University of Arizona Athletics

University of Arizona     Employment Exception 15.2.6
Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
Effective:  8/1/98
COMPLIANCE     Contact:  Ass?t Director of Athletics for Compliance

Legislation passed at the 1997 NCAA Convention changed bylaw 15.1.1, to allow the exemption of employment during a semester or term time (which is an all-inclusive period from the opening to the closing of classes of the regular semester, quarter or term), legitimate on- or off-campus employment of student-athletes who may receive earnings up to the value of full grant in aid plus $2000* per 15.2.6.1.

?15.2.6.1 Exception -- Division I Employment Earnings. In Division I, a student-athlete may receive earnings from legitimate on or off campus employment during semester or term time in combination with other financial aid included in the value of a full grant plus $2000, provided:
 (a) The student-athlete has spent one academic year in residence at the certifying institution.
 (b)   The student-athlete is eligible academically to compete for the institution.?®
?15.2.6.1 .1 Signed Affidavit.  Prior to the commencement of the employment, the student-athlete and the employer must sign an affidavit to be kept on file in the athletics department, which specifies the following:
 (a) The student-athlete has not been hired based on his or her athletics ability or the value that the student athlete may have for the employer because of the athletics reputation or fame the student-athlete has achieved;
 (b) The student-athlete is to be compensated only for work actually performed; and
 (c) The student-athlete is to be compensated at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.?®

In order to comply with the above Bylaws, legitimate on- or off-campus employment of student-athletes who may receive earnings up to the value of a full grant plus $2000 will be documented as follows:

1. Student-Athletes contemplating obtaining employment during the academic year, will meet with the Compliance Coordinator for Financial Aid [or designee], to obtain a ?Form 15.2?®.  This form will notify both student-athlete and employer of the amount the student-athlete is eligible to earn as well as the other specifications to avoid violating NCAA regulations.
  a. Before the form will be issued to the student-athlete, the Coordinator [or designee] will verify that the student-athlete meets the requirements of 15.2.6.1 (a) and (b).

2. Prior to beginning employment, the student-athlete must return the completed   [signed by themselves, and their employer], ?Form 15.2?® to the Compliance Office [as per 15.2.6.1.1] for processing.  (Note: any earnings prior to completion of this paperwork must be deducted from the student-athlete?s athletic grant)

3. At the conclusion of each pay period, the student-athlete will provide a copy of their pay stub to the Compliance Coordinator for Financial Aid. The Coordinator will monitor the amounts earned by each student-athlete.Approximately one month before it is anticipated that the student-athlete will meet their $2000 limit, the Coordinator will notify both the employer and the student-athlete that the limit is being reached.
*Amended from the original legislation which called for the cost of attendance as this limit rather than $2000.