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Arne Duncan, Anna Spangler Nelson and Paul Tagliabue to Join Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics

Knight Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Alberto Ibargüen announced today the appointment of Arne Duncan, Anna Spangler Nelson and Paul Tagliabue to the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. Duncan recently stepped down as U.S. Secretary of Education; Tagliabue is the former commissioner of the National Football League; and Nelson is chairman of Spangler Companies…

Public Universities Spend Millions On Stadiums, Despite Slim Chance For Payoff

As reported by the International Business Times: “Between 2009 and 2013, public universities reported increasing their annual expenditures on football to more than $1.8 billion — a 21 percent jump in inflation-adjusted dollars, according to Knight Commission data reviewed by International Business Times. In that same time period, public universities’ reported debt on their athletic…

‘The Front Porch’: USU Officials Talk Athletics’ Role at Institution

Utah’s Herald Journal News examined the academic and athletic spending trends at Utah State University. Data from the Knight Commission’s Athletic and Academic Spending Database are cited. In discussing the comparisons of spending per athlete and spending per student, Knight Commission Executive Director Amy Perko is quoted: Perko said a better “financial framework” for universities…

Knight Commission Comments on NCAA Working Groups Appointed to Address Priority Issues

Knight Commission co-chairmen Brit Kirwan and Gerald Turner released the following statements in support of the NCAA’s appointment of working groups to address values-based revenue distribution and various components of the Division I sport organizational structure. “The Knight Commission is extremely pleased that a working group will examine a values-based revenue distribution system. The commission…

Impact of Knight Commission Efforts

The following serves to convey the influence of Knight Commission recommendations on the policies, practices, culture and outcomes in college sports: CLICK HERE for summaries and reactions to the most recent policy changes that are consistent with Knight Commission principles and recommendations. PRESIDENTIAL CONTROL AND LEADERSHIP Presidential leadership for athletics – on campus, in athletics…

Impact

While the intercollegiate athletics environment today differs greatly from that which existed in 1989 when the Knight Commission was formed, it is unquestionable that many of the positive changes in college sports since then would not have occurred were it not for the Commission’s clear voice and consistent pressure to emphasize the “college” in college…

Current Initiatives

Where the Money Comes From & Where the Money Goes In an effort to strengthen financial transparency, the Knight Commission produces information to describe the financial landscape of Division I college sports. Below are figures that describe “Where the money comes from,” “Where the money goes” and “How the money has changed” in Division I…

Spending Database

The Knight Commission’s athletic and academic spending database allows users to compare athletic and academic spending trends for NCAA Division I public institutions, athletic conferences, and divisions. CLICK HERE FOR AN OVERVIEW OF DIVISION I FINANCES CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE DATABASE The graphs below illustrate “Where the Money Goes…” and “Where the Money Comes…

Costs to Students for NCAA Sports Shown by State Audit

KSL Broadcasting in Salt Lake City, Utah, published an article about an audit conducted by the Office of the Utah State Auditor that examined the amount of subsidies provided to support the athletics programs at eight public state institutions. The subsidies examined in the report are provided through tuition waivers, student fees, state funds and…

In Remembrance of Elson S. Floyd, 1956-2015

Dr. Elson S. Floyd, former Knight Commission member and President of Washington State University, died June 20, 2015 at the age of 59. Dr. Floyd joined the Knight Commission in November 2003 and served until his resignation in early May 2015. His obituary and a tribute to his contributions to higher education can be found…