Under what circumstance may institutional financial aid based on athletic ability be reduced or canceled?

Institutional financial aid based on athletic ability can be reduced or canceled primarily under circumstances where a student-athlete becomes ineligible or fails to meet specific expectations or requirements tied to their participation in athletics. When a student-athlete renders themselves ineligible – for example, by violating NCAA regulations or not maintaining academic standards – this directly impacts their ability to compete and, as a result, the institution is allowed to adjust their financial aid accordingly.

Diving deeper, the second part of the answer reflects on NCAA guidelines regarding maintaining eligibility, which are critical for any student-athlete receiving financial aid based on their athletic performance. If these conditions are not met, there can be grounds for financial aid reduction or cancellation.

Injuries or illnesses that do not lead to ineligibility, while significant, typically do not warrant a reduction or cancellation in financial aid. The rationale is that student-athletes may face temporary setbacks but can often continue their education or eventually return to their sport. Hence, financial aid based solely on athletic ability remains intact unless the student-athlete becomes officially ineligible or fails to uphold the necessary standards associated with their scholarship.