The American Athletic Conference has announced that, effective immediately, it has eliminated the league’s intraconference transfer policy for student-athletes, per the unanimous vote of The American’s athletic directors.

The previous conference policy had allowed a student-athlete to transfer from one American institution to another and be eligible for competition after an academic year in residence at the second school. Student-athletes were also charged with the loss of one season of eligibility.

“This is an important decision that is in the best interests of our student-athletes,” said American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco. “It will align the conference’s position on transfers with the expected significant change to the NCAA policy.”

With the removal of the conference policy, student-athletes will be governed solely by NCAA transfer policies in all sports. Any student-athletes who had transferred within the conference after Aug. 1, 2020, will not have to complete the academic year in residence, and the year of eligibility charged under the policy will be reinstated.