Releases and Statements

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Knight Commission Calls on NCAA to Shorten Basketball Season

[ Sessions and audio with experts and researchers on academic performance in men's basketball; and NCAA infractions ]

The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics held discussions on academic reform, potential changes in the basketball playing season, and changes to penalties for violating National Collegiate Athletic Association rules. The Commission called on the NCAA to shorten the season to reduce the number of missed classes and stress on players. It also commended the association’s academic performance program, but noted that a complex waiver process is threatening to weaken standards designed to hold programs responsible for the academic progress of their players.

Faculty Summit on Intercollegiate Athletics

[ Sessions and audio with faculty on athletics issues; faculty governance; academic integrity; and strategies ]

The summit included a presentation of findings from the Faculty Perceptions of Intercollegiate Athletics Survey. The survey presentation served as the context for panelists and interactive sessions relating to the role of faculty engagement in athletics issues, faculty governance, academic integrity, case studies of athletics crises, and strategies for faculty to consider.

Knight Commission Urges Presidents to Show Strong Support for Academic Reforms

[ Sessions and audio with NCAA staff on academic reforms; and fiscal responsibility ]

On the heels of the NCAA’s announcement that 112 Division I teams will be penalized for failing to meet minimum academic performance standards, and are aware that tougher times are ahead, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics strongly urged college presidents to resist pressure to weaken the reforms. The Commission heard and discussed an NCAA report on Division I academic performance standards and also heard Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg discuss sweeping rules changes addressing academic underperformance by baseball players. Also at the meeting, NCAA officials released financial data showing that only 7 percent (22 of 313) of Division I athletics departments generated more money than they spent when institutional subsidies such as student fees are excluded—contrary to the public perception that athletics departments generate profits for their institutions.

Knight Commission reaction to NCAA academic data released today

Statement by Knight Commission Co-Chairman R. Gerald Turner, President, Southern Methodist University, in response to the NCAA’s release of academic data today: “We have reached a critical juncture on the road to academic reform. The NCAA has announced that at least 112 of the more than 6,000 teams in Division I will be subject to…

Knight Commission to Meet May 14 to Receive NCAA Reports on Academic and Financial Data and Reforms

William E. “Brit” Kirwan, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, presides over first meeting as co-chairman; NFL Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti and Northwestern President Henry Bienen join Commission Who: R. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University and Co-Chairman of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics William E. “Brit” Kirwan, Chancellor, University System…

Make academic integrity part of recruiting process

R. Gerald Turner and Clifton R. Wharton, Jr., co-chairs of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, commented in the Miami Herald (link here) on February 4, 2007, about the need for colleges and universities to incorporate academic integrity in the recruiting of athletes. In the article, Turner and Wharton noted the significant media attention that…

Knight Commission announces May meeting date and Faculty Summit

The Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics announces two future meetings: 1) The Commission will have its next regular meeting on May 14, 2007, Washington DC, at The Willard Intercontinental Hotel. The meeting will be free and open to the public. 2) The Commission also invites college faculty, athletic administrators, media, students, and the public…