Athletics Veritas is a weekly series aimed at helping higher education executives, faculty, and other stakeholders stay tuned in on trending national issues impacting college athletics, especially NCAA Division I. Athletics Veritas is created by senior DI athletic administrators around the nation.
Term-in-Ology: Academic and Graduation Awards & Incentives
One of the outcomes from the recent the Alston/grant-in-aid litigation that went before the Supreme Court cleared the way for the NCAA, a conference, or an institution to provide a student-athlete a financial award or incentive for academic success or graduation that has a value up to the maximum value of awards an individual student-athlete could receive in an academic year in participation, championship and special achievement awards (combined) listed in NCAA Figures 16-1, 16-2, and 16-3. That combined awards amount is $5,980.
This new exception under the NCAA awards and benefits section is a burgeoning area for institutions and their athletics departments to determine if, when, and how much they might fund and set criteria for academic and graduation awards for student-athletes. “Alston money”, as it’s informally titled, is becoming one of the hottest recruiting topics of late especially at the higher profile Division I programs. Money talks and recruits and their parents are listening.
Athletics Veritas is presented for information purposes only and should not be considered advice or counsel on NCAA compliance matters. For guidance on NCAA rules and processes, always consult your university’s athletics compliance office, conference office, and/or the NCAA.
