Current Student-Athletes - Employment - Murray State University Athletics

The NCAA and Murray State Athletics both have specific guidelines to provide full disclosure of potential earnings from outside sources. Therefore, Murray State has developed policies and procedures to track outside income.

The Athletics Compliance Office will be responsible for monitoring and ensuring that the department is in compliance with NCAA and institutional rules. If you are interested in seeking employment, you must contact the Athletics Compliance Office to ensure you are not jeopordizing your eligibility.

MSU Student-Athlete Employment Form

General Employment Information

All student-athletes wishing to seek employment must see the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance prior to beginning any employment activity.
Student-athletes may not receive any compensation for the value or utility he/she may have for the employer because of the publicity, reputation, fame or personal following he/she has obtained because of athletics ability.
Student-athletes shall be compensated only for work actually performed.
Student-athletes shall be compensated at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the area for similar services.
Proper documentation must be completed by the student-athlete and the employer prior to beginning any employment activity. This document can be found below.
Intercession by athletics interests on behalf of the student-athlete occurs when a member of the institution’s athletics staff or a representative of the institution’s athletics interest makes a special arrangement to assist the student-athlete in securing the employment opportunity. Intercession by athletics interests does not occur if a student-athlete secures employment in the same manner as other members of the general public (i.e., the student-athlete secures employment through the employer’s normal application and evaluation process without any special arrangements made by the institution’s athletics interest). Employment of a student-athlete by a booster does not, per se, constitute intercession by athletics interests, provided the student-athlete secured the employment through the employer’s normal application and evaluation process.
Gross pay must be used when determining whether a student-athlete has reached the financial aid limit.
Tips and other employment-related benefits must be included when determining whether a student-athlete has reached the financial aid limit.
Receipt of a Pell Grant will not affect the amount of income that may be earned from employment. However, the amount of income earned from employment may impact the amount of Pell Grant funds for which a student-athlete may qualify in the subsequent academic year. Earned income must be reported as taxable income and reported on any financial aid application.
Inasmuch as financial aid may not be awarded in excess of one academic year, it is not permissible for an institution to guarantee a prospect for the second academic year (and thereafter) or include such a guarantee as part of the prospect’s financial aid grant for the first academic year. It is permissible for a staff member to inform a prospect that NCAA regulations will permit student-athletes subsequent to the first academic year in residence to earn income from legitimate employment in combination with other financial aid included in the student-athlete’s individual limit, provided the student-athlete is academically eligible to compete.
Student-athletes are not permitted to endorse or promote any commercial product or organization as part of any employment arrangement.

Fee-For-Lesson Employment

Racer student-athletes may receive compensation for teaching or coaching sports skills or techniques in his or her sport on a fee-for-lesson basis, provided each of the following are followed:

a) Murray State University facilities are not used;

b) Playing lessons shall not be permitted (Example: A tennis student-athlete could not be involved in match play, only instruction);

c) Murray State obtains and keeps on file documentation of the recipient of the lesson(s) and the fee charged for the lesson(s) provided during any time of the year; and

d) The compensation is paid by the lesson recipient (or the recipient’s family) and not another individual or entity.

The NCAA believes that student-athletes should have an opportunity to earn money by providing lessons in their sport. Further, the current employment legislation, which contains a $2000 limit during the academic year, would not permit student-athletes to earn large amounts of earnings through fee-for-lesson instruction during the school year. All current student-athlete employment legislation is still in effect.

Student-athletes who give lessons on a fee-for-lesson basis to more than one individual at a time must provide instruction to each individual that is comparable to the instruction that would be provided during a private lesson. Further, it is not permissible for a student-athlete to use his or her name, picture or appearance to advertise the availability of fee-for-lesson sessions.