1. What Presidents Need to Know About Intercollegiate Athletics
AGB Institute for Leadership and Governance in Higher Education
June 17, 2019
Dr. Carol Cartwright
AGB Senior Consultant
Co-Chair, Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics

2. Principles The governing board is ultimately
accountable for athletics policy in keeping with its fiduciary duties.
Principles

3. Principles The governing board must accept
accountability for the integrity of the athletics program and ensure
that it aligns with the educational
mission.
Principles

4. Principles Governing boards must develop
systematic approaches for their
responsibilities and apply them
diligently.
Principles

5. Areas of Focus Student Welfare Fiscal Integrity Academic Integrity
Equity
Governance

6. Board Commitment and Accountability
Delegates to president but recognizes ultimate accountability for athletics policy and effective fiduciary oversight.
Monitors the finances and business model of the
athletics program.
Affirms accountability for upholding the integrity of the athletics program and ensures that it advances the educational mission.
From: AGB Statement on Intercollegiate Athletics, 2018
Board Commitment and Accountability

7. Board Commitment and Accountability
Periodically reviews information about athletics and ensures that mission and goals of athletics are aligned with institutional mission and goals.
Ensures that the president conveys to the athletics director the board’s expectations for compliance and ethical conduct.
Ensures that thorough background checks are conducted for prospective employees; has a policy protecting whistleblowers.
From: AGB Statement on Intercollegiate Athletics, 2018
Board Commitment and Accountability

8. Board Commitment and Accountability
Monitors policies about the use of campus athletic facilities, including youth camps and other related activities.
Ensures that there are institutional policies about physical safety risks and stays informed about medical research and well-being of student athletes.
From: AGB Statement on Intercollegiate Athletics, 2018
Board Commitment and Accountability

9. Board Commitment and Accountability
Reviews and monitors outcomes for institution’s plans for gender equity under Title IX; monitors athletics programs for complying with laws and regulations about sexual misconduct.
Ensures that donor and sponsorship support of athletics reflects institutional priorities and that there is institutional control of those revenues. .
From: AGB Statement on Intercollegiate Athletics, 2018
Board Commitment and Accountability

10. Board Commitment and Accountability
The Board . . .
Monitors
Affirms
Reviews
Ensures
Approves
What does the President do?
Board Commitment and Accountability

11. “. . .member-led organization dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes.”
1,117 colleges and universities
100 athletics conferences
40 affiliated sports organizations
About 500,000 student athletes; 19,750 teams;
90 championships in 24 sports.
Source: NCAA website
What is the NCAA?

12. NCAA Priorities ACADEMICS Opportunities to earn a college degree
WELL-BEING
Keep college sports safe; physical and mental well-being
FAIRNESS
Respect, integrity, and responsibility on and off the field
NCAA Priorities

13. Who Are the Players? COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS
ATHELTICS DIRECTORS
FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVES
CONFERENCE COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF
ACADEMIC SUPPORT STAFF
COACHES
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTORS
HEALTH AND SAFETY PERSONNEL
Who Are the Players?

14. Who Makes The Rules? THE RULES ARE MADE BY THE MEMBER INSTITUTIONS.
Representatives from member institutions serve on committees.
The committees (and conferences) propose rules and policies.
The membership reviews and approves rules and policies. The specific governance approach varies among the three divisions.
Who Makes The Rules?

15. How is the NCAA Governed?
Division I has a representative form of governance. The Board of Directors includes presidents and chancellors from institutions who are members of Division I conferences.
In Division II and Division III all members participate and all institutions have a vote.
How is the NCAA Governed?

16. How is the NCAA Governed?
The Board of Governors is the governing body for the entire organization. Presidents and chancellors from each of the three divisions address issues that pertain to the entire membership.
How is the NCAA Governed?

17. What Are the Characteristics of the Divisions?
DIVISION I
351 INSTITUTIONS (32% of NCAA)
9895 student athletes (1 in 25 students)
DIVISION II
308 INSTITUTIONS (28% of NCAA)
2514 student athletes (1 in 11 students)
DIVISION III
443 INSTITUTIONS (40% of NCAA)
1736 student athletes (1 in 6 students)
What Are the Characteristics of the Divisions?

18. What Are the Characteristics of the Divisions?
DIVISION I
59% receive some level of athletics aid
DIVISION II
62% receive some level of athletics aid
DIVISION III
80% receive some form of academic grant or need-based scholarship
More than $3 billion is given annually in Div. I and II.
What Are the Characteristics of the Divisions?

19. Some Facts about NCAA Student Athletes
About 2% of high school athletes are awarded some form of athletics scholarships to compete in college.
On average, NCAA student athletes graduate at a higher rate than the general student body.
Fewer than 2% of NCAA student athletes go on to be professional athletes.
Some Facts about NCAA Student Athletes

20. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletics association for small colleges and universities in North America.
251 members—81% private institutions with an average full-time enrollment of 1700.
65,000 student athletes in 21 conferences.
$600 million awarded annually in scholarships.
What is the NAIA?

21. The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics
First convened in Issued Keeping Faith
With the Student-Athlete: A New Model for Intercollegiate Athletics in 1991.
Recommended presidential control and leadership and a focus on academic integrity and fiscal integrity verified by a transparent certification process (a 1+3 model).
The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics

22. The Knight Commission Reconvened in 2000. Issued Keeping Faith
With the Student-Athlete: A New Model for Intercollegiate Athletics in 2001.
Released third major report, Restoring the Balance: Dollars, Values and the Future of College Sports in 2010.
The Knight Commission

23. Restoring the Balance report calls for strengthening accountability by:
Requiring greater transparency, including measures to compare athletics and academic spending;
Rewarding practices that make academic values a priority; and
Treating college athletes as students first and foremost.
The Knight Commission

24. Knight Commission Impact
Improved graduation success rates of student athletes.
More than 80% receive degrees.
Incentives tied to academic success.
At least 50% of team must be on track to graduate to be eligible for post-season championships.
Portion of March Madness revenues now used to reward schools for meeting academic criteria.
Knight Commission Impact

25. Knight Commission Impact
Greater emphasis on student athlete well-being and educational experience.
More health and safety protections.
More time off from sports.
Included in policymaking.
Presidential leadership for college sports embedded in every level of governance.
Knight Commission Impact

26. AGB Board of Director’s Statement on Governing Board’s Responsibilities for Intercollegiate Athletics, AGB Press, 2018.
“The ROI of Athletics” by John Gerdy, Trusteeship, September/October, 2016.
“Governance in Intercollegiate Athletics: Boards Must Know the Score” by John Casteen and Rick Legon, Trusteeship, November/December, 2012.
Resources

27. “What is the Board’s Role in Overseeing Intercollegiate Athletics
“What is the Board’s Role in Overseeing Intercollegiate Athletics?” by Carol Cartwright,
Trusteeship, November/December, 2017.
“Why Boards Shouldn’t Be Spectators for Athletics”
Trusteeship, September/October, 2018.
Resources