Episode

Athletics Departments Have Become ‘Shadow Universities’

Podcast: Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed
Published: Jun 3, 2026
Duration seconds: 2941
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Summary

The college athletics arms race has created a complex financing puzzle for many institutions. That has led athletics departments to become a kind of ‘shadow university’ within their campuses, with their own systems and processes. And university leaders need to pay closer attention. For this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with Karen Weaver, an expert on the finances behind college athletics. Do colleges need a whole new board structure for sports?