ST. CLOUD STATE INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS Frequently Asked Questions Q:

Why was the decision made to eliminate sport programs, and how were the sport programs selected?

A:

The decision to eliminate programs (Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis, Women’s Nordic Skiing, Men’s Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field and Men’s Cross Country) was not taken lightly, as we understand these decisions impact the lives of our students, faculty/staff, alumni, and community. St. Cloud State University is currently operating under a Financial Recovery Plan in response to budget shortfalls. Each campus unit has been asked to reduce expenses to address University financial sustainability. The St. Cloud State Athletics Department already operates on a thin margin as documented five years ago in reduction discussions, and anticipates a deficit of roughly $500,000 in the current fiscal year. Across the board cuts to our programs only reduce the quality of our programs and ability to compete at the regional and national level. Based upon our strategic planning work in 2013, our intention is to align our program composition with our mission and vision. As we reviewed options, many criteria were considered as we evaluated mission/vision alignment including the following: history and tradition of the programs; facilities availability and condition; recent competitive success; investment needs; alumni engagement and financial support; regional participation/interest; and impact on Title IX compliance.

Q:

Was program elimination based upon Title IX compliance?

A:

The University’s decision to eliminate sport programs was grounded in aligning our program composition with our strategic mission and vision while addressing budget shortfalls within athletics. Given changes had to be made to our program composition for these purposes, it was appropriate to address Title IX compliance concerns as part of the action plan.

Q:

Will the eliminations solve the budget problems for the athletics department?

A:

The program eliminations, along with re-organization, will decrease expenses and the amount the University has had to supplement the athletics budget annually. Revenue generation remains critical to the long term sustainability of our programs, and we will continue to actively solicit philanthropic donations, ticket sales, and corporate sponsorships to support our department.

Q:

What is the total amount of money that will be saved by these decisions?

A:

Sport program eliminations and organizational restructuring in the Department of Athletics will save approximately $250,000 for FY17, or about 5% of the athletics general fund allocation.

Q:

Will money saved be re-invested into other sport programs?

A:

While we wish that were the case, the University’s Financial Recovery Plan requires that we balance the University budget and begin to restore reserves that have been depleted over time.

Athletics financial aid will be re-distributed to provide for equitable support for our men’s and women’s programs. Q:

What impact will program elimination and roster management have on enrollment?

A:

The Department of Admission has developed a robust enrollment plan based upon data analytics that support steady enrollment at St. Cloud State University despite decreasing enrollment demographics in the upper Midwest. The athletics decision has the potential to impact about 80 unduplicated roster spots across all sports (eliminated and reduced), and we will support student-athletes in impacted programs in completing their degrees at St. Cloud State. The loss of students related to these cuts have been factored into enrollment projections for FY17 by the Department of Admission.

Q:

The last time reductions were discussed, the Student Government Association (SGA) supported a student fee increase to address the shortfalls. Why is that not being considered?

A:

The Department of Athletics is thankful for the referendum vote over four years ago and continues to benefit from athletics fee revenue. That said, athletics fee revenue peaked in 2012 with student enrollment and has seen steady declines since that are now beginning to stabilize with enrollment. Athletics fees are currently at the MnSCU defined cap ($4.58 per credit hour up to 12 hours per semester). The St. Cloud State SGA has lobbied MnSCU and other student government organizations in the system to increase fee caps for all student fee-funded areas. In the interest of affordability, MnSCU cap increases have not been approved.

Q:

How will St. Cloud State address athletics aid for those who wish to remain on campus?

A:

St. Cloud State will honor current athletics financial aid grants for up to a total of four years at St. Cloud State University. University faculty, staff, and administrators are committed to assisting impacted students in degree completion at St. Cloud State University. Questions related to financial aid should be directed to the St. Cloud State Athletics Compliance Office or to University Financial Aid Director Mike Uran.

Q:

What transfer opportunities exist for student-athletes whose programs are being cut or impacted by roster management?

A:

Per NCAA bylaw 14.5.5.3.5 – Discontinued/Non-sponsored Sport Exception – student-athletes impacted by program elimination are provided immediate relief from transfer residency requirements. We will provide a blanket release to all NCAA institutions for all student-athletes on eliminated teams so they can engage in immediate conversations related to participation in other programs. For those students impacted by roster management, we will work on a case-bycase basis to offer transfer releases and support the inter-conference waiver process if appropriate.

Q:

What happens to those prospective student-athletes who have signed an NLI with St. Cloud State University and whose program is eliminated?

A:

Per the National Letter of Intent, the NLI is deemed null and void if a sport program is discontinued. Our coaches and compliance office will assist in any way possible to help impacted prospective student-athletes as they seek other opportunities.

Q:

What other participation opportunities exist at St. Cloud State for students impacted by these decisions?

A:

St. Cloud State offers a number of intramural and club sports programs through Campus Recreation. If students would like to start a new club program, information can be found at http://www.stcloudstate.edu/campusinvolvement/student-orgs/start-organization.aspx and we encourage those interested to speak with Ron Seibring, Director of Sport Facilities/Campus Recreation, to initiate the process. Additionally, St. Cloud State boasts over 200 student organizations that provide students the opportunity to be engaged in campus activities.

Q:

How are programs impacted by roster management and can roster management be phased in over 2-3 years?

A:

A roster management plan has been established to support compliance with Title IX as St. Cloud State’s overall sport portfolio changes. In most cases, our men’s programs are being required to reduce rosters while we are requiring our women’s programs increase rosters. Roster management numbers must be achieved immediately to comply with Title IX and meet the budget reductions necessary. The numbers were determined with consideration for roster averages derived from NCAA Division II roster data (October 2015 report) and a review of St. Cloud State’s roster sizes over the past three years. Current (unofficial) and expected roster numbers for academic years 2015-16 and 2016-17:

Women’s Basketball Women's Cross Country Women's Golf Women's Hockey Women's Nordic Skiing Women's Soccer Women's Softball Women's Swim/Dive Women's Tennis Women's T&F, Indoor Women's T&F, Outdoor Volleyball Participation Number Unduplicated

2015-16 17 10 13 24 8 30 25 40 9 27 23 20

2016-17 18 14 12 25 0 28 23 40 0 38 38 18 254 202

Men’s Baseball Men's Basketball Men's Cross Country Men's Football Men's Golf Men's Hockey Men's Swim/Dive Men's Tennis Men's T&F, Indoor Men's T&F, Outdoor Men's Wrestling Participation Number

2015-16 49 15 9 102 10 26 37 12 33 29 52

2016-17 37 15 0 97 10 27 26 0 0 0 38 250

Unduplicated

Q:

Does this decision impact St. Cloud State’s membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference?

A:

St. Cloud State will continue to meet membership obligations within the NSIC.

Q:

Does St. Cloud State University Athletics expect additional budget reductions in the future?

A:

Best practice in higher education assumes that all departments regularly review their programs and adjust as appropriate to meet the needs and interests of a changing student demographic to support the University’s mission and vision. The University’s Financial Recovery Plan will require the University continue to be diligent in submitting balanced budgets that include

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restoring University reserves. Given expenses such as salary, travel, equipment, game management, scholarships, etc. increase annually, we must continue to increase all revenue sources, including fundraising, to meet expense needs and ensure program sustainability. Q:

Will eliminated programs be given the opportunity to fundraise to restore their varsity status?

A:

The decision to eliminate programs was based upon a holistic review of our programs and the need to right-size our sports portfolio to better align with our mission and vision and achieve greater competitive success. While sustainable budgets were certainly a part of the review, it is not the only factor. Thus, fundraising initiatives to restore a program will not be supported.

Q:

What is the Department’s fundraising goal, and how can I help?

A:

Over the past four years St. Cloud State and the Department of Athletics have streamlined messaging and outreach related to fundraising to share our need for additional revenue. While we have made some progress and continue to engage alumni and friends, there is much need for enhanced involvement. The Department raised about $315,000 in FY15 through all Huskies Fund accounts (general and sport specific). In the short term, we aspire to double our annual fundraising revenue in the next three years, although some of our peer institutions are generating well over $1,000,000 in annual fund contributions. Alumni and friends of St. Cloud State Athletics are encouraged to get involved through the Huskies Fund, our athletics annual fund program. Gifts can be made unrestricted to the Huskies Fund general account for use toward the department’s greatest needs or designated by sport to either sport operations or sport scholarships. For more information, please visit www.scsuhuskies.com and click on the “DONATE” tab at the top of your screen, or contact Kurt Stelten, Director of Athletics Development, at 320/308-2073. In addition to Huskies Fund donations, many of our programs engage in additional efforts to support their programs, such as golf tournaments, concessions/security staffing, hosting of camps/clinics. These are important components of our overall revenue generation that we will continue, but cannot sustain our programs long term.