PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
STRICT APA FORMAT
CITE SOURCES PROPERLY
PLEASE SEE THE WEEK 3 LECTURE NOTES AND REQUIRED READING!!!
Discussion B: Multi-Year Scholarships
It is important that student-athletes and sport administrators understand the legal issues inherent in the various relationships between institutions of higher education and other stakeholders.
Much of the relationship between a college athletics department and a student-athlete is contractual in nature. Under the National Letter of Intent program, most college athletics departments require student-athletes to enter one-year, renewable contracts to compete in athletics at the school in exchange for a scholarship. This week’s focus will be upon the various contracts, including the National Letter of Intent and the Statement of Financial Assistance, that govern the relationship between college athletics department and the student-athlete.
Until 2012, the NCAA did not allow universities to offer college athletes multi-year scholarships. Rather, schools could only offer college athletes 1-year, renewable scholarships.
· Should colleges be required to offer multi-year scholarships? Why or why not, based upon last week’s lesson related to the business of college sports?
· What contractual issues could arise if a school offers a student-athlete a multi-year scholarship and the athlete decides to transfer?
Post a 500-essay explaining whether it is a good policy for colleges to offer student athletes multi-year scholarships. Support your decision.
Instructor Name: Point Value: 18
Student Name:
CATEGORY Excellent (7 points) Good (6 points) Fair (5-4 points) Poor (3-1 points) Did Not Complete (0 points) # of points
Content Quality
39% of total Discussion
grade
Student participated in the
Discussion about the presented
topic with detailed, relevant,
supported initial posts and
responses. Student enhanced
points with examples and
questions that helped further
discussion.
Student participated in the
Discussion about the presented
topic with detailed, relevant,
supported initial posts and
responses.
Student participated in the
Discussion about the presented
topic with adequate content but
the content lacked either detail,
relevancy, or support.
Content of student’s post and
responses was not clear, relevant,
or supported.
Student did not submit a post or
response.
CATEGORY Excellent (7 points) Good (6 points) Fair (5-4 points) Poor (3-1 points) Did Not Complete (0 points) # of points
Engagement
39% of total Discussion
grade
Student participated actively as
evidenced by strong reflective
thought in both the initial post and
in responses to classmates’
posts. Student response
participation exceeded the stated
minimum requirements.
Student participated actively as
evidenced by strong reflective
thought in both the initial post and
in responses to classmates’
posts.Student responses
contributed to classmates’
experience.
Student participated somewhat
actively as evidenced by posts
and responses that were
adequate but lacking strong
reflective thought.
Student did not participate actively
as evidenced by little reflective
thought in initial posts and
responses.
Student did not submit a post or
response.
CATEGORY Excellent (4 points) Good (3 points) Fair (2 points) Poor (1 point) Did Not Complete (0 points) # of points
Timeliness
22% of total Discussion
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All postings were made in time for
others to read and respond.
The initial post was made on time,
but one response to others’ posts
was not made in time for others to
read and respond.
The initial post was made on time,
but all of the responses to others’
posts were not made in time for
others to read and respond.
All of the postings were late. Student did not submit a post or
response.
Final Point Total: 0
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KIN607: Legal Aspects of Sports
KIN 607: Legal Aspects of Sports
Week 3 Notes: The Contractual Nature of the Relationship Between Student-Athletes and Universities
The following Week 3 Notes emphasize important concepts introduced in the Learning Materials and provide additional information related to these concepts.
The topics addressed in the Week 3 Notes:
·
NCAA Academic Reform Initiatives
Contractual Aspects of the Student-Athlete and University Relationship: The Statement of Financial Assistance
Two main contracts are involved in the relationship between student-athletes and universities as related to the student-athlete’s participation in athletics:
1. Statement of Financial Assistance
2. National Letter of Intent
The Statement of Financial Assistance is signed by student-athletes who receive athletics scholarships. The college promises to extend financial aid to the extent of tuition, fees, room, board, and books in exchange for the student-athlete attending the college, participating in athletics there, remaining eligible, and complying with NCAA Bylaws.
NCAA Division I Bylaws, Article 15: Financial Aid
· 15.01.6: An institution shall not award aid to a student-athlete that exceeds the cost of attendance that is normally incurred by students enrolled in a comparable program at that institution. (The National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2014. p. 187)
· 15.02.2: The “cost of attendance” is an amount calculated by an institutional aid office, using federal regulations, that includes the total cost of tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation and other expenses related to attendance at the institution.(The National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2014, p. 188)
Bylaw 15 of the
NCAA Division I Manual specifies what institutions may provide to student-athletes in their athletics scholarships. Notably, due to the way that Bylaw 15 is drafted, it does not cover the full cost of a student-athlete’s attendance of college. For instance, transportation and other ancillary expenses are not covered. Gi
*REQUIRED READING*
Sports Law: Governance and Regulation (College Edition)
·
Chapter 3,” Legal Relationships Between the University and Student-Athletes” (pp. 99–112) This portion of the course text explores the contractual relationship between student-athletes who obtain financial assistance from colleges in exchange for the students’ promises to participate in collegiate sports. The authors explain the significance of two important documents related to such contracts: the Statement of Financial Assistance and the National Letter of Intent (NLI). Consider litigation related to these contracts that highlight questions related to the extent of a college’s obligations to student-athletes.
Online Article
·
ACC Advocates Closing Cost of Attendance Gap for College Athletes
Part of the discussion related to whether college-athletes should be paid has focused on the gap between athletics scholarship awards and the actual cost for athletes to attend college. The author Austin Tedesco explains how some university officials are considering addressing this need.
Optional Reading
Court Cases May Lead Athletes to Better Deals
· This optional reading can deepen your understanding of student athletes’ contract issues. Author Tim Sullivan explains how recent litigation related to student athletes in college will likely lead to improved conditions for athletes. These improvements will likely include greater scholarship amounts to cover all college attendance-related expenses.
