Important Dates & Reminders
NOVEMBER 24 (Noon)-26: The NAIA national office and eligibility center are closed for Thanksgiving.

DECEMBER 1: Year-End Report Submission Deadline. New data pertaining to Return on Athletics® will be required. See ROA section below for details.

DECEMBER 15: Deadline for transcripts to be received for students who need an eligibility center decision prior to the holiday closure.

DECEMBER 23-JANUARY 3: The NAIA national office is closed and the eligibility center will offer limited services for winter holiday.
Championships
NEW: Milligan Sweeps Cross Country Team Championships

Milligan University (Tenn.) captured its first national championship in school history by claiming the 66th Annual NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championship at Fort Vancouver National Historic Championship Course on November 19. The Buffs also took home the women’s cross country national title, making Milligan the third program in NAIA history to sweep the team titles at the national championship.

The official photographer of the cross country national championships is allowing free access to the event photos via Dropbox.
News
NEW: Legislative Brief - What Happened to Unattached Criteria?

The new bylaw amendment that passed in October 2020 removed the blanket exception to the seasons of competition (SOC) ruling, commonly known as the “unattached criteria”. As of May 1, 2021, there will no longer be a way for a student-athlete to get a “free pass” to being charged an SOC for competing in outside competition (i.e., non-intercollegiate competition). All outside competitive experience will be evaluated under the elite-level competition criteria.

Find out more details in the newest Legislative Brief.
NEW: NAC Executive Committee Minutes

A summary of the most recent NAC Executive Committee meeting is now available.
Sponsors
NEW: Sponsor Highlight - BoxOut Sports

As the official graphics partner of the NAIA, Box Out Sports is designed to make graphic creation faster. From efficient workflow, engaging designs & templates, and industry-leading hardware, we make every effort to get you in, out, and on with your job. Start your free demo at BoxOutSports.com.
Return on Athletics®
ROA Research Brief #4: The Impact of Sport Expenses on Retention Rate

Does spending more on coaches and facilities impact retention rates? How does your spend per student-athlete compare to your peers?
 
Through ROA data, we examine this in our fourth in a series of research briefs – Sport Expenses and Retention.


ROA Year-End Data Submission Deadline is December 1

We’re less than a month from the ROA year-end report data submission deadline of December 1. Per NAIA policy, institutions that do not meet the submission deadline are suspended for all NAIA postseason competition.

There are a number of resources to help with data submission located here. For specific questions, contact Alan Grosbach at 816-595-8120
Eligibility
December Cancellations

As we near the end of the fall term, the eligibility center is still experiencing higher than normal volumes and delays in eligibility determinations. We recognize this is abnormal and may be negatively affecting students’ abilities to navigate the eligibility process. In response, we are delaying the fall application cancellations to December 10. We hope this allows more time for students to receive their fall determinations. Communication about this change can be found here.
EC by the Numbers

As the fall 2021 peak has wrapped up, we will take a break from posting bi-weekly statistics for the remainder of the year. We'll be back with EC by the Numbers in January for the EC's spring peak.
Fall 2021 Championships: COVID Protocols
Fall Championship FAQs Now Available; Participant and Host Site Manuals Online

New FAQs specific to the fall 2021 national championships are now available. The Participant Manual and Host Site Manual continue to be updated and posted on the COVID Hub webpage.
CONNECT WITH US