MORGANTOWN, W. Va.–A new scholarship program has been put in place to benefit student-athletes at West Virginia University. The Mountaineer Academic Incentive Program will provide $5,980 annually to WVU athletes that meet certain criteria.
West Virginia University is investing $1.5 million annually in the program. All scholarship student-athletes can receive the annual $5,980 stipend if they meet the following criteria:
Student-athlete must be academically eligible
Student-athlete cannot be in the transfer portal at the time of payment
Payment is subject, not only to academic success, but to a review of the student-athlete’s record of conduct through WVU’s Office of Student Conduct
“We didn’t put a GPA attached to it. We just indicated as long as they met the NCAA standards to be eligible to the next academic year, normally that is your minimum,” said WVU Director of Athletics Shane Lyons on MetroNews Talkline.
“Each campus around the country and each conference around the country is handling it in different ways. What we felt was important here at West Virginia was obviously remaining eligible, the retention aspect of them returning and not being in the transfer portal, and also off the field and off the court type of issues — not being subject to any kind of student-athlete conduct issues. Those are the incentives we have to get the rewards.”
Student-athletes will be paid annually following the conclusion of the spring semester.
“They are earning that as we speak right now. This coming September, if they are academically eligible and they are returning to West Virginia, about the middle of September is when we will do a payment plan back to the student-athlete and we will write them a check for $5,980.