Pilot Nation,

Thank you for supporting University of Portland Athletics as we strive to provide an elite experience for our 300-plus student-athletes. Your generosity is crucial and significantly impacts our student-athletes ability to compete at the highest level athletically and receive an elite education.

There has been no shortage of major industry changes to collegiate athletics over the last few years, with the adoption of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), increased transfer opportunities for student-athletes, and a number of court cases rapidly reshaping the NCAA model. Because of all of these changes, and more, Pilot Athletics, our student athletes, and coaches need your support more than ever to continue to compete, and excel, at the highest level of collegiate athletics.

UP Athletics is proud of who we are and how we operate in the collegiate athletics landscape. Last semester alone, our student-athletes set a Department record with a cumulative grade point average of 3.53. A recent assessment highlights the outstanding performance of University of Portland Athletics, with student-athletes achieving an impressive 94% Graduation Success Rate. In addition, another Department record of 88% of our student-athletes carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. At the same time, Pilot Athletics continues to excel on the field with nine programs qualifying for postseason play in the 2024-25 academic year.

Our 'North Star' remains achieving academic excellence and supporting holistic student-athlete well-being while competing for championships at the highest level. Portland Athletics continues to have numerous programs battling for WCC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. We have maintained a commitment that is true to the University of Portland mission and our Catholic, Holy Cross identity, and we will uphold these commitments amidst the rapid transitions in our industry.

The results for Portland Athletics often surpass expectations because of the culture created by coaches, staff and student-athletes. To maintain our current level of success, and strive to reach new heights, it is imperative we continue to invest in our best resources available … our student-athletes.

This transformative period in college athletics has every University navigating how to manage Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal. Since NCAA rules began allowing student-athletes to  capitalize on their NIL, we have firmly supported and utilized resources to support our student-athletes as they adapt to this new reality.

The next significant change will come from the much-discussed 'House settlement' that will allow Division I institutions to revenue share with student-athletes, effective July 1, 2025.

Here are the primary areas where the House Settlement is expected to impact the University of Portland:

Revenue Sharing
Institutions will be allowed to share revenue directly with student-athletes. These funds, which provide impactful resources for both our Department and student-athletes, are similar in nature to NIL. Donors will have the opportunity to directly support the financial welfare of our student-athletes, as all revenue, including tax-deductible donations to UP Athletics, will be eligible for revenue sharing. Moving forward, those donations will be even more important as we continue to support our student-athletes while helping to remain competitive with our WCC peers regarding revenue sharing. Our Department has already identified budget reallocation, cost saving and additional revenue generating opportunities to help absorb the added expenses that will come with revenue sharing.

Roster Limits and Scholarship Changes
The NCAA has never previously limited roster sizes for teams, only the number of scholarships that could be awarded in each sport. Moving forward, it is expected that each sport will now have a roster cap, meaning a maximum number of individuals can be on a team's roster, and institutions may provide full scholarships for each member of the team. Portland Athletics will evaluate roster sizes in accordance with new NCAA regulations with a focus on Title IX compliance and competitiveness. Scholarship distributions for each sport may look different moving forward.

**Here is a brief FAQ on how the House Settlement will impact University of Portland Athletics and what can be done to best support Pilot Athletics in this new environment:

Will Back the Bluff, the primary external NIL Collective supporting UP student-athletes, continue to operate?
Back the Bluff will remain open through 2025. After that time, we will assess the value of the collective in a post-House settlement world.

How can I support student-athlete Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) initiatives?
Fans can correspond directly with our student-athletes via the Opendorse Marketplace to partner on NIL transactions. You can also purchase custom player apparel via the Portland Athlete's Thread Team Store or make donations directly to revenue sharing (either generally or in the sport of their choice). Businesses are also encouraged to partner with Portland student-athletes for promotional purposes. For more information, reach out to the Portland Athletic Department NIL point-of-contact, Jason Brough (brough@up.edu, 503-943-8439).

How can you best support Pilot Athletics in this transformative period?
Fans can direct donations to specific sport revenue sharing efforts, team-driven initiatives, scholarships, the Pilot Athletic Fund, or a variety of other programming as desired. Please contact Andrew Keippela. (Keippean@up.edu, 503-943-8329) or Michael Da Silva (DaSilva@up.edu, 503-943-8558) for information on supporting UP Athletics and Pilot student-athletes. Gifts can be made online Here.

Are all donations tax deductible?
Yes, unlike contributions previously made to Back The Bluff, all donations made directly to the University of Portland are 100 percent tax deductible. The donations will be recorded as gifts to UP, and the donor will receive a tax receipt from the University of Portland.
 

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Once again, thank you for all you do for UP Athletics and for your past, present, and future support of the Pilots that will allow us to continue our strong intercollegiate athletic legacy well into the future.

Go Pilots,

Scott Leykam
Vice President for Athletics