University at Buffalo 2008-09 Student-Athlete Handbook

Official Visit Policy

Recruiting Philosophy
The Division of Athletics believes in recruiting student-athletes who demonstrate the highest standards of ethical conduct, moral character and sportsmanship. Our student-athletes are a vital component of the University Community and it is expected that they demonstrate these standards when they are representing the University at all times.

As such, all Division of Athletics activities associated with the recruitment of prospective student-athletes must be done in full compliance with the rules and regulations of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Mid-American Conference (MAC), and the University at Buffalo.

It is the responsibility of all Division of Athletics Staff members and Student-Athletes to ensure that this standard is maintained throughout the entire recruiting process.

The Following Policy Shall Govern all Official Recruiting Visits
Any official visit must be requested by a head coach or designee and approved by the Office of Compliance, the following regulations are effective.

General Rules:
• The University may only pay for one visit to the campus for a prospect (Bylaw 13.7.1.1).
• Official visits are a maximum of 48 hours.
• The activities provided to a prospective student-athlete should be equivalent to those which would normally be provided to a prospective student on a regular campus visit.
• All official visits must be approved by the Office of Compliance.
• No personalized recruiting aids may be used in public areas (i.e. signs, banners, pictures or any other item that would identify the individual prospect) to promote the visit of a prospective student-athlete. Coaches may not hang jerseys in the locker room with the prospect's name and/or high school number as a display for the prospect.
• The Guidelines for Official Recruiting Visits will be administered to the coaches, administrators, and student-athletes by the Office of Compliance during required rules education seminars.
• The Guidelines for Official Recruiting Visits will be posted in the student-athlete handbook and on the Athletics Intranet.

Lodging:
• Prospects and parents or legal guardians on official visits shall be housed in standard lodging accommodations - no suites and no upgrades permitted.
• Other amenities, such as mini bars, phones and movies must be turned off. Any extra cost for movies in the hotel rooms must be included in the $30 entertainment money.
• No five star hotels. Coaches should use hotels comparable to hotels used during team travel (Holiday Inn, Marriott, Sheraton, Best Western, Budget, Travel Lodge, etc).

Transportation:
• Prospects on official visits may be provided coach class flights with no upgrades.
• Prospects on official visits may receive transportation that is comparable to transportation used for any student visiting the campus.
• Specialized vehicles such as limos or rentals with special features for transporting prospects around campus during an official visit are prohibited.
• University vans and standard team travel buses are permitted.

Meals:
• Meals should be consistent with the meals that are normally provided to student-athletes. Official visit meals should be comparable to meals provided to current student-athletes during team travel.
• Only one student host is permitted to eat meals off campus with the prospect, his or her guests and coaching staff members during the official visit.

Entertainment:
• A maximum of $30.00 per day will be provided to the student host to cover the entertainment expenses of the host, the prospect and his or her parents or legal guardians. Siblings, friends, coaches, etc. may not be entertained with host money.
• Entertainment money may not be used for souvenirs (i.e. UB hats, T-shirts, etc.)
• No cash may be given to the visiting prospect or anyone else.
• All entertainment of the prospect must occur within a 30-mile radius of the UB campus.
• The Division of Athletics prohibits the following during all recruiting visits:
  • Use of alcohol or drugs
  • Use of alcohol, drugs, sex or gambling as a recruiting enticement
  • The use of strippers/gentlemen's clubs or an equivalent
  • Any activity that violates criminal law
  • Any excessive entertainment

Student Hosts:
Student-athletes who are academically ineligible for competition may NOT serve as hosts during official visits.

All student hosts must be enrolled at the University at Buffalo and are required to complete the Student Host Declaration Form.

• A student host assumes the responsibility of entertaining the prospect within the established guidelines (see the Entertainment section of this policy) set by the Division of Athletics while he or she is hosting an official visit to the University at Buffalo.
• A student host is responsible for signing the student host declaration, and in doing so, acknowledges receipt of any student host money.
• A student host may not use vehicles provided or arranged by any institution staff member or booster of the athletics interests.
• A student host should not encourage recruiting conversations to occur, on or off campus, between the prospect and a booster of the athletics program. If an unplanned meeting occurs, only an exchange of greetings is permissible.
• A student host should follow the student-athlete code of conduct at all times during the visit.