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Project 2025 Would Radically Overhaul Higher Ed. Here’s How

Would fundamentally reshape federal higher ed policy

Author

Steve Ulrich
July 15, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

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JULY 15, 2024 | written by STEVE ULRICH

The news that you need to know about non-scholarship college athletics and those that love it.
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TOP STORY
1. Project 2025 Would Radically Overhaul Higher Ed. Here’s How

Photo illustration by Justin Morrison/Inside Higher Ed

by Katherine Knott, Inside Higher Ed

“A conservative blueprint for a second Trump administration calls for fundamentally reshaping the government and federal higher education policy.

Spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, Project 2025 offers a vision of a radically overhauled and pared-down federal government that’s largely staffed by party loyalists, free of “woke culture warriors” and more responsive to the priorities of the president.

The manual, titled “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise,” outlines a wide range of policy goals for every federal agency along with details about the new legislation, regulations and executive orders that would be needed to make those goals a reality.”

» Driving The News. “Project 2025 reflects Republicans’ push against diversity, equity and inclusion policies across the federal government, calling for stripping DEI requirements and references to sexual orientation and gender identity, among other terms, from “every federal rule, agency regulation, contract, grant, regulation, and piece of legislation that exists.”

» No More Loan Forgiveness. “President Biden has so far forgiven $167 billion in federal student loans for nearly five million Americans. That “must never happen again,” Project 2025 declares. To ensure a future department doesn’t forgive loans like Biden has, Project 2025 calls for rescinding regulations that made it easier for those who were defrauded by their college - or who attended an institution that closed - to discharge their loans.”

» Reality Check. “It details plans to overhaul the accreditation system and roll back new Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students and sexual assault survivors while ending all ongoing investigations into reported Title IX violations.”

» What They’re Saying. “This is an attempt to basically rearrange who has power and who doesn’t,” said Michael Podhorzer, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

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2. Appeals Court Leaves Open Possibility of College Athletes Being Deemed Employees

by Eric Prisbell, On3.com

“A three-judge federal panel has left open the possibility of college athletes being considered employees of their schools.

The opinion Thursday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is considered a big win for athletes being considered employees under minimum-wage law. The matter goes back to a district court, which must re-consider the issue “for application of an economic realities analysis grounded in common-law agency principles.”

» Driving The News. “While the case’s focus is narrow, a determination that college athletes are employees would be monumental. “It would fundamentally change the collegiate athletics model,” Mit Winter, a college sports attorney at Kennyhertz Perry in Kansas City, told On3. “It would have broad implications for other pending proceedings and for college athletics as a whole.”

» Why It Matters. “A ruling in the plaintiffs’ favor, Winter said, would not automatically lead to the formation of college athlete unions and collective bargaining, all elements the NCAA is hell-bent on preventing. But it would lead to athletes being subject to various employment laws and workplace protections.”

CONFERENCES

3. SCAC Joins FloSports

“The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) announced it has entered into a multi-year, seven-figure media rights agreement with FloSports, a global sports media company, making it the fourth Division III conference to be featured on the upcoming FloCollege platform. The agreement will also fuel productions for the soon to be created SCACtv Network beginning in the 2024-25 academic year.

The SCAC follows the Landmark Conference, the New England Men’s and Women’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) to land on FloCollege, which will be the essential media platform for D-II and D-III athletics.

Over the length of the five-year partnership, FloSports will stream all live and on-demand SCAC events, including the conference’s 18 championships on FloCollege. On-demand access will last for a period of 72 hours following each contest, after which video will be archived on the SCACtv Network and member institutions will be able to provide access free-of-charge through their institutional platforms.”

» What They’re Saying. “During our discussions, it was evident FloSports had a vision to provide a world-class streaming platform capable of supporting teams and students across all divisions, but with a focus on Division II and Division III programs,” said SCAC Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry. “It was refreshing to engage with a company that recognized and appreciated the passion our student-athletes, coaches, and fanbases have for the sports they play, coach and follow.”

ACADEMICS

4. Brown Resigns as MIAA Commish

“Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Commissioner Chris Brown announced resignation on Friday. Brown is stepping down to pursue a new position in athletics administration.

His two years at the helm of America's First Conference have been marked by significant achievements and unwavering dedication to the MIAA's mission of fostering academic and athletic excellence. Under his leadership, the league has seen numerous improvements and increased support for its membership.”

» Quotable. “Serving as Commissioner of the MIAA has been an incredible honor and a highlight of my career," said Brown. "Over the past two years, I've had the privilege of working alongside dedicated administrators, coaches, and student-athletes who embody the true spirit of Division III athletics.”

» Moving Up. In other MIAA news, Lauren Bryne-Dunn was promoted to associate commissioner of the association. She has served as Assistant Commissioner since August 2020.

ACADEMICS
5. Baseball Rules Roundup

by Greg Johnson, NCAA

“Expanding the use of one-way communication devices, beginning with the 2025 season, was recommended by the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee during its meeting this week in Indianapolis.

Under the proposal, a player on the field or coaches in the third base or first base boxes could initiate one-way communication to relay signals to offensive or defensive players.”

» Be Warned. “While one-way communication devices would be allowed, any other electronic devices (such as tablets) being used during a game would result in the individual violator of the rule and the head coach being ejected from the game. The individual violator also would receive a one-game suspension. Umpires would not issue a warning in this scenario.

» Timing Changes. “The committee proposed that hitters must be alert toward the pitcher by the time the 20-second action clock reaches 8 seconds. Currently, hitters have to be alert to the pitcher with 10 seconds remaining on the clock.”

» Worth Noting. “Visual action clocks would be an optional rule in Division III.”

NEWS
6. Lightning Round

🏀 Basketball (M). The NCAA announced that the 2026 men’s basketball championship will be a joint event with DII and DIII finals to be played in Indianapolis on April 5. This is the second time the NCAA will conduct its three men's basketball championships on one weekend in the same city. The first was in Atlanta in 2013.

🏀 Basketball (W). The NCAA announced that the 2028 women’s basketball championship will be a joint event with DII and DIII finals to be played in Indianapolis on March 31-April 2. Final approval is expected by the Division II and III governance structures. The three NCAA women's basketball championships were hosted in the same city on the same weekend in 2016 in Indianapolis and again in Dallas in 2023.

📰 News. The NCAA has selected two Division III minority athletics administrators to take part in the Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute - Stephanie Johnson (Susquehanna) and Olivia Winkfield (RIT). Three others who participated last year will be recognized at a graduating ceremony on July 18 in Dallas - Ron Baines (NJCU), Amber Thomas (Centennial Conference), Robert Vogel (Alverno).

TRANSACTIONS
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