Purpose
This name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) policy is based on current NCAA guidance on NIL activities, the policies of Oberlin College, and Ohio state law. This NIL policy may be changed by Oberlin College at any time, with notice, and will automatically be changed if Ohio state or United States federal laws are created that cover the matter of NIL activity. All changes will be communicated to student-athletes promptly. For specific Ohio state laws applicable to collegiate student athletes and contracts, refer to Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 3376.
What is NIL Activity?
“NIL activity” includes any situation where a student-athlete's name, image, or likeness (including personal appearance) is used for promotional purposes by a non-College entity. These entities include commercial businesses as well as nonprofit or charitable organizations.
Institutional Disclosure Requirements
Student-athletes who intend to enter into a verbal or written contract providing compensation to the student-athlete for use of the student-athlete's NIL (“NIL agreement”) must disclose the proposed contract to the College. Student-athletes are also encouraged to disclose to the College the names of any professional services providers (tax professional, attorney, agent, etc.) they retain. All NIL agreements must be reported to the Oberlin College’s Athletics Compliance Coordinator seven business days prior to committing any activities related to the agreement. Reports can be made
here. Failure to disclose NIL activities could impact the student-athlete’s eligibility to participate in collegiate athletics or receive institutional financial assistance.
In accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 3376.06(C)(3), all contracts, proposed contracts, or related documentation disclosed to Oberlin College for compliance review are strictly confidential and do not constitute public records.
International Student-Athletes
Before entering into any NIL activities, international student-athletes are encouraged to contact Oberlin Athletics Compliance and the
International Student and Scholar Services department as such activities could impact their U.S. Visa status. International student-athletes are solely responsible for complying with any U.S. immigration and visa requirements.
Prohibited activities
Student-athletes may not receive NIL benefits based on enrollment in, or continuing enrollment at, Oberlin College or for any specific athletic performance or achievement. For example, a student-athlete may not be promised NIL benefits by local or national sponsors based on the number of points they score in a game or over a season. Likewise, a sponsor cannot state “you must play (this specific sport) at Oberlin in order to receive the benefit.”
Neither Oberlin College nor any Oberlin College staff member may be involved in the development, operation or promotion of any student-athlete’s NIL activities. In addition, no Oberlin College staff member may enter into an agreement with, or benefit from, a student-athlete’s NIL activities.
As a part of any agreement, student-athletes must be compensated for actual work performed.
Student-athletes may not sell or trade any equipment or apparel provided to them by Oberlin College as a part of NIL activities.
Use of Logo and Likeness
The Office of Communications at Oberlin College is responsible for the oversight of official College logos, marks, wordmarks and other official identity elements that represent Oberlin College, including the College seal, mascot, identity elements, and other licensed athletics or merchandise marks.
No individual or organization may use Oberlin’s official marks, logos or symbols for financial or commercial gain without express, written approval from Oberlin College’s Office of Communications. Written approval is required for student athletes wearing apparel featuring College logos, symbols or marks while participating in NIL activities. Similarly, College marks, logos and symbols may not be altered in any way. However, individuals, including student athletes, are permitted to use such marks or symbols for personal use (i.e., on social media) if such use fairly and accurately identifies the user as a student-athlete and does not otherwise state or imply any involvement or sponsorship with or by Oberlin College and that is not for commercial or financial gain.
Oberlin College reserves the right to determine what constitutes appropriate use of its symbols, logos and marks and to refuse permission for usage deemed inappropriate.
For additional information about College trademarks, licensing and usage, please refer to the Identification Standards (available at
https://brand.oberlin.edu/). To request permission for use, please contact
brand@oberlin.edu.
Institutional Restrictions
As previously stated, student-athletes may not use Oberlin marks or symbols in their posts without prior approval with the exception that student-athletes may refer to themselves as students or student-athletes of Oberlin College in their biographical information.
Student-athletes are allowed to engage in NIL activities on campus as long as such activities do not violate any College policy, including the
Student Handbook.
Student-athletes may not miss required educational obligations (class, exams, scheduled tutor sessions, etc.) or required team activities to fulfill requirements of any NIL agreements.
Student-athletes may not participate in an NIL activity while engaged in official team activities. Official team activities means that student-athletes are required to be present for practice, strength and conditioning activities, scrimmage, competitions, exhibitions, team appearances, team photograph sessions, sports camps sponsored by the College, and other team-organized activities, regardless of whether the activity takes place on or off campus. This time period covers the time a student-athlete must report for the official team activity until the student-athlete are released by their sports program and have departed the athletic facility.
A student will not be eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics if that student enters into a contract or agreement providing compensation to the student for NIL activities with any of the following. *This is not a complete list of possible banned NIL activities.
(a) Any company or brand that manufactures, markets, sells, or is associated with a controlled substance, marijuana product, medical marijuana product, adult-use marijuana product, alcoholic product, tobacco product, electronic smoking device, vapor product, or product or device that consists of or contains nicotine that can be ingested into the body, as well as any medical or adult-use marijuana cultivator, processor, laboratory, or retail dispensary licensed under Ohio law.
(b) Any business engaged in the sale, rental, or exhibition of adult entertainment that is characterized by an emphasis on the exposure or display of sexually oriented images or activity.
(c) Any casino or entity that provides, sponsors or promotes gambling activities.
(d) Any other category of companies, brands, or agreements that are in conflict with already established contracts held by the College.
(e) Any activities that adversely affect the reputation of Oberlin College.
(f) Activities that ridicule, exploit or demean persons on the basis of their age, color, creed, physical or mental disability, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, marital status, race, religion, sex, or gender.
Mandatory Contract Terms Under Ohio Law
Per Ohio Revised Code Section 3376.14, any contract entered into by a student-athlete for NIL compensation must comply with the following rules, or the contract will be deemed legally void under state law:
Duration Limits: The contract cannot remain in effect or require the student-athlete to provide rights, personal services, or consideration after their intercollegiate athletic eligibility expires.
Jurisdiction & Venue: The contract cannot require any litigation, arbitration, or other dispute resolution process arising from the contract to occur in another state.
Use of NIL Agents
Student-athletes may hire an agent to assist with NIL Activities. That agent needs to be registered under Ohio law unless it is an immediate family member (
aco.ohio.gov). Student-athletes must compensate your NIL agent with their regular rate. Failure to do so may jeopardize the student-athlete’s intercollegiate eligibility.
Student-athletes may not hire an agent to represent the student-athlete directly or indirectly or attempt to represent the student-athlete for the purpose of marketing the student-athlete’s athletic ability or reputation for financial gain as a professional athlete or to secure the student-athlete an opportunity as a professional athlete. Hiring an agent for this purpose may jeopardize the student-athlete’s intercollegiate eligibility.
Additional Considerations
Student-athletes may also need to follow the NIL laws of the state in which they legally reside in addition to Ohio NIL laws.
Pell Grant, federal aid, and/or other need-based aid could be impacted by NIL Activities. Questions may be directed to the Office of Financial Aid [oberlin.edu/financial-aid]. In addition, there could be tax consequences on earnings. Student-athletes are solely responsible for complying with any local, state, and federal tax requirements.
Under Ohio’s Right of Publicity law, Oberlin College also has the ability to use a student-athlete’s NIL for the College’s educational purposes or to promote Oberlin College and its educational or institutional objectives without providing the student-athlete compensation.
Sanctions
Failure to abide by these NIL policies may result in loss of privileges and other sanctions as appropriate, including but not limited to verbal or written reprimand, probation, loss of practice privileges, loss of competition privileges, suspension and/or dismissal from the program.
Last revised June 2026
