Student-Athletes Working Their Way Through College – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/1/1998 12:00:00 AM | General
On August 1, 1998, the NCAA adopted Bylaw 15.2.6 that allowed student-athletes to work during the academic year. Below are some answers to common questions regarding academic year employment and academic year employment compensation that many student-athletes and their employers ask.
Q. What criteria must student-athletes meet in order to be certified with their institution to work during the academic year?
A. Prior to beginning employment, the student-athlete and his or her employer must have signed a Student-Athlete Academic Year Employment Agreement and that agreement must be returned to the Athletic Compliance office.
Q. What restrictions are there on student-athlete employment earnings during the academic year?
A. Restrictions are dependent upon whether the student-athlete is a first-year student at The Ohio State University or a continuing student. If the student-athlete is in his/her first year at The Ohio State University and receiving a full grant-in-aid, he/she is not allowed to work during the academic year. All other student-athletes in their first year are restricted to the value of a full grant-in-aid. Continuing student-athletes who are receiving a full grant-in-aid are restricted to earning $2000 per year. All other continuing student-athletes are restricted to the value of a full grant-in-aid plus $2,000.
Q. Are student-athletes’ earnings restricted during the official vacation periods?
A. No. During official vacation periods, student-athlete employment earnings are not restricted (i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Spring Break).
Q. Is an employer of a student-athlete considered a representative of athletics interests (i.e. “booster”) for the university?
A. Yes, any business/company, which employs a student-athlete during the academic year or summer is forever considered a representative of athletics interests.
Q. If a student-athlete is employed by a local company or business, can that business use the student-athlete’s status to promote the business?
A. No. A company/business may not use the student-athlete’s name, picture or appearance to advertise, promote, or recommend directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.
Q. Can a business or company increase a student-athlete’s compensation if it believes that it is receiving more customer’s because of the employed student-athlete’s reputation?
A. No. Compensation for a student-athlete may not include remuneration for value or utility that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of the publicity, reputation, fame, or personal following that he or she has obtained because of their athletics ability.
Q. Can someone hire a student-athlete as a personal instructor to give lessons on a fee-per-lesson basis?
A. A student-athlete may not receive compensation for teaching or coaching sport skills or techniques in his or her sport on a fee-per-lesson basis.
Please remember that the above information addresses only the key issues of the extensive NCAA Bylaws concerning student-athlete academic-year employment and is not an exhaustive discussion. For questions or to receive more information, please contact The Ohio State University Compliance Office at (614) 292-2681.
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