Helpful and descriptive email from Stansbury/AT Fund this morning:
Dear A-T Fund Members,
As many of you are aware, beginning on July 1, NCAA student-athletes are now permitted to utilize their name, image and likeness (NIL) for compensation. The opportunities for student-athletes to benefit financially from their NIL are wide-ranging, from participating in autograph signings, to running camps, to promoting products via social media posts, to starting their own companies.
At Georgia Tech, we feel our student-athletes are well-positioned to maximize opportunities due to our location in the vibrant Atlanta market and the values of our Institute, which has produced some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. Tech Athletics is committed to investing in education and resources that will allow our student-athletes to take full advantage of NIL opportunities that are available to them. This commitment includes the 404 Academy, which is a popular and successful series of seminars that aim to educate, elevate and empower Georgia Tech student-athletes to navigate the NIL landscape.
In addition to educating and empowering our student-athletes, we also want to take this opportunity to pass along key information to you – our most loyal supporters – on how you may and may not engage with student-athletes in the NIL space.
You may:
• contact student-athletes directly to discuss and arrange NIL opportunities, including but not limited to promotional appearances and product endorsements;
• compensate student-athletes in cash, products or services in exchange for NIL activity at a fair market rate.
You may not:
• compensate student-athletes based on athletic performance or pay-for-play;
• offer NIL compensation in exchange for a student-athlete enrolling at Georgia Tech (recruiting inducement);
• arrange for compensation that does not require NIL activity in return.
Student-athletes may:
• accept compensation for permissible NIL activities;
• utilize professional services (e.g. agent, lawyer, financial advisor, etc.) for NIL-related activities – however, these services may not be utilized to secure an opportunity as a professional athlete.
Student-athletes must:
• wear and utilize Georgia Tech-issued athletics gear and equipment while on-call for practice, competition and/or other official Georgia Tech activities;
• disclose all NIL activities and agreements/contracts to Georgia Tech.
Please also note three other key points:
1. Georgia Tech or any officer, director, employee or agent (e.g. coach, staff member, etc.) may not directly or indirectly compensate or cause compensation to be directed to a student-athlete.
2. NIL activities/agreements may not include tobacco and/or CBD products, sports wagering or illegal activities.
3. Georgia Tech marks (e.g. logos) may not be included in any NIL activity without permission from Georgia Tech and/or an official licensing partner.
NIL policies and guidelines are subject to change, especially in the likelihood that federal laws and/or NCAA legislation will be passed in the future that provide nationwide NIL governance. In the meantime, if you have any questions or suggestions regarding NIL activities, please direct them to Georgia Tech Assistant A.D. for Special Projects Simit Shah at
sshah@athletics.gatech.edu.
Thank you for your continued support and Go Jackets!
Todd Stansbury IMGT '84
Director of Athletics
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