Are we committed to issues of race? Institutional integrity across intercollegiate athletics

The present study employs critical race theory in a critical discourse analysis of intercollegiate athletic departmental directives for high-profile National Collegiate Athletic Association member programs. Consideration of institutional integrity from critical perspectives can advance a nuanced understanding and gain further insight into the sociocultural issues and move toward eliminating inequities relevant to black student athlete stakeholders in the arena of intercollegiate athletics. The purpose of this research was to investigate the implicit function and perpetuation of contemporary racism in intercollegiate athletic organizations’ as they strategically address institutional integrity. A discussion of the findings are organized by two emergent themes: (a) Little skin in the game; and (b) Run-of-the-mill colorblindness. This paper concludes with implications for college sport and future research of intercollegiate athletics at the intersection of higher education.