Intercollegiate Student Athlete Compensation And Rights: 5.19

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

PURPOSE

The purpose is to outline the process for student athletes to follow to earn compensation for name, image or likeness (NIL) and the process to follow at Hillsborough Community College (HCC) for approval.

PROCEDURE

HCC student athletes may earn compensation for use of their NIL provided by a third party not affiliated with HCC. Compensation cannot be in exchange for a student athlete’s performance on attendance at HCC and cannot extend beyond the student’s participation in an HCC Athletic Program.

1. DEFINITIONS
   
   1. Affiliate—A member or employee of HCC, the HCC Board of Trustees, the HCC Foundation, Booster Club, HCC volunteer or any individual/organization affiliated with HCC.
   2. Student Athlete—A student who participates in an HCC intercollegiate athletic program and is listed on an active roster by an HCC Head Coach.
   3. Athletic Program—An HCC intercollegiate athletic program.
2. COMPENSATION GUIDELINES
   
   1. Prior to entering into an agreement for compensation for NIL, the student athlete is required to notify the HCC Athletic Director.
   2. Only a third party not affiliated with HCC may provide compensation to a student athlete for NIL.
   3. Earning compensation for NIL does not affect a student athlete’s eligibility or grant-in-aid. A grant-in-aid or scholarship including cost of attendance awarded to a student athlete by HCC is not compensation for purposes of this procedure and may not be revoked or reduced as a result of a student athlete earning compensation for NIL.
   4. No affiliate, which includes HCC employees, officers, members of the HCC Foundation or HCC Board of Trustees, HCC volunteers, Booster Club members, is permitted to direct to a current or prospective HCC student athlete any compensation for their NIL from a third party.
   5. An agreement for compensation for NIL for a minor under 18 years of age must be prior approved in accordance with Sections 743.08 and 743.09, Florida Statutes.
   6. A student athlete is not permitted to use HCC logos or HCC copyright or protected names and/or trademarks for any purpose without prior written approval by HCC Athletic Director in conjunction with HCC Marketing Department’s written approval.
   7. Student athletes may obtain professional representation by either an athletic agent (licensed pursuant to Chapter 468, Florida Statutes) or an attorney (in good standing by the Florida Bar Association) to secure compensation for NIL.
   8. The agreement for compensation for NIL cannot conflict with the term of a student athlete’s team agreement. Further, the duration of an agreement for representing a student athlete or for compensation for NIL cannot extend beyond the time the student athlete participates in an athletic program at a post-secondary institution.
   9. Student athletes are discouraged from entering into agreements in areas involving banned substances, sports wagering/gambling, athletic recruiting and alcohol.
   10. A student athlete who does not notify the Athletic Director prior to entering into agreements for compensation for NIL may face disciplinary actions.
   11. Some examples of compensation for NIL:
       • Social media endorsements
       • Sales of products with NIL
       • Advertising or promoting a business
       • Autographs or photos
       • Personal appearances
3. HCC RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   1. The HCC Athletic Director will ensure that all incoming student athletes are notified in writing of their rights to pursue compensation for use of NIL as part of recruiting student athletes and prior to signing letters of intent and agreements, which shall outline the requirements specified by Section 1006.74, Florida Statutes. This information will also be posted on the HCC website for student athletes.
   2. HCC may use a student athlete’s NIL in order to promote HCC, the athletic programs, teams,seasons, games and any related activities but the student athlete will receive no compensation.
4. FINANCIAL LITERACY AND LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS—HCC will conduct five (5) clock/noncredit hours of financial literacy and life skills workshops at the beginning of a student athlete’s first and third academic years. This training is mandatory for all HCC student athletes regardless of whether they are receiving NIL compensation. This 5-hour training may occur at student athlete orientation, with college courses, online workshop modules, workshops or other appropriate means as determined by the Athletic Director.

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