It’s Time to Reimagine Higher Education for Student-Athletes in California
California’s higher education system is facing unprecedented challenges: escalating legal battles, rapidly evolving technology, and rising costs are testing the limits of traditional college structures. For student-athletes, these pressures are felt acutely. Balancing rigorous athletic schedules with academics, dealing with housing shortages, and navigating complex scholarship requirements makes the old one-size-fits-all model increasingly inadequate.
The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education, while visionary in its era, was designed for a California very different from today’s diverse student population. Student-athletes now come from varied backgrounds, face unique time and financial constraints, and require a system that adapts to their dual roles on the field and in the classroom.
Reforms across the state offer a blueprint for what’s possible. Programs like direct admission to CSU institutions and the Associate Degree for Transfer provide clearer, more flexible pathways, helping athletes move seamlessly between schools while maintaining eligibility. Shared housing projects and inter-campus administrative collaborations also help address logistical barriers that disproportionately affect athletes. Tools like CaliforniaColleges.edu and the Cradle-to-Career Data System allow student-athletes to better plan their academic and athletic journeys simultaneously.
The question is whether California will seize this moment to design higher education with student-athletes at the center. Removing structural barriers, offering consistent support, and providing transparent pathways can allow athletes to pursue meaningful credentials and professional opportunities without compromising either their sport or studies.
California has the opportunity to build a system that is agile, equitable, and responsive to the realities student-athletes face today. By rethinking higher education through the lens of those balancing academics, athletics, and life, the state can set a bold vision that empowers its students to thrive both on the field and in their future careers.
Su Jin Jez’s call to action for California applies just as strongly to student-athletes: the time to reimagine higher education is now.