Student Athletes
Procedures for Awarding Athletic Scholarships
Recommendation for Scholarship Amount
The head coach and assistant coaches of each sport recommend the distribution of athletic scholarships to the Athletic Director based on their evaluation of student-athletes' previous academic and athletic performance in high school or college. The Athletic Director or their designee will then communicate the list of selected students and the scholarship amounts to the Financial Aid Office.
Athletic Financial Aid Agreement (AFAA)
The coach for each sport will create an "Athletic Financial Aid Agreement" (AFAA), which must be signed by the coach, the Athletic Director, the Financial Aid Director, the student-athlete, and the parent (if the student is under 21 years old). This agreement must be completed in triplicate, with one copy sent to the Athletics Director, one to the Financial Aid Office, and one to the student-athlete.
AFAA Documentation and Storage
The Financial Aid Office will keep the AFAA on file to verify the scholarship amount, the student-athlete’s name, the sport, and the semester during which the scholarship will be awarded.
- FAFSA Requirement for Athletic Scholarships
If eligible a student-athlete must complete the FAFSA before receiving an athletic scholarship and must exhaust all other applicable grants or scholarships before the athletic scholarship can be awarded. - Financial Aid Limitations
A student-athlete may not receive more total financial aid than the cost of attendance at the institution except for non-need-based scholarships and the Federal Pell Grant. - Adjustment to Athletic Scholarship Amount
After other grants or scholarships have been applied, the amount of the athletic scholarship, as specified in the AFAA, may be reduced but will never exceed the originally designated amount.
Athletic Scholarship funds shall be applied to Tuition, Required Fees, Books, and Room & Board. This award does not cover Wintermester or Summer school expenses, nor is it a promise to fund Wintermester or summer school academic work at TAMIU.
Scholarship amounts exceeding tuition, fees, and books are taxable according to IRS regulations. For all international students, this tax will be applied to their university bill, as it cannot be covered by any institutional scholarship. Students are required to settle their tax liability before the end of the calendar year with the Bursars Office.
As per NCAA guidelines, the following items must be followed regarding financial aid for student-athletes at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU):
15.02.5 Financial Aid
"Financial aid" refers to funds provided to student-athletes from various sources to assist in covering their educational costs at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU). As defined by NCAA regulations, "financial aid" includes all institutional financial aid and other permissible financial aid as outlined below.
15.1.1 Exception for Pell Grant
A student-athlete receiving a Pell Grant may be eligible to receive financial aid equivalent to the limits set in NCAA Bylaw 15.1, or the value of a full grant-in-aid plus the Pell Grant, whichever amount is greater.
15.02.5.1 Athletically Related Financial Aid
Athletically related financial aid refers to financial aid awarded based on athletic ability, participation, or achievement. If an application process specifically considers athletic participation or accomplishments as part of the criteria for awarding financial aid, any aid granted through such a process is considered athletically related financial aid.
15.02.5.2 Institutional Financial Aid
The following sources are considered institutional financial aid at TAMIU:
(a) All funds administered by the institution, including but not limited to:
- Scholarships
- Grants
- Tuition waivers
- Employee-dependent tuition benefits (unless the employee has been employed as a full-time faculty or staff member for at least five years)
- Loans
(b) Aid from government or private sources where the institution selects the recipient, determines the aid amount, or provides matching or supplementary funds to a previously determined recipient.
15.02.5.3 Other Permissible Financial Aid
The following financial aid sources are also permissible:
(a) Aid from anyone upon whom the student-athlete is naturally or legally dependent. (b) Financial aid awarded solely based on criteria unrelated to athletics ability. (c) Financial aid granted through an established and continuing outside program as specified in NCAA Bylaw 15.2.6.4. (d) Educational expenses awarded by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which count against an institution's sport-by-sport financial aid limitations and the individual’s maximum financial aid limit.
15.02.6 Full Grant-in-Aid
A full grant-in-aid is a type of financial aid that includes tuition, fees, living expenses, books, and other attendance-related costs up to the established cost of attendance as outlined in NCAA Bylaws 15.02.2 and 15.02.2.1.
At Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), the institution’s regular financial aid authority will notify the student-athlete in writing if their institutional financial aid, which is partially based on athletic ability, is being reduced or canceled during the award period or if it will not be renewed for the following academic year(s).
TAMIU will have established reasonable procedures for promptly addressing such appeal requests. The responsibility for conducting the appeal will not be delegated to the university's athletics department or its faculty athletics committee.
The written notification will include a copy of the university’s established policies and procedures for conducting the appeal and the deadline by which the student-athlete must submit their appeal.
Please note: Appeals are unavailable for students who have exhausted their funding or have quit the team.
Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center (ZSC) 214
5201 University Blvd.
Laredo, TX 78041