University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Announces Sooner Success Academic Award
December 20, 2021 | Athletics
NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma announced today its plan to make financial awards to student-athletes as a result of the Supreme Court's decision last June in the Alston v. NCAA case. The Sooner Success Academic Award provides the means for eligible OU student-athletes to receive the legally established maximum of $5,980 per year.
"We are excited to take another important step in student-athlete welfare," said OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. "In recent months, we have been on the cutting edge of NIL opportunities for our student-athletes and many of them have realized outstanding success. Now, with the addition of this financial support, OU maintains a leadership position in the student-athlete experience."
"The Sooner Success Academic Award not only provides help with living expenses now, but it also encourages the kind of academic progress that pays dividends for a lifetime."
Joe Castiglione
Once the Supreme Court made its ground-breaking decision, Castiglione assembled a group of department and university leaders to develop OU's plan, which is rooted in academic incentives. The plan rewards academic success and motivates student-athletes to complete classes while eliminating unnecessary winter and May term classes. It is also likely to reduce the need for summer school courses.
"This is a win-win concept," Castiglione said. "The Sooner Success Academic Award not only provides help with living expenses now, but it also encourages the kind of academic progress that pays dividends for a lifetime. This is a very meaningful program for our student-athletes."
Among the incentives are maintenance of an up-to-date résumé, participation in career development sessions, community service activities and classroom performance. The support will be provided at the rate of approximately $2,900 per semester when all the requirements are met.
The Sooner Success Academic Award program begins with the spring 2022 semester.
