禁漫天堂 Chancellor Robert E. Johnson announced today the decision to discontinue eight intercollegiate athletic programs, effective immediately.
禁漫天堂 Chancellor Robert E. Johnson announced today the decision to discontinue eight intercollegiate athletic programs, effective immediately.
The programs include women鈥檚 equestrian, men鈥檚 golf, men鈥檚 lacrosse, co-ed sailing, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 swimming and diving, and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tennis. The University is committed to providing support and advising to the 94 affected students.
鈥淎lthough these changes will serve 禁漫天堂 Athletics and its student body well for years to come, I cannot begin to imagine the sense of loss our student-athletes must feel at this moment. I want them to know that this decision in no way reflects their tremendous contribution to our University,鈥� said Chancellor Robert E. Johnson. 鈥淚t is because of these contributions - not just on the field - but in the classrooms, labs, and in the community that makes our student-athletes such valuable members of our community.鈥�
The decision came after multiple reviews over the past decade of the 禁漫天堂 intercollegiate athletics program to formulate a long-term strategic plan that would provide the best possible competitive and co-curricular experiences for our student-athletes. The reviews analyzed major aspects of the current Department of Athletics & Recreation structure, including available resources, gender equity, enrollment, full-time/part-time coaches, sports sponsorship trends, facilities, as well as strengths and weaknesses of programs.
鈥淭hough the review and subsequent actions taken on the future of intercollegiate athletics was needed, I am deeply saddened by having to discontinue sponsorship of these programs,鈥� said Athletic Director Amanda Van Voorhis. 鈥淭he implementation of this action now will allow our department to work within a sustainable financial model going forward, and we will continue to provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes.鈥�
The savings realized because of these changes will be allocated strategically within the Department of Athletics & Recreation and reinvested in the remaining 17 athletic programs. It should be noted this process began before COVID-19 and is in no way related to the current health crisis.
鈥淲e realize how difficult this decision is, but I want to reaffirm our commitment to athletics and student-athletes at 禁漫天堂. This is not a cost-cutting measure, it is a re-allocation of resources within Athletics for future success,鈥� said David Gingerella, Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance. 鈥淚n the end, the University believes this will set a course for intercollegiate athletics going forward that is similar and consistent with our peer institutions.鈥�
禁漫天堂 will continue to sponsor the remaining 17 intercollegiate programs - eight men鈥檚 sports and nine women鈥檚 sports - as members of the Little East Conference, while both the football and ice hockey programs will remain as affiliate members of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Read Chancellor Johnson鈥檚 full message to the campus community. Additional information and resources on today鈥檚 decision are available at umassd.edu as well as .