HigherEd Compass

At a time when college enrollment is in decline (it's been happening even before the pandemic hit), the rule change giving NCAA student-athletes the path to profit from their participation in college sports will likely create unintended consequences beyond imagination. Money is encroaching upon the pursuit of learning and in general, that is not good. The line of amateur and professional sports is a bit more blurred as well. In principal, we at HigherEd Compass do not agree that student-athletes should be profiting from their college sports participation. But at the same time, we are aware that, at least for the big sports (e.g. college football and college basketball), universities' gains are millions of dollars every year. And the argument of fairness that student-athletes are not getting anything out of it is worthy of debate. But has anyone thought of the rippling effect on colleges and universities' mission -- that is, of learning and educating students of all stripes? The fact that, during a time when colleges and universities are hobbled by the effects of pandemic on their budget, in addition to general decline in enrollment (decreasing their overall revenue), something will likely have to give to pay student-athletes. Will it be budget for academics, budget for financial aid to low-income students, or something else that is central to the mission of higher education?

The Perverse Consequences of the NCAA Ruling The high court’s decision was overdue. It will also usher in a new world.