By promoting a culture of integrity, inclusion, and accountability, the mission of the UNF Student-Athlete Center for Excellence (Twitter handle: @unfsace) is to facilitate the comprehensive academic, personal, and professional development of all student-athletes through innovation, collaboration, and integration with the goal of encouraging present and future leadership.
UNF’s FAR is Dr. Jennifer Kane, the Interim Dean and Professor of Sport Management. The FAR ensures there is a balance between your athletics and academics while you are a student at UNF. Dr. Kane is also an independent resource for you to utilize and is an alternative if you have any questions or concerns that you do not feel comfortable sharing with a coach or athletics administrator. Dr. Kane’s office is located in the College of Education Building (#57/3615) and her office number is (904) 620-2465. Email address for Dr. Kane - jkane@unf.edu.
Academic integrity is an important concept that is embraced, communicated, and reinforced by the SACE staff. Procedures and proactive measures are in place to ensure that student-athletes and SACE staff (full-time, part-time, volunteer, intern, G.A., and student workers) adhere to strict principles of institutional and NCAA ethical behaviors and academic integrity at all times.
To ensure that student-athletes are educated on program, institutional and NCAA rules and principles of academic integrity, academic misconduct, and plagiarism.
To ensure that student-athletes are aware of and follow SACE policies and procedures for ensuring academic integrity, preventing academic misconduct and plagiarism.
To ensure that SACE staff are aware of/adhere to principles of academic integrity and the University of North Florida policies and procedures at all times.
Do your own work in online courses. Do not work with anyone to complete your work without permission from your professor.
Do not share your papers or essays.
Be careful using tutors for assistance with assignments. They should assist and teach, not edit and correct.
All new student-athletes complete and sign the SACE student-athlete online policy (ARMS) and are reminded of the policy each year. By signing the form, the student-athlete pledges that all tests, quizzes, and assignments completed for online courses will be their own work without improper assistance.
If, due to travel or illness, a student-athlete is unable to take an exam at the regularly scheduled class time, a SACE staff member may proctor the exam (pending faculty approval).
A coach is NEVER permitted to proctor exams.
Laptops and calculators can be checked out for the length of a semester.
When the student-athlete has borrowed technology in their possession, it is understood that the laptop will be used for university coursework and will use best practices.
If something goes wrong with the laptop or calculator, the student-athlete shall notify SACE staff as soon as possible. If new programs need to be downloaded, please contact SACE or the ITS Help Desk (620-HELP).
Laptops and calculators must be returned at the end of the semester. If not returned, a hold will be placed on the student-athlete’s account.
The University of North Florida is committed to the student-athlete and their graduation. Student-athletes are required to meet with their major specific advisor every semester. It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to become familiar and follow all policies and procedures governing completion of the degree program in which the student is registered.
Student-athletes are encouraged to develop close ties to both their assigned Athletic Academic Coordinator and Major Advisor. It is important to note that each student-athlete is solely responsible for becoming familiar with all policies and procedures governing completion of the degree program in which the student is registered. All student-athletes will be expected to review and understand their Degree Evaluation and notify Athletic Academic Coordinator of major change.
Student-athletes are provided with first day registration privileges. Not registering when scheduled to do so may negatively impact eligibility. Student-athletes should check their registration status in advance for “holds” or other issues that may prohibit or delay registration.
Student-athletes have until noon on the first day of registration to register for their classes. During this time they may adjust their schedules without restriction.
All student-athletes will have a hold placed on their account 2 weeks after registration. This hold is to allow the NCAA certification process to take place. If there are any class changes that need to be made please contact a SACE staff member to have the hold removed.
For those student-athletes who receive book scholarships, the following procedure will apply:
Prior to the start of each term the SACE staff coordinates with the UNF Bookstore to order, purchase, and pick-up books.
All student-athletes must come to the SACE office the first week of class to pick up their textbooks and course-related materials. Your coaches will not get them for you!
It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to verify within the first week of classes that he/she has all the appropriate materials. If a book is received that is not required, it must be returned to the SACE office as soon as possible!
If a student-athlete has changes to his/her schedule and needs different textbooks or course-related materials, he/she must bring a copy of the syllabus to the SACE office. The staff will then make necessary exchanges/purchases and will notify the student-athlete when the new materials are ready for pick-up.
All textbooks must be returned to the SACE office by the last day of finals week. On a limited basis, books may be kept for creating a professional library or if used again for another class.
The university has an opt/out system to access online textbooks. If your professor chooses those books you will not receive a physical book. You will need to check your email during the first week of school for directions on how to access your electronic coursework. If you are on a full scholarship, the cost of these materials is covered by your scholarship.
All student-athletes have access to the SACE Lending Library resources. All resources and materials must be returned at the end of each semester.
If materials are not returned, holds will be placed on the student-athlete’s account and privileges at the Lending Library will be revoked until items are returned.
Courses may be dropped or added through the last day of drop/add. Students should consult the academic calendar for exact dates.
A student may petition to add a course after the drop/add period for extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control.
Following the end of drop/add, a student-athlete may withdraw from a class prior to the published deadline (approximately 11 weeks). Any course withdrawn from during this period will result in a “W” appearing on the official transcript. Per UNF Withdrawal Policy, students are allowed to withdraw from three 1000/2000 level and three 3000 level or higher courses during their enrollment at UNF.
To withdraw from a course, the student-athlete will need to fill out the withdrawal form (ARMS) and contact their SACE coordinator Withdraw forms are due a week before the withdrawal deadline. This timeline allows all parties to fully investigate any eligibility or financial implications withdrawing might have. If a student wishes to withdraw within a week of the withdrawal deadline they will be assuming all risks. Students are able to withdraw through their myWings account.
**Withdrawing may result in dropping below full-time enrollment and may affect your eligibility.**
An NG grade is automatically given for a maximum of four lower-level UNF course grades of “F” or “D”. The NG grade will appear on your transcript and improve your UNF GPA. An NG grade can affect your financial aid and good academic standing, so please communicate with your academic counselor and compliance if you have questions.
Student-athletes are provided electronic travel letters. These letters are required to be sent out to all professors (including online courses) by the end of drop/add week. The emails must include the travel letter as an attachment and the SACE staff assigned to the team must be copied on those emails.
After this initial email is sent to professors it is the student-athlete’s responsibility to remind the professor as a travel date is approaching.
Class attendance by student-athletes is mandatory. Student-athletes are responsible and will be held accountable for reviewing the class attendance policy for each course as listed in the course syllabus. Any concerns about class attendance should be addressed with the SACE counselor immediately at the beginning of the semester.
University policy dictates that students who do not attend the first class meeting can be administratively dropped from the class and not permitted to re-enroll. Therefore, if a student-athlete is unable to attend the first class meeting of a semester (e.g. away team travel), it is the responsibility of the student-athlete to inform the instructor via e-mail prior to the missed class.
Missing regularly scheduled classes for reasons other than athletic participation, illness, or true emergencies will not be tolerated. Never arrange meetings, treatments, or other appointments during class time. Student-athletes are expected to complete all assignments on time including papers, laboratory reports, final examinations and evaluations.
Student-athletes are responsible for notifying professors in advance of scheduled, excused absences for purposes of athletic competition and arranging all make-up work. If the competitive schedule changes, it is the responsibility of the student-athlete to notify the faculty of this change and its impact on class participation. Practices, scrimmages, and off-season athletic events are not valid reasons for missing class. Excused absences are limited to regularly scheduled in-season contests and postseason competition.
All student-athletes who are in their final semester and are graduating at the end of that term, MUST apply for graduation through myWings. Student-athletes in their final term will not be certified as eligible for practice or competition until they have completed their graduation application.
The Athletic Department recognizes the academic and athletic achievements of student-athletes by awarding a graduation gift and providing a student- athlete stole to wear at the graduation ceremony. To qualify to receive a gift and stole, a student-athlete must have completed his/her NCAA eligibility as a member of a UNF varsity team. Any exception to this policy is on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of the Athletic Director.
To recognize the commitment of student-athlete representatives to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the Athletic Department will provide an exclusive SAAC lapel pin to wear on the student-athlete stole at the graduation ceremony. To qualify to receive a SAAC pin, a student-athlete must have completed his/ her NCAA eligibility as a member of a UNF varsity team, completed two or more years as an active SAAC representative, attended 75% or more SAAC meetings during his/her tenure, and have participated in at least 1 community service event per year of SAAC service. Any exception to this policy is on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of the Athletic Director.
All freshmen and new transfers are required to attend monitored study hall during their first semester. Study hall hours are determined by the head coach and SACE staff. All students are required to sign a Study Hall contract at the beginning of the school year.
SACE staff monitors student-athlete class attendance and academic performance. In addition, regular reports that monitor attendance and academic performance are obtained from faculty at least once a semester.
Any student who fails to earn a 2.0 GPA at UNF will be placed on Academic Probation. Academic Probation is a warning. If, during the next term of enrollment, the term and cumulative GPA fall below 2.0 (College of Education declared majors 2.5), the student-athlete will be subject to academic suspension. If suspended, the student will be dropped from all courses for which he/she is currently registered and denied the opportunity to re-enroll. The duration of suspension varies by college. Students suspended from the University are still responsible for their financial obligations and can only be released from suspension through normal University procedures.
A graduate student who fails to maintain a cumulative UNF graduate GPA of at least 3.0 will be placed on probation. A student who has two consecutive semesters below a 3.0 GPA may be suspended and therefore not eligible to compete the following semester or postseason.
Prior to the start of the fifth term of full-time enrollment, NCAA rules require student-athletes declare a major. Student-athletes entering their fifth semester should confirm their intended major with their major advisor and have a valid program of study. From that time on, the minimum hours of academic credit needed for satisfactory-progress must be degree applicable. A student-athlete may change his/her degree program and comply with the satisfactory-progress requirements if:
The change is properly recorded with the Office of Records and Registration;
The credits earned prior to the change are applicable to the previous degree sought; and
The credits earned following the change are applicable toward the new degree program; and
Student-athlete has notified SACE prior to changing major.
Individual colleges may have grade point average requirements for admission which may be higher than the institutional minimum of 2.0. For example, the College of Education requires a 2.5 GPA. Student-athletes enrolled in such colleges will be required to meet the specific college minimums.
To View Your Degree Evaluation Online:
My Wings, My Nest, Degree Evaluation
Concurrent Enrollment refers to currently registered UNF degree-seeking students who wish to earn credit at another regionally accredited postsecondary institution for transfer into a UNF degree program. See Academic Advisor for Concurrent Enrollment approval.
For UNF students attending a Florida public institution:
Complete an electronic application through FloridaShines at www.floridashines.org. Instructions can also be found on that website.
For UNF students attending an institution that does not participate in the FloridaShines program:
Obtain a transient student application form from your major advisor, complete it, and submit it to One Stop Student Services.
The State University System of Florida requires students who enter a state university before completing sixty (60) semester hours or ninety (90) quarter hours to earn a minimum of nine (9) semester hours in one or more summer terms at a Florida state university before graduation.
Student-athletes have a voice through SAAC at the campus, conference, and national level. Each committee is made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on campus. UNF requires that each team have two members designated as its SAAC representatives for meeting and voting purposes, but also encourages broader participation. SAAC holds monthly meetings and is responsible for suggesting programming for the entire student-athlete population as well as coordinating department-wide community service and fundraising events. Two representatives from SAAC will also be required to attend two ASUN Conference SAAC meetings during the year (Winter and Summer meeting). SAAC also offers opportunities for student-athletes to take a leadership role within the department through its executive board.
Functions of the SAAC include:
Membership is limited to 2 representatives from each team as nominated by peers and staff.
