American higher education shines on Winter Olympics’ global stage

When the women from Team Canada and Team USA faced off in the Olympic hockey gold medal match in Milan, an unsung force was also on the rink: American higher education. Of the 46 players on the combined rosters, all are current or former student-athletes at a college or university in the United States.

This was more than a championship game, it was a testament to the power of the American higher education sector. In total, 245 current or former NCAA athletes competed on the global stage this February in Italy. These Games showcased the unique ability of our colleges and universities to bring premier talent from around the world to the U.S. and to serve simultaneously as a catalyst for excellence as well as a vital vehicle for diplomacy.

This "Olympic effect" is an example of American soft power. When international students choose our institutions, they aren't just improving their slap shots or downhill times, but are engaging in a long tradition of cultural exchange and shared values. Team Canada—a nation that represents one of our country’s greatest allies—had 41 current and former NCAA athletes on its roster. Italy, Czechia, and Germany had 16, 15, and 14 respectively. Finland and Sweden each had 13. These players, through their alma maters, their time in the classroom, and relationships with their peers and competitors, bring part of the United States with them to the global stage.  

This global leadership is not guaranteed. Instead, it’s the product of centuries of investments and a shared belief that an excellent higher education system is central to America’s long-term prosperity. In an open letter to the nation, through an organization called Stand for Campus Freedom, elite American basketball coaches like Steve Kerr and Doc Rivers, recently highlighted the deleterious effects of political interference in the country’s higher education sector:  

"College sports unite us as a nation, drawing out team spirit, and shared values of fair play. Campuses — big and small, public and private, two and four-year — are a bedrock foundation for the place of sports in American life. Right now, at both the federal and state levels, acts of political interference threaten the independence of our colleges and universities. Punitive cuts to research funds, censoring of curricula, intimidation of university leaders and faculty, and the deployment of federal enforcement officers on college grounds are dividing our campuses and detracting from teaching and learning… The unprecedented pressure by the federal and certain state governments on colleges and universities undercuts the values we have sought to instill in student-athletes… Protecting university independence safeguards this proud tradition.”

Indeed, the federal government, alongside states like Texas and Oklahoma, have taken an approach toward higher education that seeks to assert ideological control. To throttle research and create an environment in which not every student feels welcome and able to thrive. Their crusade for “viewpoint diversity” is a solution in search of a problem that does not exist. 

The 245 NCAA athletes in Milan represent the best of what happens when universities are free to fulfill their democratic missions and call for societal benefit. They prove that sector autonomy and the ability to serve as a magnet for global talent creates a ripple effect that reaches the world’s biggest stages. 

To ensure that American higher education continues to shine on the world stage, we must protect the independence of our institutions and the ability for students and faculty to teach, learn, and research without censorship or fear of retribution. The excellence we saw in Milan began in the classrooms and training facilities of our colleges and universities. Its defense is essential to the country’s long-term prosperity, not to mention our medal count.