As a result of the White Case settlement, the NCAA has created the Former Student-Athlete Fund web site to assist qualified candidates applying for receipt of career development services and/or reimbursement of educational expenses under the terms of the agreement with plaintiffs in a federal antitrust lawsuit.
The settlement, approved on August 4, 2008 by the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, ends a case in which plaintiffs argued that limiting student-athlete grants-in-aid to tuition, room and board and books in certain sports amounted to a restriction of trade.
Among other things, the settlement agreement called for the creation of a $10 million fund to provide certain career development services and reimburse various educational expenses to those former student-athletes who were members of the class involved in the lawsuit (and who qualify under and comply with requirements associated with the Fund). The Fund is intended to allow the former student-athletes at issue to gain career development skills and further their overall education. The class consists of student-athletes that received an athletics grant-in-aid and were (1) a Football Bowl Subdivision (formally Division I-A) football player, or (2) a men’s basketball player in the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, MAC, Mountain West, WAC, Atlantic 10, Horizon League, Colonial Athletic Association, Missouri Valley Conference or West Coast Conference at any time between February 17, 2002 and August 4, 2008.
So long as the Fund is not exhausted, qualified former student-athletes may apply during a three-year period beginning August 11, 2008, to receive certain career development services and/or reimbursement of certain educational expenses. The services must be received, and the expenses must be incurred, during the three-year period. Qualified former-student athletes may receive up to $500 in career development services and/or $2,500 per year for three years in reimbursement of certain educational expenses.
Applicants must meet the criteria and requirements, and submit the forms and other documentation to be eligible for services and/or reimbursement. Claims must be submitted on the Proof of Eligibility and Claim Form to be considered. The NCAA shall make all final determinations regarding former student-athlete qualifications and eligibility to receive the noted benefits.
For questions regarding the settlement, please contact John Baldwin at jbaldwin@ncaa.org or 317/917-6442. For questions regarding the status of your claim, please contact Right Management at ncaa.services@right.com
