On Feb. 17, 2025, commissioners from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Affiliation, Mid-Jap Athletic Convention, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Convention, and Southwestern Athletic Convention despatched a united, urgent enchantment to the Congressional Black Caucus for legislative assist. The letter particulars crucial challenges HBCUs face within the evolving panorama of collegiate athletics.
Of their letter, the commissioners expressed considerations that current judicial rulings and regulatory modifications may jeopardize alternatives for HBCU athletic applications. They highlighted that these applications usually rely extra closely on institutional funding and donations relatively than producing vital income. This makes them notably susceptible to uncertainties arising from debates over student-athletes’ classification as staff.
“There continues to be a rising patchwork of state legal guidelines impacting faculty sports activities and creating disparities and confusion amongst our potential and present student-athletes. The disparate legal guidelines and rising court docket choices have made it tough for conferences like ours to proceed to supply developmental and competitors alternatives for member establishments and student-athletes,” the letter reads. “Retention can be a problem inside our HBCU student-athlete inhabitants resulting from rising variations in state legal guidelines and authorized exercise which have all however eradicated a stage taking part in area.”
Together with diminishing retention charges and future participation in HBCU sports activities, the commissioners warn that recognizing student-athletes as staff may severely disrupt HBCU athletic applications and even eradicate intercollegiate competitions.
The letter highlights current initiatives to boost the student-athlete expertise, resembling scholarship protections, monetary literacy coaching, psychological well being help, and well being protection. “Amid these looming outdoors threats, there has additionally been vital inner transformation throughout President Charlie Baker’s first two years main the NCAA,” the letter reads. Though these initiatives are praiseworthy, the commissioners emphasize that congressional backing is essential to sustaining developments and defending HBCU pursuits.
The commissioners’ request begs for federal laws that creates uniform guidelines and laws for HBCU athletic applications and goals to ensure that student-athletes will not be categorized as staff.
The commissioners have requested conferences with CBC members in February or March about these points.
