President's Forum discussion examines change, opportunity in college athletics

While the current landscape of collegiate athletics is experiencing a significant evolution, Amy Privette Perko, CEO of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, believes these changes can also reveal emerging opportunities for Division II institutions like Grand Valley. 

“If you follow what's happening in Division I, this is a somewhat difficult task because things are changing every three minutes,” Perko said. 

“When I speak, I’ll look at my email to make sure there hasn’t been a major decision that impacts what I'm talking about. It’s a historic change going on.”

GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella and Director of Athletics Keri Becker welcomed Perko as the keynote speaker for the President’s Forum on October 16 at the DeVos Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.  

The nonprofit Knight Commission serves as an advocate and agent for reform in college athletics, prioritizing student athletes’ education, health, safety and overall success.

“This is an opportunity for us to really think about athletics in a dynamic and changing landscape,” Mantella said. “For me, Amy is able to clarify a lot of the movement in a very short period of time. I was enthusiastic about having our community have a deeper understanding of all the change that is happening.”

Over the last decade, collegiate athletics have undergone major transformations — from conference realignments to the rise of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for student athletes. Perko said these developments continue to redefine the structure and purpose of intercollegiate sports.

In their discussion, the three leaders explored how Division II universities can navigate these shifting dynamics. Perko identified several potential impacts for Division II institutions, including increased student athlete transfers to Division II schools due to Division I roster limits and a possible rise in Division I schools reclassifying to Division II or Division III.

Perko also highlighted the emergence of new sports, like triathlon and women’s flag football as well as the opportunities for new funding and partnerships. Division II institutions can also build relationships with non-governing boards (like the U.S. Tennis Association) to secure funding and potentially develop new structures and facilities.  

“We are at this moment where the ecosystem could look a lot of different ways in five years than it does today,” Perko said. 

Becker noted that despite the uncertainty surrounding college athletics, Grand Valley remains committed to excellence both on and off the field.

“While we don't know exactly what the future holds around us in the NCAA landscape, we're certainly committed to maintaining that foundation of excellence and pursuing opportunities for innovation and leadership,” Becker said.