February 8, 2011
REP DILLON’S STUDENT ATHLETE “RIGHT TO KNOW” BILL
SUBJECT OF PUBLIC HEARING
Representative Patricia Dillon’s (D-New Haven) legislation to clearly disclose to student athletes the fine print of their scholarship agreements with any Connecticut institute of higher learning was the subject of a public hearing of the Higher Education Committee Tuesday that included testimony by two national experts.
The legislation (HB 5415) does not mandate a change in NCAA policy, but rather requires that schools make public their own policies concerning sports-related medical expenses, standards for scholarship renewals, and out-of-pocket expenses that student-athletes on athletic scholarships are expected to pay.
Rep. Dillon, a member of the Higher Education Committee, said, “During recruiting some students are flattered but don't always understand that the NCAA only allows one year, renewable scholarships that may not cover all their expenses. Many students are renewed, but if injured they may lose a scholarship. Students need to be armed with this information during the recruiting process.”
A joint study conducted by the National College Players Association (NCPA) and the Ithaca College Graduate Program in Sport Management revealed that, in 2009, student-athletes in Division I receiving a so-called “full scholarship” were left with an average shortfall of $2951/year, or $14,755 over five years.
In addition, many student athletes are not aware of the tenuous nature of their scholarships. According to the NCPA, a university can refuse to renew a student’s scholarship for any reason, including injury. Rep. Dillon’s bill would require schools inform students of any and all potential actions that could lead to the revocation of an athlete’s scholarship.
Dr. Allen Sack, a constituent of Rep. Dillon’s and former scholarship athlete at the University of Notre Dame, was the driving force behind Rep. Dillon’s drafting of the legislation.
“Athletes and parents must know the conditions for the renewal and non-renewal of their scholarships,” Dr. Sack told the committee.
“Many students and their families are still under the impression they have a four-year scholarship,” said Ramogi Huma, founder and president of the NCPA, who testified at the hearing. “We want to make sure students have the information they need to make such an important decision.”
Mr. Huma, a former football player at UCLA, founded the NCPA in 2001. The group has over 12,000 members from over 150 Division I campuses nationwide. More information on NCPA can be found at ncpanow.org.
The legislation is modeled after the California “Student-Athletes’ Right to Know Act” (AB 2079).