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Colgate University Athletics

Student-Athlete Resources

This page is intended to serve as a resource for current Colgate student-athletes wishing to explore opportunities related to name, image and likeness activities.

Required NIL Disclosures - Use of NIL Go

In accordance with NCAA regulations, Colgate student-athletes are REQUIRED to disclose any third-party NIL deals that equal or exceed $600 in total compensation within 5 business days of the execution of the contract (or agreement to terms) through NIL Go.

All reported deals will be reviewed by NIL Go to determine compliance with applicable regulations, which includes the evaluation of:

  1. Payor Association Status
  2. Valid Business Purpose
  3. Range of Compensation

NIL Go will evaluate the third-party individual/entity who is providing compensation to the student-athlete to determine if they are considered an “Associated Payor.” Student-athletes may enter contracts or agreements with associated payors, so long as those deals are for a valid business purposes and within an appropriate range of compensation. 

The College Sports Commission (CSC), with assistance from Deloitte, will make determinations as to the status of the payor on deals submitted through NIL Go based on information provided by the student-athlete, the payor, and the involved institution. More information on the definition of an Associated Entity can be found here. 

A Valid Business Purpose means that the payor is seeking the use of student-athlete's NIL to promote or endorse a good or service being offered to the public for profit. 

The “for profit” determination focuses on whether the sale of the goods/services is for profit, rather than whether the entity itself is operating at a profit or a loss at any given time. And so, deals must demonstrate a legitimate commercial rationale, including compliance with industry-standard NIL practices. 

All deals will be evaluated to determine if the terms fall within a reasonable range of compensation, such that the student-athlete is paid at a rate commensurate with compensation paid to similarly situation individuals. NIL Go will not calculate Fair Market Value for NIL deals, but rather determine if the deal is within a reasonable range of compensation based on a variety of factors. 

The RoC is a deal level calculation that is intended to capture a student-athlete’s unique NIL value based upon multiple factors, including but not limited to, the deal’s performance obligations, the student-athlete’s athletic performance and social media reach, the local market and the market reach of his or her institution and program. The RoC will also be informed by external benchmarks.

The following resources have been provided by the CSC to assist NCAA DI student-athletes in registering with NIL Go and reporting details:

NOTE: Student-athletes will need their NCAA ID# to register on the NIL Go platform - this can be located in your Teamworks profile. 

NIL Partner Platforms

All student-athletes have access to both INFLCR and NOCAP Sports, and can access all features through their website or cell phone app. The information below provides insights and tips on how to make the most our of your user experiences on those platforms.

International Student Guidance

International student-athletes should consult with the Office of International Student Services and/or their own immigration attorneys prior to engaging in any NIL activities in order to prevent jeopardizing their immigration status. Questions may also be directed to the U.S. Student & Exchange Visitor Program at SEVP@ice.dhs.gov. 

Why are international students more restricted in this space?

International students on F-1 visas are limited in their ability to obtain employment and earn taxable income. And thus, international students may only work in limited circumstances such as: on-campus employment, curricular practical training (CPT), and optional practical training (OPT). And so, with consideration of state, federal and NCAA guidelines, international students have a more difficult time accessing permissible NIL opportunities while studying at the University. 

If I am an international student, are there permissible NIL opportunities I can explore? 

There is a certain level of risk associated with any activity, so be sure to connect with those resources noted above prior to entering any agreements. Noted below however, classified by risk, are recommendations from industry experts for international students:

  • Don't Do It (No Risk): Avoid deals to eliminate any possible violations of your F-1 visa.  International students can still utilize support resources to learn how to build their personal brand, grow their knowledge in financial literacy and other business concepts, and better prepare themselves to excel in professional opportunities once their education has concluded. 
  • Activities Abroad  (Limited Risk): Only engage in activities while abroad in your home country. F-1 regulations are only enforceable on US soil, and so international students can explore NIL opportunities and earn income when they are in their home country. (All activities should be occurring on their home soil.) 
  • NIL as Passive Income (Care Required): International students are permitted to earn “passive income,” i.e. income earned with very little effort or participation in the activity. In this instance, a student would establish a NIL entity in their home country, whereas an “agent” in that country holds the rights and maintains management over the entity without involvement of the student. This is the riskiest approach, so international students need to consult their immigration attorney if exploring this possibility.