President Kennedy Message on Athletics

[jdub27]

Hard numbers do not appear to be included in press release or brief FAQ. Hopefully at some point they will be put out and put an immediate stop to all the false accusations that will be coming out.

[The Sicatoka]

I'm going with my prediction:

Kennedy -- initial statement and announcement with broad numbers fiscal impacts
Faison -- talk about teams and information
Consultants -- gory detailed numbers and Title IX discussions

 

[SWSiouxMN]

E-mail that I just got

The University of North Dakota Athletics Department announced on Wednesday, following the discontinuance of its men’s baseball and golf programs in the prior fiscal year, that it will discontinue its varsity women’s hockey and men’s & women’s swimming & diving programs, effective at the end of the 2016-17 academic year as part of the University’s ongoing budget restructuring efforts. The continuance of the men’s golf program is contingent upon its successful fundraising efforts.

In January 2017, UND President Mark Kennedy announced that the athletics department would need to further reduce its 2017-18 budget by over $1.3 million as its contribution to the university-wide cuts being dictated by the state’s revenue shortfall. Additionally, with UND’s move to the Summit League, additional money will be needed to comply with the Summit League’s minimum scholarship requirements. UND expects that the current changes will enable it to meet those additional scholarship expenses without having to make further cuts next year. UND’s athletics department expects to reinvest any additional savings back into its women’s and men’s teams, with a primary focus on gender equity, internal equity, and championship competitiveness.

The decision announced today was reached based upon the University’s budget reduction instruction, conference sport sponsorship requirements for both the Big Sky Conference and Summit League, Title IX compliance, additional Summit League scholarship requirements, and the ability to reinvest in championship-level programs. The University worked with the Baker Donelson law firm as its outside legal counsel.

“I have accepted the athletic director’s recommendation with the understanding that it provides for investing in championship teams in a balanced manner for both our women’s and men’s athletics programs,” said Kennedy. “This is a painful step to take for all parties involved, including me, but it is necessary given today’s budget realities. My heart goes out to all those who are disrupted by this change. We are proud of the way they have represented UND.”

UND will honor all athletics scholarships for discontinued sports at their present equivalencies for returning student-athletes. Specific details have been provided to the student-athletes regarding their future aid.

UND Athletics Director Brian Faison met with the affected coaches, staff and student-athletes on Wednesday afternoon to inform them of the decision.

“This was a difficult decision. It’s a sad day when opportunities for student-athletes are reduced,” said Faison. “The University is going through campus-wide, state-mandated budget cuts. As a part of the University, we need to do what is in the long-term, best interests of the University, as well as the best interests of the athletics department.”
 

[Benny Baker]

The University of North Dakota Athletics Department announced on Wednesday, following the discontinuance of its men’s baseball and golf programs in the prior fiscal year, that it will discontinue its varsity women’s hockey and men’s & women’s swimming & diving programs, effective at the end of the 2016-17 academic year as part of the University’s ongoing budget restructuring efforts. The continuance of the men’s golf program is contingent upon its successful fundraising efforts.

In January 2017, UND President Mark Kennedy announced that the athletics department would need to further reduce its 2017-18 budget by over $1.3 million as its contribution to the university-wide cuts being dictated by the state’s revenue shortfall. Additionally, with UND’s move to the Summit League, additional money will be needed to comply with the Summit League’s minimum scholarship requirements. UND expects that the current changes will enable it to meet those additional scholarship expenses without having to make further cuts next year. UND’s athletics department expects to reinvest any additional savings back into its women’s and men’s teams, with a primary focus on gender equity, internal equity, and championship competitiveness.

The decision announced today was reached based upon the University’s budget reduction instruction, conference sport sponsorship requirements for both the Big Sky Conference and Summit League, Title IX compliance, additional Summit League scholarship requirements, and the ability to reinvest in championship-level programs. The University worked with the Baker Donelson law firm as its outside legal counsel.

“I have accepted the athletic director’s recommendation with the understanding that it provides for investing in championship teams in a balanced manner for both our women’s and men’s athletics programs,” said Kennedy. “This is a painful step to take for all parties involved, including me, but it is necessary given today’s budget realities. My heart goes out to all those who are disrupted by this change. We are proud of the way they have represented UND.”

UND will honor all athletics scholarships for discontinued sports at their present equivalencies for returning student-athletes. Specific details have been provided to the student-athletes regarding their future aid.

UND Athletics Director Brian Faison met with the affected coaches, staff and student-athletes on Wednesday afternoon to inform them of the decision.

“This was a difficult decision. It’s a sad day when opportunities for student-athletes are reduced,” said Faison. “The University is going through campus-wide, state-mandated budget cuts. As a part of the University, we need to do what is in the long-term, best interests of the University, as well as the best interests of the athletics department.”
 

---

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why was the timing of the Athletics announcement pushed back from the original institutional deadline? This was a very involved and complicated process in which several questions needed to be properly addressed. The deadline for Athletics was extended in order to ensure due diligence.

Were there other sports under consideration? Yes, multiple scenarios were explored during the process.

Were any scenarios provided to the President that did not involve eliminating sports? No.

How will this decision impact UND’s Title IX compliance? Providing gender-equitable participation opportunities weighed heavily in UND’s decision. Following last year’s elimination of baseball, as expected male student-athletes were under-represented within the UND Athletics Department in 2016-17. The current changes will re-balance the UND Athletics Department so that UND will continue to comply in 2017-18 with Title IX’s participation requirements. Additionally, the changes are balanced so that UND will continue to comply with Title IX’s scholarship provisions as UND implements the funding changes required for membership in the Summit League.

Is there a possibility of bringing these sports back in the future? No, not in the foreseeable future.

Will the affected sports be provided with a window to secure funding to save their respective programs? No. These cuts are effective immediately at the end of this academic year.

Will the remaining contracts of the affected coaches be honored? Yes.

What will happen to the Hyslop Sports Center Pool? The future use of the pool is under consideration.

What becomes of the women’s hockey facilities at REA? The women’s hockey facilities, including locker room and coaches’ offices, will be retained by UND Athletics for utilization by other women’s sports.

Will these cuts result in any financial sanctions from the conferences that sponsored these sports? UND is subject to an exit fee with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association but not with the Summit League or Western Athletic Conference.

How will scholarships from the affected sports be reallocated? UND Athletics will continue to honor all athletics scholarships for discontinued sports at their present equivalencies for returning student-athletes. In time, scholarships will be reallocated to meet Summit League requirements.

Who was involved in this process administratively? Athletics Director Brian Faison, Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator Daniella Irle, President Mark Kennedy, Vice President for Finance & Operations Alice Brekke, Associate Vice President for Finance Karla Stewart, and Director of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Title IX Coordinator Donna Smith were all involved in the decision-making process.

Does today’s announcement impact UND’s men’s golf program? No. The men’s golf program must still meet its originally agreed-upon financial goals by June 2018, by which time the program’s endowment needs to be fully capitalized in order to permanently remain in operation.

[Siouxperfan7]

Waiting for the National outrage to start!! 

[UNDBIZ]

50 minutes ago, SWSiouxMN said:

So with this news, UND will be down to 17 sports.  Unless there is another we are not aware of.

Men's golf is on its death bed.  That'll bring us to 16.

Started with 21, cut men's baseball, men's golf, men's S&D, women's S&D, and women's hockey.  Last prior sport cut was men's wrestling 15+ years ago.

[SWSiouxMN]

Here is the FAQ attached

Why was the timing of the Athletics announcement pushed back from the original institutional deadline? This was a very involved and complicated process in which several questions needed to be properly addressed. The deadline for Athletics was extended in order to ensure due diligence.

Were there other sports under consideration? Yes, multiple scenarios were explored during the process.

Were any scenarios provided to the President that did not involve eliminating sports? No.

How will this decision impact UND’s Title IX compliance? Providing gender-equitable participation opportunities weighed heavily in UND’s decision. Following last year’s elimination of baseball, as expected male student-athletes were under-represented within the UND Athletics Department in 2016-17. The current changes will re-balance the UND Athletics Department so that UND will continue to comply in 2017-18 with Title IX’s participation requirements. Additionally, the changes are balanced so that UND will continue to comply with Title IX’s scholarship provisions as UND implements the funding changes required for membership in the Summit League.

Is there a possibility of bringing these sports back in the future? No, not in the foreseeable future.

Will the affected sports be provided with a window to secure funding to save their respective programs? No. These cuts are effective immediately at the end of this academic year.

Will the remaining contracts of the affected coaches be honored? Yes.

What will happen to the Hyslop Sports Center Pool? The future use of the pool is under consideration.

What becomes of the women’s hockey facilities at REA? The women’s hockey facilities, including locker room and coaches’ offices, will be retained by UND Athletics for utilization by other women’s sports.

Will these cuts result in any financial sanctions from the conferences that sponsored these sports? UND is subject to an exit fee with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association but not with the Summit League or Western Athletic Conference.

How will scholarships from the affected sports be reallocated? UND Athletics will continue to honor all athletics scholarships for discontinued sports at their present equivalencies for returning student-athletes. In time, scholarships will be reallocated to meet Summit League requirements.

Who was involved in this process administratively? Athletics Director Brian Faison, Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator Daniella Irle, President Mark Kennedy, Vice President for Finance & Operations Alice Brekke, Associate Vice President for Finance Karla Stewart, and Director of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Title IX Coordinator Donna Smith were all involved in the decision-making process.

Does today’s announcement impact UND’s men’s golf program? No. The men’s golf program must still meet its originally agreed-upon financial goals by June 2018, by which time the program’s endowment needs to be fully capitalized in order to permanently remain in operation.

 

 

[The Sicatoka]

1 minute ago, jdub27 said:

Hard numbers do not appear to be included in press release or brief FAQ. Hopefully at some point they will be put out and put an immediate stop to all the false accusations that will be coming out.

Seriously? 

[Oxbow6]

3 minutes ago, Siouxperfan7 said:

Typical social media outrage.  People making comments with little to no knowledge of the facts.  

......not much different here with some.

[SWSiouxMN]

So in essence, WH was cut to comply with Title IX as well.  Ironic isn't it?

[The Sicatoka]

1 minute ago, SWSiouxMN said:

So in essence, WH was cut to comply with Title IX as well.  Ironic isn't it?

Irony is a harsh mistress. 

[mksioux]

Wow, that was short.  Kennedy didn't even talk.  

[The Sicatoka]

Just now, mksioux said:

Wow, that was short.  Kennedy didn't even talk.  

Yup. I was wrong. (There's my once for 2017.  )  

[cowboys5xsbs]

That was really short 

[SiouxBoys]

12 minutes ago, Siouxperfan7 said:

Typical social media outrage.  People making comments with little to no knowledge of the facts.  

Welcome to 2017

[Sioux27]

Just curious....(no need to flame this post)....per sport, which programs have the most national championships?  I'm guessing wrestling and swimming were fairly high on the list.  Granted they were individual sports but just curious.

[runaroundsioux]

1 minute ago, cowboys5xsbs said:

That was really short 

As it should have been. 

[siouxweet]

Are we done with the cutting of sports now or could this be revisited?

[andtheHomeoftheSIOUX!!]

Just now, siouxweet said:

Are we done with the cutting of sports now or could this be revisited?

Other then Golf's status, this should be it.

[The Sicatoka]

What I learned:  

UND went beyond $1.3 million to reallocate dollars to fully fund some other sports (scholarships) as a part of moving to the Summit. 

UND is still holding men's golf to the "survival deal". 

[The Sicatoka]

Just now, siouxweet said:

Are we done with the cutting of sports now or could this be revisited?

Ask the ND Revenue Department in Bismarck. Or get your checkbook out. 

[Siouxper Kev]

Any chance swimming/diving could pull together a program situation like men's golf?  Obviously WH can't at costs well over $1M.

[Dustin]

52 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

The latest numbers I have:

Operating Expense:
WIH -- $1,492,827 <-- remember that number has NONE of the cost of REA in it (MIH carries all that) 
MSD -- $358,041
WSD -- $591,646

Operating Revenue: 
WIH -- $29,239
MSD -- $31,458
WSD -- $39,194

Net:
WIH -- $1,463,588
MSD -- $326,583
WSD -- $552,452

I know these numbers are available to any who wants to see them, but would be willing to do the run down of the other sports, as well?  Specifically MH, MBB, WBB, FB, and VB?

[Sioux27]

2 minutes ago, Siouxper Kev said:

Any chance swimming/diving could pull together a program situation like men's golf?  Obviously WH can't at costs well over $1M.

I wonder the same thing as well.  Travel costs would be pretty high I'm guessing.

[The Sicatoka]

3 minutes ago, Sioux27 said:

I wonder the same thing as well.  Travel costs would be pretty high I'm guessing.

The numbers are here.
It costs (Op Expenses) just about $1 million for M/W S&D.