All Division I and II sports will be in a signing period from April 15, 2020 – August 1, 2020, including Division I basketball and football. Please refer to the following questions and answers regarding the NLI signing period starting April 15, 2020.
With NLI signing resuming on April 15, 2020, can the NLIs be sent to PSAs before April 15, 2020?
No, NLIs cannot be sent (electronic or mail) until April 15, 2020. Compliance offices can start populating NLIs in the NLI portal before April 15, but these cannot be sent until April 15. If you populate the NLI in advance, make sure the issuance date on the NLI is no earlier than the first date the NLIs have resumed (April 15). To do this you will need to select the appropriate issuance date which will then be recorded on the NLI.
Since athletics aid agreements must accompany the NLI, does the financial aid authority’s signature date on the athletics aid agreement have to be the same date as the NLI issuance date?
No, the NLI issuance date and the financial aid authority’s signature date does not have to be the same date. If you are preparing NLIs in advance to send to a PSA on April 15, the financial aid authority’s signature date may be before the date listed on the NLI as the issuance date.
Can the director of athletics or designee’s signature on the NLI and the financial aid authority’s signature on the athletics aid agreement be an electronic signature?
Yes, these signatures can be electronic or digital signatures. The institutional signatures do not have to include an authentication code. It is permissible to place a signature stamp on the NLI or aid agreement such as what you see when pasting a signature on a letter or form. Additionally, as many compliance offices are using electronic means to send the NLIs and aid agreements, digital or electronic signatures are permissible for the PSA and parent/legal guardian signatures provided the signature includes the authentication code.
What is permissible if using a signature platform such as Adobe pdf to type a signature?
Some platforms allow the PSA to select a signature font or type a signature. In these platforms, the signature will include an authenticated code. The signature is permissible provided it can be verified with the authenticated code. If the PSA or parent/legal guardian signature does not include such verification, the signature cannot be accepted. Some platforms allow the use of a stylus, mouse or finger to sign. This is a replica signature, so this is permissible without the authenticated code.
If I do not have an electronic platform for sending and receiving NLIs besides through scanner and email, what are other permissible methods for receiving the NLI from the PSA?
It is permissible for a PSA to take a photo of the NLI signature page and the athletics aid agreement signature page. This photo can then be sent by text or email. The compliance administrator can then save that photo as a pdf and upload in the NLI Portal.
Does the 7-day signing deadline still apply?
Yes, the PSA will have seven days from the issuance date to sign the NLI. For example, an NLI issued on April 15, 2020 must be signed by April 22, 2020. If the 7-day signing deadline expires, another NLI can be issued to the PSA.
Does the 14-day conference submission deadline still apply?
Yes, the signing institution must upload the NLI with the athletics aid agreement within 14 days of the final signature. For example, an NLI signed on April 15, 2020 must be uploaded by April 29, 2020.
Is the NLI signing year extended since there was a time period when NLIs could not be signed and the recruiting dead period has been extended?
Yes, only for Division I basketball and football since these sports had regular signing periods that previously ended on April 1 (football) and May 20 (basketball). These sports will be aligned with all other Division I and II sports with the signing year ending on August 1, 2020.
If a PSA signs an athletics aid agreement without the NLI, can a PSA later sign an NLI?
Yes, if a PSA signs the athletic aid agreement without an NLI, the PSA can later sign an NLI. The institution would attach the previously signed aid agreement to the NLI, and another aid agreement would not be signed. In this case, the PSA’s signature date on the aid agreement would precede the PSA’s signature date on the NLI.
