USC Sets Strict Policy on Student-Athletes and Agents
In an effort to protect USC student-athletes from contact by those who inappropriately seek to represent them, the university on Feb. 14 released a sweeping policy that requires faculty members, staff, students and third parties to disclose any actions that threaten an athlete’s NCAA eligibility or threaten the ability of the university to remain in compliance with NCAA rules.
Issued by provost and senior vice president Elizabeth Garrett and senior vice president for administration Todd R. Dickey, the policy states: “In particular, we are committed to protecting our student-athletes from any contact, communication or conduct with individuals who seek to inappropriately contact or represent student-athletes before their eligibility is exhausted or voluntarily terminated.”
The regulations apply to all faculty members (including full and part-time, retired and visiting faculty, and faculty on leave or vacation), staff and employees (including full and part-time), and students (including full and part-time, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students), as well as third parties, such as vendors, who enter university property to do business with USC or interact with its student-athletes in any athletic facilities and venues where USC teams meet, play or practice.
Any of these parties must disclose their involvement as a sports or athletic agent or work with a sports agency by immediate written notification to David Roberts, the university’s vice president for athletic compliance. Those accepting employment at USC or enrolling at the university also must immediately disclose any such involvements.
In addition, USC faculty, staff and students are required to notify the vice president of athletic compliance of any relative (grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse, children, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or cousin by blood or marriage) they know to be an agent at least 24 hours prior to such individual’s arrival on campus.
Trojans who fail to fully comply with this policy “shall be subject to remedial action and/or discipline in accordance with the faculty handbook, staff employment policies and procedures, and the student conduct code in SCampus, as appropriate,” the notice states.
The full policy was sent via e-mail to all students, staff and faculty. A copy can be read at http://policies.usc.edu/policies/AthletesandAgentsPolicy-signed.pdf
