Appendix 5.3. Support Scheme for Top-Level Sport (ROSTOP) and Support Scheme Top-Level Arts (effective September 2009)

Support Scheme for Top-Level Sport

Introduction

The Support Scheme for Top-Level Sport offers three types of support to accredited athletes studying at the University of Twente who are eligible for participation, depending on the status they hold:

Student athletes who have not yet reached the absolute top of their field (A or B status as defined by the Netherlands Olympic Committee and Sport Federation, NOC*NSF), may yet be able to achieve this status through the provisions of the Support Scheme for Top-Level Sport. This support scheme offers student athletes the opportunity to combine sport and study in a responsible, achievable way. However, once athletes have achieved A or B status, they will no longer be eligible for financial support from the University of Twente in the form of an expense allowance, as they will generally be receiving financial support from NOC*NSF.

All top-level athletes, including those who are disabled, are eligible for participation in the support scheme. This means that the scheme also applies to students who are training for the Olympics (summer and winter) as well as the Paralympic Games.

- Chairman of the University of Twente Sports Council;

- Head of the University of Twente Sports Centre;

- University of Twente Student Counsellor.

The Executive Board have charged the committee with assessing potential participants in the scheme to determine if they qualify as top-level athletes and, if so, into which category they fall.

In order to qualify for participation in the support scheme, students must take the following three actions:

The Top-Level Sport Committee determines whether student athletes meet the criteria listed in this section. These criteria correspond to those used by NOC*NSF for top-level athletes.

General

There are three categories to which top-level student athletes can belong:

There are four primary types of support for which student athletes may be eligible:

All accredited athletes who fall under categories I, II or III of section 4 are entitled to ‘made-to-measure tutoring'.

These students should devise an integrated sport and study plan in consultation with their faculty supervisor at least once per semester. This integrated sport and study plan must conform to the student’s general study plan as will be required by the Education and Examination Regulation starting in September 2010.

The sport and study plan should strike the ideal balance between education and sport: the student’s study timetable and training and competition schedules should both contain clear agreements regarding facilities for examinations, practical exercises, etc. during periods when students are training or taking part in competitions or qualifying rounds.

In addition to made-to-measure tutoring, all accredited athletes who fall under categories I, II, or III of section 4 are entitled to financial aid in the form of graduation support.
For each academic year in which a student who is recognized by the University of Twente as a top-level athlete makes use of a performance grant, he or she is entitled to up to four months of graduation support.
These four months are regarded as a recognized study delay as defined in the University of Twente’s Graduation Support Scheme.

Top-level student athletes who also hold an administrative position within a student association or organization should be aware that this entitles them to a maximum total of 24 months of graduation support.
Top-level student athletes from abroad who are entitled to graduation support will receive an amount equal to the monthly basic student grant for students not living at home (see the 2000 Student Finance Act).

Please note: Students who wish to qualify for graduation support must submit the Application Form for Graduation Support along with any necessary enclosures promptly at the end of the academic year in which they were recognized as a top-level athlete.
Also: Students will only receive graduation support if they fulfilled the requirements for a top-level athlete for the entire academic year. This information will be subject to verification. Qualification at the beginning of the academic year does not automatically entitle students to graduation support at the end of the year.

The following conditions apply for those who wish to qualify for graduation support under this scheme:

In addition to made-to-measure tutoring, all accredited athletes who fall under category II of section 4 are entitled to financial aid in the form of an expense allowance. This expense allowance is comparable to that offered by NOC*NSF to B-status athletes.

The expense allowance will be provided on the basis of expense claims (with proper documentation) submitted by the student athlete. There is no fixed monthly allowance. Expense claims of up to a maximum of €225 per month will be honored. Legitimate claims include travel expenses or fees for training courses.

The total amount that students may claim over the course of the academic year is €2700 (12 x €225).
All expense claims will be reviewed by the Top-Level Sport Committee, which has the power to approve or deny them.

The maximum allowance of € 2700 per year may only be obtained twice during the student’s entire course of study. The University of Twente feels that this degree of support is sufficient for athletes who strive to reach the top while combining a career in sport with university-level studies.

The provision of an expense allowance by the University of Twente will stop with immediate effect in the event that the student athlete achieves A or B status and has begun to receive financial support from NOC*NSF.

In addition to the above forms of support, accredited athletes who fall under categories I and II of section 4 are entitled to make use of certain university facilities.

In consultation with the Top-Level Sport Committee, eligible students may choose to make use of university sports facilities, such as gyms and fitness equipment, free of charge. This allows students to cut down on the travel time needed to practice their sport and maintain their physical condition.

The forms of support described above are summarized in the table below.

The amount of financial support to which students are entitled is subject to the provisions of the University of Twente’s Graduation Support Scheme. Further information about the Graduation Support Scheme is available in a separate brochure. See: http://www.utwente.nl/so/studentenbegeleiding/en/regulations/graduationsupport/

Top-level student athletes from abroad who are entitled to graduation support will receive an amount equal to the monthly basic student grant for students not living at home (see the 2000 Student Finance Act).

Students who qualify for graduation support can choose to receive payment directly after the end of the academic year in which they combined sport and study. This can be indicated on the application form.

After accumulating a total of 24 months of graduation support, students are no longer eligible for additional graduation support if the reason for their delay is voluntary in nature, such as in the case of practicing top-level sport while holding an administrative position within a student association or organization.

Any sport-related grants received from third parties during the same period will be deducted from the financial support provided to the student by the University of Twente. Students are required to notify the Top-Level Sport Committee of any such grants. The committee will make a recommendation to the Graduation Support Committee regarding the extent to which the grants should be taken into account in the payment of graduation assistance.

The application form for expense allowances should be submitted to the Graduation Support Committee at the 'Red Desk' in the Bastille building.

All accredited athletes should be prepared to act as ambassador for the University of Twente when it comes to their sporting achievements. Separate arrangements will be made with each of the athletes in this regard.

Where strict adherence to the provisions of this scheme would result in an exceptional case of extreme unfairness, the Executive Board is empowered to deviate from the provisions in the student’s favor.

Students who wish to file a notice of objection against a decision made by or on behalf of the Execution Board regarding a request submitted as described in section 3.1 or against a decision regarding expense allowances must do so within six weeks of the decision at the UT Complaints Desk.

Decisions regarding an objection will be open to appeal and will state the court that has jurisdiction and the appeal period.

This scheme will be evaluated before 1 September 2011.