think broadly about increasing educational opportunity for college student-athletes

Substantive progress has been made in improving conditions for Division I NCAA student-athletes. Within the past few months, scholarships for student-athletes at top colleges have expanded to include additional funds covering the “full cost of attendance.” This means, for example, that student-athletes at my institution, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, now receive an additional $4,916 each academic year to cover their personal living expenses. Also, limitations on the amount and kinds of food that athletic departments can provide for members of their teams have been scaled back. And it looks like the number of hours that teams are permitted to spend on practice and games will soon be reduced, allowing student-athletes more time for studying and physical recuperation. Notwithstanding these and other developments, the NCAA and its member institutions continue to be critiqued for espousing a distorted notion of collegiate athletics where daunting sport requirements diminish athletes’ opportunities to thrive as students. And while there is clearly need for reform in higher education athletics, we cannot discuss academic readiness and success without acknowledging and addressing the factors the undercut young people’s development before they ever arrive to college. All young children need access to:

–high quality early childhood education

–thriving public schools

–engaging out of school activities

–consistent adult direction and mentorship

–safe neighborhoods

–positive peer networks

States, local municipalities, and families have responsibilities for cultivating opportunities in these areas…or the universities that student-athletes attend will have diminished capacity to foster their success as athletes, students, and citizens.