INDIANAPOLIS --- The settlement between the NCAA and plaintiffs in the White case has been given final approval by the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on August 5.

The settlement creates greater flexibility for conferences and institutions to distribute $218 million in existing funds devoted to student-athlete benefits through 2012-13.  These existing funds, from the Special Assistance and Academic Enhancement funds, will be available to NCAA student athletes under the guidelines of the Student Athlete Opportunity Fund.  The settlement also establishes a $10 million “Former Student-Athlete Fund” to assist qualified candidates applying for receipt of career-development services and/or reimbursement of future educational expenses under the terms of the agreement with plaintiffs in the federal antitrust lawsuit.

“The NCAA is pleased the court has granted final approval to the settlement agreement in the White case.  The settlement allows us to resolve the litigation and enhance the benefits potentially available to former, current and future student-athletes,” said NCAA president Myles Brand.  “By adjusting the rules regarding access to the hundreds of millions of dollars in aid scheduled to be made available for student-athletes over the next several years, it is the NCAA’s intention to help meet any true additional needs of its student-athletes.”