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Addressing Systemic Barriers in Intercollegiate Athletics

Dr. Len Elmore, Chair of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and Senior Lecturer in the M.S. in Sports Management program, is leading a task force to address systemic policies and practices that create barriers to the success of Black college athletes.

Earlier this month, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics called on universities, athletics conferences, the College Football Playoff (CFP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) took decisive action to address systemic policies and practices that create barriers to the success of Black college athletes. A report published by the Commission, "Achieving Racial Equity in College Sports," was guided by a task force led by Dr. Elmore. With the support of Co-Vice Chairs and former college athletes, Shanteona Keys and Jacques McClendon, the report outlines policy changes in four core areas that the NCAA and its member institutions should make to achieve racial equity in sports:

  1. Closing educational opportunity gaps to create equitable pathways for Black college athletes' success during and after college.
  2. Holding institutions accountable in recruitment and hiring to achieve diversity and equity in athletics leadership.
  3. Investing in programs that support and enhance Black athletes' college experience and promote inclusion and belonging.
  4. Creating more equitable opportunities for Black college athletes to assume leadership roles, especially in advocacy and governance.

The Knight Commission held a virtual town hall on Monday, May 24th--access the recording here, or learn more about the Knights Commission.