Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Compensation and Rights (Procedure 3.0900)

Authority:Board of Education Rule 6A-14.0582; F.S. 1006.74
Date Adopted:11/2022
Date of Review:
Related Policy:

Definitions:

  1. Affiliate: someone who is a member of any college, athletic or foundation board or an employee or volunteers or independent contractors with the athletic program
  2. Athletic Program: an intercollegiate athletic program at the College.
  3. Student Athlete: a College student who participates in an intercollegiate athletic program and is either listed on an active roster or red shirted by the head coach for his or her respective team(s).

Purpose:

The purpose of this procedure is to describe the ways in which a student athlete may earn compensation for the use of her or his name, image, or likeness and the steps for review of any such agreements by the College.

Procedure:

Student Athlete Compensation and Rights

  1. Any student athlete may earn compensation for the use of their name, image or likeness if the compensation is provided by a third party that is not an Affiliate of the athlete’s postsecondary educational institution. Compensation may not extend beyond the students’ participation in the intercollegiate athletics program. Student athletes must notify the Athletic Director in an email of their intent to enter into any agreement or amendments and provide a written copy of the agreement or amendments at least 10 business days prior to its execution.   No student may enter into any compensation agreement that conflicts with any term of an intercollegiate team contract.
  2. International student athletes on an F-1 VISA are not eligible to earn such compensation due to federal work restrictions.
  3. A grant-in-aid, including cost of attendance, awarded to a student athlete is not compensation and may not be revoked or reduced as a result of an intercollegiate athlete earning compensation or obtaining professional representation.
  4. A student athlete must report any compensation to the Internal Revenue Service as taxable income and is solely responsible for any and all tax reporting and payment obligations.
  5. New student athletes must notify the Athletic Director in email of any existing agreements related to compensation for name, image or likeness at the time of signing their letter of intent.
  6. The Student-Athlete may not use any Seminole State logos, names, marks, or any other College intellectual property without prior approval from the College and enter into a College approved license agreement. 
  7. Student athletes may obtain professional representation for the purpose of securing compensation for the use of their NIL. Athletic agents must be licensed pursuant to Part IX Chapter 468 of F.S., and attorneys must be in good standing with the Florida Bar.
  8. Student athletes who fail to notify the Athletic Director of such agreements, who improperly use College intellectual property, who enter into agreements that conflict with a team contract, or otherwise violate this procedure may face disciplinary actions determined by the Athletic Director and/or coach. 
  9. Students are advised to review any NJCAA and NCAA rules that relate to compensation.   The College shall not be responsible for any student’s ineligibility or other consequence of violating any NJCAA or NCAA rule as a result of that student’s entering into an agreement for use of his or her name, image or likeness.
  10. A student shall provide a copy of their executed agreement for use of his or her name, image or likeness to the Athletic Director.

Seminole State Responsibilities

  1. Seminole State Athletics will notify incoming student athletes of their right to pursue compensation for use of their name, image or likeness pursuant to Florida Statute and Board of Education rules.
  2. The College may not compensate or cause compensation to be directed to any prospective or current intercollegiate athlete for the use of their name, image or likeness. This requirement extends to organizations that support the postsecondary institution, its athletics programs, officers, directors, or employees of said organizations.
  3. The college may use student-athlete name, image or likeness without compensation or further authorization in order to promote the athletic departments games, seasons and/or activities. 
  4. All student athletes must receive 5 clock (not credit) hours of financial literacy and life skills training in their first and third academic years. 
    1. All student athletes including those who are not receiving compensation for their name, image or likeness are required to complete the workshops.
    2. This will be comprised of but not limited to trainings held at student athlete orientation, college credit courses or online workshop modules.
Recommended byExecutive Team/CACDate11/15/2022
Signed byPresident, Georgia L. LorenzDate11/28/2022


1.    The appeal must be made in writing within five college working days after notification of conduct sanction(s) is sent to the student’s address that is available in the College’s database. The appeal must be sent to the Vice President of Student Affairs.
2. Except as required to explain the basis of new information, an appeal will be limited to a review of the record of the Discipline Review Committee hearing and supporting documents for one or more of the following purposes:
a. To determine whether the Disciplinary Review Committee Hearing was conducted fairly in light of the charges and information presented, and in conformity with prescribed procedures giving the complaining party a reasonable opportunity to prepare and to present information that the Student Code was violated, and given the Accused Student Notice and a reasonable opportunity to prepare and to present a response to those allegations. Deviations from designated procedures will not be a basis for sustaining an appeal unless significant prejudice results.
b. To determine whether the decision reached regarding the Accused Student was based on substantial competent evidence, that is, whether there were facts in the case that, if believed by the fact finder, were sufficient to establish that a violation of the Student Code occurred.
c. To determine whether the sanction(s) imposed were appropriate for the violation of the Student Code which the student was found to have committed.
d. To consider newly discovered evidence, sufficient to alter a decision, or other relevant facts not brought out in the original hearing, because such information and/or facts were not known to the person appealing at the time of the original Disciplinary Review Committee hearing
3. If an appeal is denied by the Vice President of Student Affairs, the decision is final.
4. If the appeal is upheld by the Vice President of Student Affairs (or designee), the matter shall be returned to the original Disciplinary Review Committee for re-opening of the Disciplinary Review Committee hearing to allow reconsideration of the original determination and/or sanction(s). The Disciplinary Review Committee will make its determination; the Student Conduct Officer will notify the accused and complainant parties.
5. The accused student may appeal to the Vice President of Student Affairs the second decision of the Disciplinary Review Committee based on the same criteria for appeals outlined above.
6. The decision about the second appeal by the Vice President of Student Affairs is final and shall constitute final agency action of the College.

Students under disciplinary suspension may re-apply after the specified time-period identified in the suspension notice. A record of previous disciplina
disciplinary action shall be admissible in subsequent disciplinary proceedings against the same student.

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