Intercollegiate Athletics Policy Manual

3.00 Awards and Scholarships

3.03.1 Awards: Postseason Gift and Award Policies

AWARDS:  POSTSEASON GIFT AND AWARD POLICIES

These policies apply to participation awards and gifts related to team-by-team qualification for these postseason competitions: Big 12 Conference championship events, NCAA national championship events, football bowl games, and other established postseason events.

DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE AWARDS RECIPIENTS:

STUDENT-ATHLETES – Eligible-for-competition student-athletes shall receive all participation awards and championship awards provided by both the institution and the sponsoring agency in accordance with NCAA regulations.

NON-STUDENT-ATHLETES – Full-time coaches, volunteer coaches, graduate assistant coaches, full-time athletics staff members, student managers, student trainers, student coaches, student video personnel, part-time and UT Athletics-approved credentialed consultants and therapists, part-time UT Athletics employees with team-related duties, and other non-UT employees.

BIG 12 CONFERENCE POSTSEASON QUALIFICATION:

PARTICIPATION AWARDS PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS – In addition to eligible-for-competition student-athletes, only student managers, student athletics trainers, student coaches, and student video personnel who are members of the particular qualifying team’s official travel party are eligible to receive institution-provided participation awards. NOTE: Student athletics trainers and student coaches are not employees of The University of Texas. That is why they may receive participation awards, including gift cards. Student managers, student video personnel and other part-time employees with team related duties are part-time employees of the University, and that is why they may not receive gift cards. However, student managers, student video personnel and other part-time employees with team related duties may receive an appropriate stipend based upon the allowable value of the award reduced by related fringe benefit costs to the University.

PARTICIPATION AWARDS PROVIDED BY THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE – Members of the particular qualifying team’s official travel party are eligible to receive participation awards provided by the Big 12 Conference, subject to the request of the Head Coach and approval by the Athletics Director.

NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT, FOOTBALL BOWL GAME AND OTHER ESTABLISHED POSTSEASON EVENT QUALIFICATION:

PARTICIPATION GIFTS – Members of the particular qualifying team’s official travel party are eligible to receive participation awards (including gift cards) provided by BOTH the institution and the sponsoring agency, subject to the request of the Head Coach and approval by the Athletics Director. NOTE: Student athletics trainers and student coaches are not employees of The University of Texas, and that is why they may receive participation awards, including gift cards.  Student managers, student video personnel and other part-time employees with team-related duties are part-time employees of the University, and that is why they may not receive gift cards.  However, student managers, student video personnel and other part-time employees with team related duties may receive an appropriate stipend based upon the allowable value of the award reduced by related fringe benefit costs to the University. Full-time University employees may not receive gift cards or stipends from the institution, but may receive a tangible award item (ring, watch, electronic device, etc.) as long as the value of the item is within the limits established by NCAA regulations.

BIG 12 CONFERENCE AND NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS – Members of the particular qualifying team’s official travel party are eligible to receive championship awards, subject to the request of the Head Coach and approval by the Athletics Director. Other full-time staff members who have been employed a minimum of six months are eligible to receive one Big 12 Championship award and one NCAA Championship award during their tenure as UT Athletics employees, subject to approval by the appropriate Athletics Director.

TAXABILITY OF AWARDS – All awards and/or gifts with a calendar year value in excess of $600 and which are provided to non-UT employees (including eligible student-athletes) must be reported for income tax purposes, per Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. Both part-time and full-time UT employees must report each and every award and gift valued in excess of $50. The awards and gifts must be reported to the University’s Payroll Office so appropriate additions are made to the taxable income line reported on the employee’s annual W-2 reporting form.    NOTE: Personalized awards and gifts are not considered taxable to either UT employees or non-UT employees, regardless of amount.

 

 

last updated: February 11, 2009