When can athletic-based institutional financial aid NOT be reduced or canceled?

Athletic-based institutional financial aid cannot be reduced or canceled if the recipient performs below athletic expectations. This is because NCAA regulations protect student-athletes from losing their financial aid based solely on performance. The rationale is to encourage athletes to persist in their academic pursuits and personal development, regardless of their competitive success. While schools may have performance standards, they cannot arbitrarily reduce or revoke aid based on a student's sports performance if the student is meeting other eligibility requirements, such as academic standards.

In the other scenarios, reducing or canceling aid is permissible. If a student-athlete voluntarily withdraws from the sport, engages in serious misconduct, or renders themselves ineligible (for instance, violating NCAA rules), the institution has the right to alter the athletic aid based on those circumstances. These policies are established to ensure accountability and adherence to the standards set forth by the NCAA.