Knight Commission to Announce Major Recommendations to Transform the NCAA Division I Model

[ Proposed reforms will culminate year-long examination of college sports ]

Space is limited, so register now.


On Thursday, Dec. 3, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics will release its recommendations for significant reform of the NCAA Division I model. The proposed reforms will be unveiled at the fourth and final virtual forum of the Knight Commission’s year-long examination of Division I, Transforming the NCAA D-I Model: A 4-Part Series.

Registration is now open for this 60-minute virtual forum, Recommendations for Change, which will be held from 1-2 p.m. ET. Following the presentation there will be an audience Q&A with Knight Commission leadership and members.

The Commission launched a major re-examination of college sports last December, announcing then it would explore new models to restructure Division I sports. The comprehensive review led to the 4-part virtual forum. Important highlights of earlier sessions can be viewed here.

This session follows a recent groundbreaking Commission survey of Division I campus leaders, which found overwhelming support for major reform and for several significant structural changes. Highlights of that survey can be found here. Earlier in the series, the Commission proposed changes to the NCAA distribution formula for March Madness revenue. Co-Chairs Carol Cartwright and Arne Duncan sent a letter on Oct. 26 to NCAA President Mark Emmert formally seeking those modifications.

The upcoming Dec. 3 session will feature current Commission members Len Elmore and Nancy Zimpher who will become new co-chairs, joining Duncan, the former U.S. Secretary of Education. They will replace Cartwright, president emeritus at Kent State University and Bowling Green State University, who is retiring at the end of the year after two decades of service to the Knight Commission.

WHAT:

Virtual forum, Recommendations for Change, featuring:

  • Knight Commission Co-Chairs Arne Duncan and Carol Cartwright
  • Knight Commission Members Nancy L. Zimpher, Len Elmore, Peter Roby, and Jacques McClendon

WHEN:

Thursday, Dec. 3, 1-2 p.m. ET.

WHERE/HOW:

Online. To register, click here. Space is limited, so register now.

ONLINE:

Follow @KnightAthletics on Twitter and Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics on LinkedIn.

SERIES RECAP:

View a summary of the three previous sessions of the series.

About the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics

The Knight Commission was formed by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in October 1989 to promote reforms that lead transformational change to prioritize college athletes’ education, health, safety and success. To preserve the Commission’s independence, the foundation continues to be its sole supporter, but does not control, or attempt to control, the Commission’s opinions or pronouncements. The Commission recently launched an important review of college sports, “Transforming the NCAA D-I Model: A 4-Part Series.” 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 at least 50 percent of their players to be eligible for postseason competition. The Commission provides financial data about Division I college sports to enhance financial transparency and accountability. For more, visit www.knightcommission.org.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit kf.org.