an ethical intercollegiate sports program. The Athletics Compliance Office is responsible for reporting all violations regardless of the circumstance. Ask Before You Act!