The Ivy League Presidents Council has approved the opportunity for current senior sports students to play an additional season as graduate students next season, according to a statement sent to sports students on Thursday.
The statement, obtained by ESPN, makes it clear that the rule change is a one-time waiver because the Ivy League is canceling its fall and winter seasons. It will not be a permanent change.
“This change is a direct result of the pandemic and will not be available in the coming years,” the note states. “The waiver offers current fourth-year students the opportunity to complete their athletic experience at their current institution in 2021-22 after staying on track to graduate in four years.”
It’s a radical change for the Ivy League, which in the past didn’t allow athletic red shirts or allow graduate students to practice athletics. About 20 male Ivy League basketball players have graduated and moved to another school since 2015, including several higher-level ones. Mike Smith, who had been transferred to Columbia, could be the best recent example; is the guard of the starting point of Michigan, the No. 3 college basketball team.
There are currently more than 20 Ivy League men’s basketball players currently on the NCAA transfer portal. Last season’s co-player of the year, Yale striker Paul Atkinson has signed on to play for Notre Dame next season. Six of the top 25 players in ESPN’s transfer rankings belong to the Ivy League, including four players who earned honors at all conferences last season.
“Student-athletes who want to take advantage of this waiver must be admitted [and then enroll full-time] as a graduate looking for graduate students through regular channels at their college institution, ”the announcement states. They must receive approval from their institution’s fifth-year advisor exemption and the application waiver must be processed and approved by the Ivy League office. Existing Ivy League financial aid rules will continue to apply. “
In November, the Ivy League became the first and only Division I conference to cancel all winter sports. Affected sports included men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, indoor track, swimming and fencing.
The Ivy was also the first conference to cancel its men’s and women’s tournaments last March and was the first conference to announce that it would have no fall sports due to the coronavirus pandemic.