by Karla Ciaglo
HARTFORD, CT – The legislature’s Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee met Thursday to discuss a range of legislative concepts, including a proposal to allow universities to enter into revenue-sharing agreements with collegiate athletes.
State Sen. Derek Slap, a West Hartford Democrat who co-chairs the committee, said the measure would align the state’s policies with the national trend in the evolving area of student-athlete compensation.
He said the proposal was requested by the University of Connecticut and reflects an effort to broaden how athletes are compensated for their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
“This is to help align [UConn] with what’s happening across the country in the very fluid area of compensation for student-athletes and NIL,” Slap said. “There’s some urgency here because, by April, the landscape is expected to change, and similar legislation in other states will allow universities to enter into these agreements. This committee intends to address this quickly on an expedited basis.”
In April 2024, the NCAA Division I Council unanimously adopted a proposal allowing schools to provide assistance in supporting NIL activities for student-athletes who disclose their NIL arrangements. Under this rule, schools can help identify NIL opportunities and facilitate deals between student-athletes and third parties. However, athletes retain authority over the terms of their agreements and are not obligated to accept assistance.
Additionally, the proposal says student-athletes would be required to disclose any NIL activity equal to or greater than $600 in value within 30 days of entering or signing an agreement to receive school support. Their data will be anonymized and aggregated to provide trend reporting and maintain transparency.
Connecticut residents are well acquainted with Paige Bueckers, the standout guard for the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team. According to Sportskeeda, Bueckers’ NIL valuation is estimated at $1.5 million, reflecting her substantial marketability and influence.
Bueckers’ NIL portfolio includes partnerships with prominent brands including Gatorade, StockX, and Verizon. In November 2021, she became the first college athlete to sign with Gatorade, marking a significant milestone in NIL opportunities for student-athletes.
Her substantial social media presence, including over two million Instagram followers, further enhances her appeal to brands seeking to engage with a broad audience.
In an effort to provide greater transparency and support, the NCAA recently released a public tool called NIL Assist, designed to help student-athletes better understand the complexities of NIL deals. This platform is a vital resource for athletes navigating a landscape that can often seem overwhelming.
However, while a handful of athletes are achieving significant success, most NIL deals are actually quite small. Over half are worth $100 or less, and the typical deal value is only $62, even though the average deal is much higher at $2,716. This shows that while big, flashy deals get a lot of attention, most student-athletes are earning modest amounts.
According to AthlonSports, the “average disclosure value” for NIL deals stands at $10,477, with the median amount being just $500. This significantly shows how a few high earners can distort the perception that substantial earnings are common for all athletes. Tools like NIL Assist will help student-athletes gain a more realistic view of their opportunities, enabling them to maximize their earning potential.
The proposal on student-athlete compensation seeks to ensure that Connecticut’s universities remain competitive and provide support to their athletes. By enabling revenue-sharing agreements and offering resources like NIL Assist and institutional support, the state aims to create an environment where student-athletes can succeed both academically and financially.
While the student-athlete compensation proposal was a key focus of Thursday’s meeting, the committee also addressed several other legislative concepts, including an effort to ensure fiscal accountability in higher education spending.
Additionally, the Office of Higher Education requested technical adjustments to clarify regulatory thresholds and refine statutory language.
The committee also discussed expanding Connecticut’s PAC program to make debt-free education available at four-year institutions and will consider granting higher education institutions the authority to independently enter into energy savings performance contracts.