At Northern Illinois University, compliance is a set of shared responsibilities that operate to maintain institutional control over the athletics program. The Northern Illinois University Athletic Compliance Office is committed to a comprehensive compliance program that educates everyone about the importance of adhering to NCAA, Mid-American Conference, and institutional rules. The goal is to create a "compliance conscience" within the University and throughout the community. Maintaining a commitment to compliance ensures institutional control over the Department of Athletics and furthers the mission of Northern Illinois University. The existence of a successful compliance program depends on the willingness of coaches, administrators, staff, student-athletes, alumni, fans and friends to be aware of NCAA, Mid-American Conference and institutional rules. We count on everyone to support our student-athletes and athletics program in accordance with all applicable NCAA, Mid-American Conference and institutional rules.
What is the role of the Northern Illinois University Compliance Office?
To ensure institutional control and uphold the integrity of the Department, the Athletic Compliance Office is charged with the following tasks:
- Education
Compliance education programs are conducted for all coaches, administrators, staff, student-athletes, and boosters with the goal of familiarizing these individuals with applicable NCAA, Mid-American Conference and institutional rules and reducing the risk of a rules violation. This education is provided through individual sport team compliance meetings for all student-athletes, monthly coaches' meetings, regular staff meetings, presentations to alumni and booster groups, articles in institutional and local publications, and mailings to season-ticket holders, booster groups, and various alumni, fans and friends of Northern Illinois. - Monitoring
The Athletic Compliance Office creates, implements and oversees systems to monitor recruiting, academic eligibility, financial aid, awards, extra benefits, ethical conduct, amateurism, agents, employment, occasional meals, and playing and practice seasons for all sports. These monitoring systems are intended not only to discover violations that have occurred, but to deter violations from occurring. - Enforcement
While it is a goal of the Athletic Compliance Office to reduce the number of rules violations that occur, it is important that when violations occur, appropriate actions are taken. It is the responsibility of the Compliance Office to determine the how the violation occurred and how to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future. The Athletic Compliance Office then reports the violation to the NCAA or Mid-American Conference and self-imposes appropriate penalties.
Institutional control requires the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of formal policies and procedures designed to prevent violations. Even though individuals involved in violations are always responsible for their actions, the institution is considered to be in "control" of its program when appropriate policies and procedures are in place, resulting in prompt detection, investigation, and reporting of violations.
Northern Illinois University is responsible for the actions of its coaches, administrators, staff, student-athletes, alumni, fans and friends. Even inadvertent violations can result in penalties for our student-athletes and the institution. So, please "ask before you act!"
The above information is a brief overview of compliance. It is not an exhaustive discussion. If you have any questions about any NCAA, Mid-American Conference or institutional rules, please contact any member of the Compliance Office staff for assistance.
