University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Rules Education for Mentors
Dear Leaders for Leaders Mentor,
We are very excited to have your support and guidance as a Mentor to one of our UNC Asheville student-athletes. Your association with the athletics department means you represent our athletics interests, and therefore by NCAA definition you are classified as a "booster." UNC Asheville is responsible for the actions of its boosters and improper conduct on your part could jeopardize the student-athlete's eligibility.
Fear Not! UNC Asheville's Office of Athletics Compliance has provided the below list of rules to help guide your mentorship. Please note, this list provides a general overview of key NCAA rules regarding the interaction between you and the current student-athlete you will be mentoring. The list is not a comprehensive guide, so please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Extra Benefits: Providing gifts, items, or assistance
The NCAA prohibits you from providing a student-athlete, their families, or friends with certain benefits or arrangements. Here are some examples (not an exhaustive list):
What about meals?
There are few better ways to get to know someone than over a shared meal. While you cannot buy a meal or snacks for a student-athlete in a restaurant, you may buy and serve a meal on infrequent and special occasions to the student-athletes under the following conditions:
Employment of Student-Athletes
You may employ a student-athlete as long as the following conditions are met:
Commercial Promotion, Charitable Events, and Autographs
Academic Integrity and Academic Assistance
You may possess a particular expertise or skill-set that you think may be helpful to a student-athlete. Please remember, student-athletes already receive assistance from advisors and tutors, and are expected to complete assignments independently. They do however love getting encouragement!
Ask Before You Act!
You were chosen to be a mentor for your tremendous leadership, and your character reflects on the integrity of the University. NCAA rules violations, regardless of intention, can jeopardize the eligibility of the student-athlete and his/ her team and the reputation of the university and athletics department. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have questions or concerns.
Thank you again for your support of UNC Asheville Athletics.
Erin Spence
Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance/SWA
Phone: 828-250-3857
Email: espence@unca.edu
We are very excited to have your support and guidance as a Mentor to one of our UNC Asheville student-athletes. Your association with the athletics department means you represent our athletics interests, and therefore by NCAA definition you are classified as a "booster." UNC Asheville is responsible for the actions of its boosters and improper conduct on your part could jeopardize the student-athlete's eligibility.
Fear Not! UNC Asheville's Office of Athletics Compliance has provided the below list of rules to help guide your mentorship. Please note, this list provides a general overview of key NCAA rules regarding the interaction between you and the current student-athlete you will be mentoring. The list is not a comprehensive guide, so please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Extra Benefits: Providing gifts, items, or assistance
The NCAA prohibits you from providing a student-athlete, their families, or friends with certain benefits or arrangements. Here are some examples (not an exhaustive list):
- Use of an automobile or other transportation.
- Entertainment or admission to an event (such as a movie, athletic event, banquet, club, special event/ party, concert) including paying for a UNC Asheville event.
- Assistance with paying bills (such as cell phone, gas money, rent, utilities).
- Cash or loans of any amount (including co-signing).
- Gifts of any kinds, including special occasions like birthdays, religious holidays, graduation, get well, condolences, awards, etc. A birthday card is permissible as long as no gift is included.
- Free or discounted services, rentals, purchase of any type (such as meals, drinks, clothes, laundry, haircuts, legal fees, golf, car repairs).
- Free or discounted housing for any length of time.
What about meals?
There are few better ways to get to know someone than over a shared meal. While you cannot buy a meal or snacks for a student-athlete in a restaurant, you may buy and serve a meal on infrequent and special occasions to the student-athletes under the following conditions:
- The meal may only be provided in your home, on the campus of UNC Asheville, or at a facility that is regularly used for competition. This meal may be catered. You may purchase a meal in the on campus dining hall.
- If you are hosting the meal at your home, you may provide reasonable local transportation to student-athletes to attend the meal. You may pick up the student at his/ her residence and drop him/ her off, but you cannot send a car, taxi, or Uber.
- The meals do not occur more than once a month.
- These meals must be approved in advance by UNC Asheville's Athletics Compliance Office through an "Occasional Meal Form" available on UNCABulldogs.com or by emailing me.
- You may meet your mentee out for a meal or coffee if you do not pay for the items he or she purchased.
Employment of Student-Athletes
You may employ a student-athlete as long as the following conditions are met:
- The student-athlete is only paid for work actually performed and at the going rate.
- The student-athlete may not be compensated for any value that the athlete's publicity, reputation, fame, or personal following.
- Employers may not advertise a student-athlete's employment to generate extra business, nor may they use a student-athlete's name or picture to advertise, promote, or recommend the sale or use of any commercial product or service.
- Student-athletes cannot be provided with any benefits not provided to other employees.
- The student-athlete must report his/ her job(s) to the Office of Compliance.
Commercial Promotion, Charitable Events, and Autographs
- Commercial Promotions: You may be so excited about your mentee that you want to tell the world! Please note, if you feature a current student-athlete in your business or in another for-profit manner, you may jeopardize his/ her eligibility. NCAA rules prohibit using a student-athlete's name, picture, or appearance for commercial purposes. Feel free to take pictures with your mentee and share on social media for non-commercial reasons.
- Charitable Events: Student-athletes may want to support your charitable or non-profit group. This is only permissible if you request prior approval and the student-athlete's name, picture, or appearance is not involved with any commercial sponsorship. Please contact me if you are interested in having a student-athlete appear for a charitable event.
- Autographs: Student-athletes can sign and personalize autographs for you or your family or provide you with tokens of memorabilia, as long as the student-athlete is not provided a benefit in exchange for the item or autograph. Student-athletes cannot sell you memorabilia or apparel.
Academic Integrity and Academic Assistance
You may possess a particular expertise or skill-set that you think may be helpful to a student-athlete. Please remember, student-athletes already receive assistance from advisors and tutors, and are expected to complete assignments independently. They do however love getting encouragement!
Ask Before You Act!
You were chosen to be a mentor for your tremendous leadership, and your character reflects on the integrity of the University. NCAA rules violations, regardless of intention, can jeopardize the eligibility of the student-athlete and his/ her team and the reputation of the university and athletics department. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have questions or concerns.
Thank you again for your support of UNC Asheville Athletics.
Erin Spence
Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance/SWA
Phone: 828-250-3857
Email: espence@unca.edu