Dear Manager:
In recent years, the NCAA has investigated several intercollegiate athletic programs across the country due to allegations that local establishments were providing “extra benefits” to currently enrolled student-athletes. Since this has proven to be an ongoing problem for the NCAA, we believe it is important to inform all local businesses near our own campus of the consequences that could result from providing benefits to Colorado State student-athletes and/or their families.
If members of any of the Colorado State athletic teams and/or their families or friends patronize your establishment, we ask that you accommodate them as you would any other customer. The NCAA prohibits businesses from providing anything free or at a reduced cost to student-athletes that is not available to the general public or student body. Consequently, providing any free or reduced cost items or services to Colorado State University student-athletes would violate NCAA rules. Moreover, if a student-athlete or a student-athlete’s relative or friend receives anything free of cost or at a reduced rate that is not generally available to the public, the student-athlete’s eligibility for intercollegiate athletics would be jeopardized.
Through ongoing education, our student-athletes are knowledgeable of NCAA rules and state laws that govern their activities. Consequently, we expect our student-athletes to comply with NCAA rules and state law. However, we ask you to join us in our efforts to protect the eligibility and welfare of our student-athletes. This letter is now a part of our overall educational program for rules compliance. We provide similar information to our alumni and supporters. Please know that we have not singled out your establishment because we have any knowledge of wrongdoing on your part. We are contacting all of the local establishments that may be frequented by our student-athletes in order to inform the proprietors of the NCAA rules against providing currently enrolled student-athletes with extra benefits.
If you have any questions, either now or in the future, please do not hesitate to contact our Compliance Staff at (970) 491-6170 or [email protected]. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for helping us to protect both the eligibility and well-being of our student-athletes and the integrity of Colorado State University.