New benefits for college athletes among the issues to be discussed
Who: The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, co-chaired by William E. “Brit” Kirwan, chancellor, University System of Maryland and R. Gerald Turner, president, Southern Methodist University, will be joined by Nathan Hatch, chair, NCAA Board of Directors and president, Wake Forest University; Bob Bowlsby, commissioner, Big 12 Conference; Paul Tagliabue, former commissioner, National Football League (NFL); Ramogi Huma, president and founder, National College Players Association and others.
What: Knight Commission members, other invited participants and panelists will discuss proposed changes to the NCAA’s governance structure; new benefits for college athletes sought by some conferences as well as changes proposed by the National College Players Association; and status and future direction of academic reforms.
See agenda below for more information.
When: Monday, March 17, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET. Media will have an opportunity to interview and speak with panelists and Commission co-chairmen at the conclusion of the final session.
Where: Merrick Room, The Intercontinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, FL
Follow: Follow the Knight Commission and the latest developments from this meeting @KnightAthletics. Photographs and highlights from the meeting will be posted on www.knightcommission.org.
Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics Meeting Agenda
- 9:00 – 9:25 a.m. Public Session: Presentation of Knight Commission efforts to improve the next decade of college sports, including governance recommendations and the Knight Commission’s spending database. Presentation by Knight Commission Co-Chairs William E. Kirwan, R. Gerald Turner and Executive Director Amy Perko
- 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Public Session: Looking ahead to the next decade of college sportsCharles M. Ambrose, president, University of Central Missouri; chair, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association; former chair, NCAA Division II President’s Council
Bob Bowlsby, commissioner, Big 12 Conference
Walter Harrison, president, University of Hartford; chair, Committee on Academic Performance (2004 – present)
Nathan Hatch, president, Wake Forest University; chair, NCAA Board of Directors
- 11:00 – 11:15 a.m. – Break
- 11:15 – 12:30 p.m. Public Session: Different perspectives on the next decade of college sportsTom Farrey, journalist, ESPN; director, Aspen Institute’s Sport and Society Program; author, Game On: The All-American Race to Make Champions of Our Children
Ramogi Huma, president and founder, National College Players Association
Donna Lopiano, adjunct professor, Southern Connecticut State University; president, Sport Management Resources; former president, Women’s Sports Foundation
Paul Tagliabue, senior of counsel, Covington & Burling; chair, Georgetown University Board of Directors; former commissioner, National Football League
About the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics
The Knight Commission was formed by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in October 1989 in response to highly visible scandals in college sports. The Commission’s goal is to promote a reform agenda that emphasizes academic values in a climate in which commercialization of college sports often overshadows the underlying goals of higher education. Over the years, the NCAA has adopted a number of the Commission’s recommendations including the rule that requires teams to be on track to graduate more than 50 percent of their players in order to be eligible for postseason competition. The Commission’s Athletic and Academic Spending Database provides financial data for more than 220 public institutions to provide greater financial transparency on athletics spending. More information about the Commission including its prior reports and recommendations can be found at www.knightcommission.org.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. www.knightfoundation.org