Keeping Faith: Principles for Action

Keeping Faith with the Student-Athlete: A New Model for Intercollegiate Athletics

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• Letter of Transmittal
• Introduction
• Reform
• A New Model
• Putting Principles into Action
• Principles for Action
• Appendix A: Acknowledgements
• Appendix B: Meeting Particpants
• Download a PDF of this publication

Principles for Action

It is clear that this nationwide effort must grow from our campuses. We have reduced the essence of our concerns to the “one-plus-three” model. We have expanded this model through the implementing recommendations that form the core of Chapter II. But the question remains, where to begin?

We believe that any institution wishing to take seriously the “one-plus-three” model would do well to start with the following statement of principles which recasts this report’s main themes. We urge presidents to make this statement the vehicle for serious discussions within their institutions and, in particular, with the members of the governing board. Each principle is significant. Each deserves a separate conversation. Together they can define what the university expects, and how it hopes to realize its expectations.

A STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

Preamble: This institution is committed to a philosophy of firm institutional control of athletics, to the unquestioned academic and financial integrity of our athletics program, and to the accountability of the athletics department to the values and goals befitting higher education, in support of that commitment, the board, officers, faculty and staff of this institution have examined and agreed to the following general principles as a guide to our participation in intercollegiate athletics:

1. The educational values, practices and mission of this institution determine the standards by which we conduct our intercollegiate athletics program.
2. The responsibility and authority for the administration of the athletics department, including all basic policies, personnel and finances, are vested in the president.
3. The welfare, health and safety of student-athletes are primary concerns of athletics administration on this campus. This institution will provide studentathletes with the opportunity for academic experiences as close as possible to the experiences of their classmates.
4. Every student-athlete—male and female, majority and minority, in all sports—will receive equitable and fair treatment.
5. The admission of student-athletes—including junior college transfers—will be based on their showing reasonable promise of being successful in a course of study leading to an academic degree. That judgment will be made by admissions officials.
6. Continuing eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics will be based on students being able to demonstrate each academic term that they will graduate within five years of their enrolling. Students who do not pass this test will not play.
7. Student-athletes, in each sport, will be graduated in at least the same proportion as non-athletes who have spent comparable time as full-time students.
8. All funds raised and spent in connection with intercollegiate athletics programs will be channeled through the institutions general treasury, not through independent groups, whether internal or external. The athletics department budget will be developed and monitored in accordance with general budgeting procedures on campus.
9. All athletics-related income from non-university sources for coaches and athletics administrators will be reviewed and approved by the university. In cases where the income involved the university’s functions, facilities or name, contracts will be negotiated with the institution.
10. We will conduct annual academic and fiscal audits of the athletics program. Moreover, we intend to seek NCAA certification that our athletics program complies with the principles herein. We will promptly correct any deficiencies and will conduct our athletics program in a manner worthy of this distinction.

We believe these 10 principles represent a statement around which our institutions and the NCAA can rally. It is our hope that this statement of principles will be incorporated into the Association’s developing certification program. The Commission believes that the success of the NCAA certification program must be judged on the degree to which it advances these principles as the fundamental ends of intercollegiate programs. Ideally, institutions will agree to schedule only those colleges and universities that have passed all aspects of the certification process: Institutions that refuse to correct deficiencies will find themselves isolated by the vast majority of athletics administrators who support intercollegiate athletics as an honorable tradition in college life.

The members of the Knight Foundation Commission are convinced, as we know most members of the public and of the athletic and academic worlds are convinced, that changes are clearly required in intercollegiate athletics. Making these changes will require courage, determination and perseverance on the part of us all. That courage, determination and perseverance must be summoned. Without them, we cannot move forward. But with them and the “one-plus-three” model we cannot be held back. The combination makes it possible to keep faith with our student-athletes, with our institutions, and with the public that wants the best for them both.