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Cornell University Athletics

Transfer Policy

Notification of Transfer Policy

Notification of Transfer Policy

In sports other than men’s rowing, NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.3 precludes a staff member or other representative of another NCAA Division I institution from making contact with a Cornell student-athlete, directly or indirectly, without first obtaining authorization through the notification of transfer process. In men’s rowing, contact can only be made with a Cornell student-athlete once they have received written permission from our institution. Impermissible contact with another institution prior to authorization is a violation and can negatively impact your subsequent eligibility. The notification of transfer process at Cornell is as follows:
  1. Student-athletes considering transfer are always welcome to speak with a representative in the athletics compliance office regarding the overall process and any associated questions. Additionally, prior to initiating the transfer process, student-athletes wishing to transfer, or exploring the possibility of transfer, should discuss their intention with their head coach.
  2. A current student-athlete can initiate the notification of transfer process at any time by submitting a Notification of Transfer Form via ARMS, the department’s compliance software.  The Notification to Transfer Form solicits necessary information to be uploaded to the NCAA Transfer Portal, a national database. A student that is not on a varsity roster should reach out to the compliance office directly to request that their name be added to the NCAA Transfer Portal. A member of the compliance staff may also request further information or require additional follow-up. The form also provides the department with permission to disclose protected academic information to other institutions for purposes of verifying ability to transfer to their institution and eligibility at their institution should you transfer.  Students must have an NCAA Eligibility Center 10-digit ID in order to be activated to the portal.  If you have not previously registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center (ie, participants in non-NCAA sports), you must create a Profile Page at https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3 to obtain an ID (free of charge). For men’s rowing, students should also complete a Notification of Transfer Form via ARMS. When completing the form select “Some schools may contact me” and list the schools you would like permission to contact (PTC) letters sent to.
  3. Upon submission of the Notification of Transfer Form (or email to the compliance staff for non-student-athletes), the compliance office at Cornell is required to submit the student-athlete’s information into the NCAA Transfer Portal or send out permission to contact within two business days.  A business day concludes at 4:30pm and does not include weekends or staff vacation days.  Submission of the form to the compliance office concurrently informs your coach of your request.  Students will receive an email when they have been activated in the portal (or for men’s rowing confirming that PTC letter has been sent), and at that point, contact is authorized with other institutions.  A student-athlete who submits a Notification of Transfer Form remains eligible for all benefits and services allowed student-athletes at Cornell as long as he or she remains active on the sport’s roster.
  4. Notification of Transfer and permission to contact is active until the start of the student-athlete's next academic year, or upon written request to the compliance office to withdraw notification. Written request to withdraw notification of transfer should occur via the Withdraw Notification of Transfer Form available through ARMS, or via email to the Sr. Associate AD for Compliance and Student Services if the student-athlete no longer remains active on a current roster.  Upon receipt of request for withdrawal, a member of the compliance staff will withdraw the student-athlete's name from the active list in the portal within a reasonable timeframe (3-5 business days).
  5. Student-athletes who decide to transfer to another school and are eligible for the one-time transfer exception will also normally receive permission to compete without serving a year in residence (reference NCAA bylaw 14.5.5.2.10), but the Department of Athletics reserves the right decline such request. Should the institution deny the student-athlete use of the one-time transfer exception, the Department of Athletics will provide written notice of such decision to the student-athlete prior to informing the other institution of the decision or within seven business days of receiving written request from the student-athlete for permission to use the one-time transfer exception, whichever occurs first.   A copy of the notice will be sent to the Vice President for Student and Campus Life. A student-athlete wishing to have a negative decision reviewed must submit a written request for appeal to the Vice President for Student and Campus Life within 10 days of receiving notice of the decision. The Vice President will promptly consider the appeal, inviting further active participation by the student if needed, and issue a written decision within 15 days of request for appeal by the student-athlete. That decision is final.
  6. If at any time the institution fails to follow the above outlined process, release for the student to contact other institutions, or to use the one-time transfer exception, is granted by default.
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