UC San Diego

UC San Diego Athletics is committed to supporting scholar-athletes and their pursuit of name, image, likeness (NIL) activities in accordance with applicable NCAA, state and federal laws while continuing to further the mission of the Athletics Department - to ensure that our educational and athletic excellence develops inclusive leaders for life while enriching and engaging the University and San Diego as a whole.

Helpful Links from the NCAA
College Sports Commission (NIL Go)
NCAA FAQs on NIL

Educational Videos from the NCAA
NIL Assist Educational Videos
NIL:  NCAA Overview 
NIL:  State and Federal Landscape 
NIL:  NCAA Office of Legal Affairs 
NIL:  Resources Overview 

Link to CA Senate Bill 26
Click HERE for an updated PDF version of UC San Diego-related guidance regarding NIL activities.

  GENERAL RULE

Scholar-athletes may earn compensation for the use of their NIL. Such compensation may be secured or compensated based, in whole or in part, on athletics skill or reputation and may be provided in any form (e.g., cash, check, mobile payment app, product, good, service, etc.). Examples of permissible NIL activities include, but are not limited to scholar-athlete appearances, autograph signings, camps, clinics, and the promotion/endorsement of products and services. Name, image and likeness activities may not be used to compensate an individual for athletics participation or achievement.

  INFLUENCER

UC San Diego has partnered with Teamworks Influencer to provide additional NIL resources to scholar-athletes. Additionally, the Triton Exchange allows scholar-athletes to partner with local businesses, donors, alumni and others for NIL related activities.

  EDUCATION

UC San Diego and the NCAA provide ongoing NIL-related education to its scholar-athletes in an effort to assist them in capitalizing on and maximizing their opportunities in a responsible and effective manner.  Scholar-Athletes can utilize NIL Assist for various different educational topics on NIL (e.g., Taxes, Investing, Agents, Trademarks & Licensing). Additionally, UC San Diego has partnered with Teamworks Influencer.

    DISCLOSURE

Scholar-athletes are required to disclose all NIL contracts and activities through Influencer. Any third party NIL activity of $600 or more must also disclosed via  NIL GO within five (5) days of entering into the NIL agreement. 

  INSTITUTIONAL FACILITIES

Use of University facilities for NIL Activities, including photo shoots and filming, are subject to University policies that may include, but are not limited to, rental agreements, licensing agreements, liability and insurance requirements. The use of athletic department facilities is prohibited without appropriate prior written authorization or agreement, which must be obtained via established policies and procedures.  Scholar-athletes may request use/rental of institutional facilities for NIL activities by clicking here. 

  INSTITUTIONAL MARKS/LOGOS AND CONTENT

Use of University or athletic department names, seals, trademarks, visual images, marks, or logos in NIL Activities are prohibited without appropriate prior written authorization or agreements, and all applicable University policies, such as, but not limited to, PPM 510-10, must be followed. Copyright protected Images provided to scholar-athletes are for personal, non-commercial use only. A scholar-athlete may request approval to utilize UC San Diego logos, trademarks, service marks, symbols or other intellectual property of the University by submitting a Use of UC San Diego Name & Marks Request workflow in ARMS.

  INSTITUTIONAL MERCHANDISE/MEMORABILIA

In accordance with NCAA Bylaw 16.11.2.4, “an item received for participation in intercollegiate athletics may not be sold or exchanged or assigned for another item of value.” Therefore, scholar-athletes may not sell institutionally issued apparel, equipment, awards, etc. until they have exhausted their competition eligibility. 

  INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION

International scholar-athletes should not engage in any compensated NIL Activities without consulting with UC San Diego’s International Students & Engagement Office (ISEO) or an immigration attorney as this could impact your U.S. visa status. Additional information for international scholar-athletes can be found HERE (PDF). 

  PROHIBITED CATEGORIES

Scholar-athletes may not enter into NIL Activities that conflict with institutional and/or team contracts.  Please see the UC San Diego Guidelines (PDF) section here for additional information. 

  PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

Scholar-athletes are permitted to use professional service providers in connection with their NIL activities.  A professional service provider is an individual who provides third-party services to a prospective or current scholar-athlete. It includes, but is not limited to, an agent, tax advisor, marketing consultant, attorney, brand management company or anyone who is employed or associated with such persons. Please see the Use of Agents & Professional Services section HERE (PDF) for additional information.

Please note NCAA Bylaw 12.3.1 General Rule, which states that “An individual shall not agree (orally or in writing) to be represented by a professional sports agent for the purpose of marketing athletics ability or reputation in a sport to secure an opportunity as a professional athlete. An agency contract not specifically limited in writing to a sport or particular sports shall be deemed applicable to all sports.”

  OTHER

Scholar-athletes are strongly encouraged to seek guidance and/or legal advice before engaging in NIL Activities. 

Compensation for NIL Activities may impact eligibility for Pell Grants and other need-based financial aid.  Scholar-athletes should consult with the UCSD Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.  

Athletic scholarships will not be reduced or eliminated due to NIL Activities that comply with applicable procedures, policies, and regulations.

Individual scholar-athletes may not engage in NIL Activities during Countable Athletically Related Activities (CARA), Required Athletically Related Activities (RARA), as those terms are defined by the NCAA, or other official team activities.