The NCAA Eligibility Center and Butler have joined forces to launch a free certificate program aimed at further educating high school counselors about the NCAA eligibility process. Butler faculty and staff collaborated with NCAA eligibility experts in designing the program’s curriculum, which will be delivered online to high school guidance counselors nationwide. 

High school counselors who complete this no-cost program will earn a certificate that highlights their expertise in this critical area. Those who complete the course will be equipped with increased knowledge to advise prospective student-athletes of the necessary steps to compete at the next level.  

The NCAA is committed to enhancing the support system for student-athletes, and this certificate program is a significant step in that direction. By equipping high school counselors with the right tools and knowledge, the program aims to ensure that student-athletes are well-prepared to meet NCAA requirements and succeed both academically and athletically. 

“We are thrilled to work with Butler University to launch this certificate program for high school counselors,” said Michele Osborne, vice president of the NCAA Eligibility Center. “This program underscores our commitment to supporting prospective student-athletes by helping counselors gain the knowledge and resources needed to understand the NCAA eligibility process. By working together, we have created an educational program that will be a driving force in allowing aspiring student-athletes to achieve their academic and athletics goals, paving the way for their future success.” 

The certificate program on the eligibility process is the first of its kind.

“It has the potential to transform the way we support our student-athletes, providing counselors with the essential knowledge and tools to ensure eligibility for the future generation of collegiate student-athletes at NCAA schools,” said Bobby Deavers, a member of the high school advisory group and a counselor from Homewood High School in Alabama. “The impact of this program will be profound, empowering counselors to guide students more effectively and helping countless young athletes achieve their dreams of competing at the collegiate level. This is transformative for schools and students.”  

The program is structured to be a “one-stop shop,” featuring a series of online modules that cover all things eligibility. Working with Butler has allowed these modules to have more of an educational tone, as Butler has executed many educational projects through its online learning portal. 

The NCAA will conduct outreach to high school counselors, while Butler will host the program on its Canvas learning management system. 

“High school counselors have very full plates, and expecting them to keep up with ever-changing NCAA eligibility requirements is somewhat unrealistic,” said Stephanie Hinshaw, associate vice president of transformation at Butler. “At Butler, we have quite a bit of experience in developing certificate programs and other lifelong learning curricula, and we were excited about the opportunity to work alongside the NCAA Eligibility Center to make it easier for high school counselors to support their student-athletes. We applaud the NCAA for making this valuable certificate available at no cost to counselors and high schools.” 

For more information about the certificate program and how to enroll, visit A High School Counselor’s Tutorial to the NCAA Eligibility Center.