Athletic Policies

Student-Athlete Handbook

Non-Discriminatory Policy
It is a policy of Grand Valley State University to provide equal opportunity for men and women who participate in athletics. Grand Valley State University reaffirms its commitment to comply with applicable federal laws as they relate to athletic programs, including Title IX. Grand Valley State University is committed to equal opportunity, affirmative action, and nondiscrimination on the basis of race, creed, age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, disability, or other prohibited matters in all educational programs, activities, and conditions of employment.

Code of Ethics
Grand Valley State University's Athletic Department requires its staff to conduct themselves in a manner which creates a positive image of the people, values, and traditions associated with the University, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the NCAA. As a student-athlete, you are expected to uphold the same standards of conduct that have been adopted by the Athletic Department and the University.

Mandatory Athletic Department Events
As a participant in Grand Valley State University Intercollegiate Athletics, all student-athletes are required to attend the following events:

•  Annual meeting with all Athletic Department staff and student-athletes. This meeting will occur during the first week of classes.
• Team meetings with the Assistant Athletic Director and Head Coach to review the University, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the NCAA rules and regulations. During this meeting all student-athletes must sign the appropriate NCAA and University consent forms.
• NCAA drug awareness and drug testing policy, and procedures meeting.

NCAA Drug Testing
As a participant in an NCAA sponsored intercollegiate athletic sport, athletes will be required to sign an NCAA Drug Testing Consent Form at the start of the academic year. This form is required of all student-athletes to ensure that they agree to drug testing in the event their team should be selected to compete in any NCAA Championship event or any NCAA certified post-season football game.

The purpose of the drug testing is to serve as a deterrent to any student-athlete who may be inclined to use drugs. Additionally, drug testing maintains the integrity and character of the athletic program by identifying and eliminating the users. The drugs which may be tested for include, but are not limited to, those drugs listed on the NCAA Banned Drug list.

Grand Valley tests for drugs in all varsity sports. Several student-athletes are randomly selected from each sport during the sport season and asked to provide a sample for drug testing. You will be notified by your coach if you are selected for drug testing.

Philosophy Statement
Grand Valley State University believes in the value of intercollegiate athletics and in the ideals of sportsmanship that are the foundation of amateur sports programs. The University is committed to sponsoring and promoting a gender equitable sports program where the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the student-athlete is of primary concern.

The Grand Valley intercollegiate athletic experience helps prepare the student-athlete for lifelong accomplishment. Grand Valley seeks out the best student-athletes and provides them with an environment conducive to academic and athletic success through a dual focus on academic achievement and the pursuit of competitive excellence. The intercollegiate athletic program consistently reflects the high standards of honor, ethical behavior, and dignity which characterizes Grand Valley State University, its conference affiliation, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.