University of Maryland Eastern Shore opts into House v. NCAA Settlement; paves way to compensate student-athletes

 
PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland | The University of Maryland Eastern Shore declared its intent to the NCAA and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to opt into the House v. NCAA settlement in April.
 
While awaiting final approval of roster limits, UMES declared its intention to opt in, allowing the university to directly compensate student-athletes and ensuring a high standard of financial support.
 
Though opting into the settlement is not mandatory for all Division I institutions, many schools have chosen to do so. In addition, the settlement is subject to final approval by a federal court, while the specific terms and implementation timeline may still be subject to change.
 
Institutions that opt in will also be subject to new roster limits and scholarship guidelines. This antitrust settlement, valued at over $2.8 billion, addresses past restrictions on student-athlete compensation and establishes a revenue-sharing framework. Opting into the settlement allows participating institutions to provide direct financial benefits to student-athletes, to include for their name, image and likeness (NIL), and allows for additional flexibility in scholarship and roster management.
 
"The decision to opt in to the settlement allows for financial support and revenue sharing to give student-athletes a real opportunity to earn income while acknowledging the time, talent and energy student-athletes bring to UMES," Vice President of Athletics & Recreation Tara A. Owens says. "We are continuing to explore all avenues in order to be establish and maintain competitive teams while providing an optimal collegiate experience for our student-athletes. The decision will not increase the financial investment the university makes in the Department of Athletics. UMES will utilize our department resources strategically and cultivate new pathways for student-athlete financial support. We are excited about the new landscape of college athletics and the future of Hawk athletics." 

In specific reference to NIL, the settlement aims to create a more equitable model for college athletics, ensuring that student-athletes receive fair compensation and support.
Participating schools can now offer direct NIL payments and other financial benefits to student-athletes, potentially including scholarships above the NCAA's previous limits. Schools can also engage in direct NIL contracts with student-athletes, such as licensing agreements, endorsement deals and brand promotion agreements.
 
Furthermore, the decision to opt in to the settlement aims to enhance the student-athlete experience, increase visibility and access, and ensure competitive recruitment and positioning within the MEAC and Northeast Conference (NEC).
 
For scholarship and roster management purposes, opting into the settlement allows institutions the opportunity to utilize a portion of their athletic revenue to directly benefit student-athletes, and scholarship limits may be eliminated, offering more flexibility in providing aid.
 
Additional details regarding the House v. NCAA Settlement are available here.

ABOUT HAWK ATHLETICS
 
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 14 sports: women's volleyball, women's bowling, men's and women's golf, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, softball, baseball, and men's and women's outdoor track and field. The UMES volleyball, bowling, basketball, softball, and cross-country teams compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). UMES golf and baseball currently play as members of the Northeast Conference (NEC). Track & field holds dual membership and compete in the MEAC as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). UMES recently announced the addition of men's volleyball which will begin competition in the NEC beginning in the 2025-2026 season.