Askwith Education Forum Askwith Essentials: College + Athletics = A Complex American Relationship A conversation about the tangible and intangible benefits of college athletics, with the aim of broadening how we think about the role of sport and its impact on education and society. Posted October 12, 2017 By Sagra Alvarado Speakers: Mark Emmert, president, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Robin Harris, executive director, The Ivy League Susan Herbst, president, University of ConnecticutChris Howard, president, Robert Morris UniversityModerator: James Soto Antony, senior lecturer on education and faculty director, Higher Education Program, HGSEThere are few traditions as storied and entrenched in our culture and society as college athletics. While the visibility and challenges of college athletics are widely recognized, less-known are the positive impacts participation in college athletics has on student athletes, 20 percent of whom are the first in their family to attend college. Yet, only in the United States do colleges and universities formally sponsor athletic programs, the costs of which can be high. Why do so many institutions put such an emphasis on athletics, and what impact does this have on colleges and universities, students, and our education system overall? How can college athletics be improved to better serve both students and institutions? And what would the country be like without college athletics?In this forum, experts will engage in a conversation about the tangible and intangible benefits of college athletics, with the aim of broadening how we think about the role of sport and its impact on education and society. Askwith Education Forum Bringing innovators and influential leaders to the Harvard Graduate School of Education Explore All Articles Related Articles Askwith Education Forum Askwith Education Forum Details Impact of Wealth on College Admissions An eye-opening presentation sheds new light on elite admissions practices in higher education Askwith Education Forum The Real World of College Authors Wendy Fischman and Howard Gardner discuss finding the purpose in education in a complex world Askwith Education Forum A Conversation with Teresa A. Sullivan The University of Virginia President will describe the significant challenges and opportunities faced by higher education leaders today at the Askwith Forum on April 9.