The Ivy League has not reformed athletic recruiting since 1991, when it eliminated “freshman-only” teams, and it is unclear what the athletic directors’ recommendation will be.

Scalise said his discussions have revealed disagreement among different Ivy athletic directors.

“They want what’s best for the league, [but] they’re also thinking about what’s best for their institution,” he said. “A smaller school like Columbia would be more concerned about the numbers than some of the larger schools. Thirty-five people take up a higher percentage of the class at Columbia than they do at Cornell.”

Scalise also said the request for a recommendation reflects the presidents’ concerns that the admissions process might be giving unfair weight to athletics.

“Should we reduce the number of recruits [or] raise the academic standards? That may be the real question [the presidents] are trying to address,” he said.

Summers has not yet indicated how he will vote on any future proposal.

“I think athletics plays a crucial role in the collegiate experience,” Summers said, “but at the same time I think it’s important to avoid excesses in the arms race.”

—Staff writer Rahul Rohatgi can be reached at rohatgi@fas.harvard.edu.