Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Rhode Island, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what University of Rhode Island, its conference, the state of Rhode Island and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 23, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at Rhode Island
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Policy on Student-Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)", Policy 06.101.5, approved by the President of the University, effective 2024-10-10 and revised 2025-05-22 ("Inserted five words to correct unintended omissions"), next review no later than 2029-10-31. It lets athletes receive Compensation "from a third party (but not from the University)" for services, appearances or other value they provide, never for athletic performance, and says athletes "may not miss class or other mandatory academic requirements or required team activities" for NIL. Its procedures (last revised 2025-05-22, still headed Policy 06.101.4) list what URI does and does not do. The athletics NIL page links an older policy file that returned a not-found page on 2026-10-23 | URI Policy 06.101.5 (2025-05-22) and Procedures (2025-05-22); Rhode Island Athletics, NIL page |
| How deals are disclosed | NIL Go for third-party deals of $600 or more within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). URI's procedures add: athletes with NIL compensation "valuing $600 or above must disclose to the University via Opendorse within 10 days of either the receipt of the compensation or the execution of the agreement for future compensation, whichever occurs first". URI keeps NIL documentation for seven years and says that "Absent disclosure, the University is unable to assist" with eligibility problems. No Rhode Island statute sets an NIL disclosure rule; under the agent act, the agent and the athlete each notify the athletic director within 72 hours of an agency contract or before the next athletic event, whichever is first | URI Procedures § III; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/rhode-island |
| Banned categories | No Rhode Island statute lists NIL categories. URI's October 2024 revision removed "specific endorsement prohibitions"; the current policy bars endorsements that violate University policies, Board of Trustees regulations or NCAA bylaws, and endorsements using University Marks that "may reasonably be construed as objectionable to NCAA Mission and Priorities or the University's Mission, Foundational Values, or current Strategic Plan". Athletes partnering with a brand that competes with URI's exclusive beverage provider may not endorse it on campus or wear University-provided gear showing another beverage provider while endorsing it | URI Policy 06.101.5 §§ I.E, I.F, I.G and revision history; /nil/college/rhode-island |
| School marks and group licensing | Athletes may say they play "[name of sport] at the University of Rhode Island" without permission. University marks, logos, the school's color scheme, team photos and videos and uniform elements (including numbers) need written permission from the University, given "for a defined purpose" and revocable "at any time in its discretion", and use follows URI's Trademarks and Licensing policy; the policy names the Associate Athletic Director for Marketing as the contact and CLC as URI's licensing agent. Contract footwear and apparel are worn while training, competing or promoting the University. URI may give stock photos or graphics to an athlete or an NIL entity. Group licensing: Not published | URI Policy 06.101.5 §§ I.E, I.F; URI Procedures § II |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists URI as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-23). No URI statement on revenue sharing was found on its athletics site or university news site. URI's NIL policy (revised 2025-05-22) still allows compensation "from a third party (but not from the University)", and its procedures quote NCAA Bylaw 22.1.1 as adopted 2024-04-18; neither has been revised since the House settlement's approval in June 2025. No Rhode Island statute addresses school payments | College Sports Commission; URI Policy 06.101.5 § I.A; URI Procedures § II |
| Collective or NIL group | Rhody Excellence. A Rhode Island Athletics release dated 2024-03-06 says the collective "runs independently from the University of Rhode Island", has been overseen since February 2024 by Cranston-based Coast to Coast Promotional Products, and quotes an advisory board member: "This collective is not part of the University and will be focused on basketball at this time." Its status on 2026-10-23 was not confirmed from a primary source. URI's own channel is its Opendorse marketplace, which the athletics NIL page presents with a quote from the athletic director of the time | Rhode Island Athletics, Rhody Excellence release (2024-03-06) and NIL page |
| Agents and representation | URI's policy lets athletes use a Professional Service Provider (NIL advice, contract negotiation for NIL, marketing), but that provider "may not also serve as the student-athlete's Agent", and agents "must be registered in the State of Rhode Island and cannot be used for future professional athletic contract negotiations". URI may not endorse or recommend a provider and may not review whether an NIL contract complies with law. Rhode Island law: athlete agents register with the Secretary of State ($50, two years), an agency contract includes negotiating an endorsement contract, and agents may initiate contact only with athletes whose college eligibility is over | URI Policy 06.101.5 § I.D; URI Procedures § II; /nil/college/rhode-island |
| Compliance contact | Rhode Island Athletics Compliance Office, Three Keaney Road, Suite One, Kingston, RI 02881. The Chief NCAA Compliance Officer, listed on the compliance page as Kacey Light, owns the NIL policy (401-874-5457; klight@uri.edu). For NIL questions the NIL page names the NIL Coordinator, an Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development (Jeff_Johnson@uri.edu, 401-874-7837) | Rhode Island Athletics, Compliance and NIL pages and Staff Directory (read 2026-10-23); URI Policy 06.101.5 |
| State law | No statute. Rhode Island has not enacted a college NIL law: NIL bills passed the House in 2021 and 2022 and stalled in the Senate, and 2023 and 2024 bills were held for study. The Uniform Athlete Agents Act (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 5-74.1) reaches agents who negotiate endorsement contracts | /nil/college/rhode-island |
What is specific to Rhode Island
URI, the state's public flagship, writes down what its athletics department will and will not do for an athlete's NIL. Beyond NIL education (engaging in NIL, best practices, rules and risks, building a personal brand), its procedures list six roles: telling athletes about opportunities through a service provider's "marketplace" (on the NIL page, Opendorse), stock photos or graphics or campus meeting space for an athlete or an NIL entity, pointing athletes to resources for judging professional service providers, facility use on the same terms and fees as any third party, paid promotion of an athlete's NIL activity (a video board ad, for example) "provided the student-athlete or NIL entity pays the going rate", and the support any other student gets. They also list six things URI may not do, including negotiating for an athlete, recommending a specific advisor or reviewing whether an NIL contract complies with law. URI plays most sports in the Atlantic 10 and football in the Coastal Athletic Association, and its procedures say NIL education may be done with either conference. The athletics NIL page posts an F-1 visa guidance sheet saying NIL "generally does not fit into the employment options currently defined for F-1 students", and the policy reminds athletes that NIL income could affect financial aid, "especially for those receiving Pell Grants".
How Leave fits
In Leave, every deal thread carries a rules summary for the athlete's state and level, and keeps the contract, its dates and the disclosure deadline that applies. It is a summary, not a ruling; the school and the law decide. Leave is software, not an agent, and takes 0% of any deal. You decide, you send.
Questions about NIL at Rhode Island
Does the University of Rhode Island pay its athletes?
The College Sports Commission lists URI as a participating revenue-sharing school for 2026-27, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. URI has not published how it shares that money, and its NIL policy (revised 2025-05-22) still describes NIL pay as coming "from a third party (but not from the University)".
How do URI athletes report NIL deals?
Two ways apply. URI's procedures have athletes disclose NIL compensation of $600 or more through the Opendorse app within 10 days of being paid or signing for future pay, whichever comes first. NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2 call for reporting third-party deals of $600 or more to NIL Go within five business days.
What NIL collective works with Rhode Island athletes?
A Rhode Island Athletics release of 2024-03-06 names Rhody Excellence, a collective it describes as running independently from the University and focused on basketball, overseen by Coast to Coast Promotional Products. Its status on 2026-10-23 was not confirmed from a primary source. URI's own NIL channel is its Opendorse marketplace.
Can URI athletes use the Rams logo or uniform in an NIL deal?
Only with written permission. The policy lets an athlete say they play their sport "at the University of Rhode Island", but marks, logos, team photos and uniform elements need written permission for a defined purpose, which URI may revoke at any time. Endorsements using URI marks that conflict with the University's mission or values are prohibited.
Can international students at URI do NIL deals?
URI's policy says it depends on the activity, immigration status and the law, and points international athletes to the Office of International Students and Scholars and an immigration attorney before any paid NIL activity. URI's F-1 guidance sheet says NIL "generally does not fit" the employment options defined for F-1 students.
Does an NIL agent have to register to work with a URI athlete?
URI's policy says agents "must be registered in the State of Rhode Island". Rhode Island's athlete agent act requires registration with the Secretary of State, counts negotiating an endorsement contract as agency work, and limits agents to contacting athletes whose college eligibility is over unless the athlete reaches out first.
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