Fans, Booster and Alumni
 
Thank you for your continued interest in and support of West Chester University athletics!
 
We are proud of the many outstanding achievements that our teams have accomplished. Their success would not have been possible without the passion, dedication, and support of our supporters. WCU Boosters are an integral part that assists our programs to have continual success. WCU greatly appreciates the support and eagerness of our sponsors, alumni, family, and friends who continues to encourage our student athletes to reach new heights academically, athletically and within the community while invigorating our entire organization.
 
Compliance with NCAA and PSAC rules is the highest priority for our athletic program and institution. As a member of the NCAA and PSAC, West Chester University is responsible for the actions of its boosters and fans. We strive to uphold the highest standard of integrity and ethical conduct to comply with all national, conference, and institutional rules and regulations. With your help we look forward to many years of continued WCU athletic success! We greatly appreciate all you do for WCU athletics.
 
The information provided below is a brief overview of the NCAA and PSAC rules and regulations surrounding representatives of athletics interest.
 
Once you become a "Booster", you retain that identity indefinitely.
 
What is a Booster?
You are a Booster if you:

• Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization, including corporate entities (e.g., apparel and equipment companies), promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program; (Revised: 1/14/02)
• Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
• Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;
• Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
• Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.

What can you do as a Booster?

• Observe a prospective student athlete’s athletic contest, provided there is no contact with the prospective student athlete or their relatives.
• Inform a member of the WCU coaching staff of a prospective student athlete
• Provide an occasion meal to a current student-athlete or entire team, given the meal takes place in the booster’s home, on campus or at a facility that is regularly used for home competitions. This meal may be catered for and may provide reasonable transportation for the student athletes to attend.
• Continue normal communication with a neighbor, relative, or family member designated as a prospective student athlete as long as no recruiting conversations occur.

 
What can’t you do as a Booster?
Rules Governing Enrolled Student-Athletes:

• Utilize a student-athlete’s name or picture to advertise a commercial product or service without approval by the athletics department.
• DO NOT provide an "extra benefit" or special arrangement to an enrolled student-athlete. The extra benefit rule for student-athletes, their relatives, or friends state that you:
• MAY NOT give them cash or loans in any amount.
• MAY NOT employ a student-athlete at a rate of pay that is higher than the going rate for other employees.
• MAY NOT give them gifts of any kind or free services.
• MAY NOT provide special discounts for goods or services.
• MAY NOT provide them transportation within or outside of a campus area.
• MAY NOT entertain or contact a prospect or his/her family on or off campus.
• MAY NOT provide rent free or reduced rent housing.
• MAY NOT provide tickets to an athletic, institutional or community event.
• MAY NOT provide promise of financial aid for postgraduate education.
• MAY NOT provide promise to a student-athlete of employment after college.

Rules Governing Prospective Student-Athletes:

• MAY NOT telephone, write, email, text or make in-person contact (on or off campus) with a prospective student-athlete for the purpose of soliciting his/her participation for one of our programs.
• MAY NOT contact a prospective student-athlete's coach, principal, or counselor to attempt to evaluate the prospect, and do not visit the prospect's high school to pick up transcripts or films.
• MAY NOT provide free or reduced-price tickets to any West Chester University home or away contest to prospects, their relatives, or friends.
• MAY NOT employ, or promise to employ, relatives or friends of a prospect as an inducement for his/her enrollment at West Chester University.
• MAY NOT make a recruiting presentation or contact a prospective student athlete or their family

 
The above information is not an exhaustive list of the role a booster plays.


If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the West Chester University NCAA Compliance Office.
Deirdre Bertotti - Assistant Athletic Director - Compliance Coordinator
dbertotti@wcupa.edu

Erin Campbell - Compliance Assistant
ecampbell@wcupa.edu