Student driven sports expansion

Everyone is familiar with the endemic lack of funding higher education is having to deal with across the country and how many institutions are struggling to meet the needs of the students under these conditions. However, what if the situation is exasperated by the institutions own students in the direction they would like to see the university expand? This is precisely the position the University California, San Diego (UCSD) finds itself in. http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/students/03-14ProgramTransition.asp

UCSD is a school most well known for having received a generous endowment left in the late Howard Hughes estate to fund the medical school (to such an extent tuition is of no cost to the student) and for the marvelous library, the Geisel Library, donated by everyone's favorite children's author, Dr. Suess. It is not often people associate sports with UCSD even though it would be rationale to do so given the schools population of 30,000 students and recent dominance in Division II sports. The UCSD baseball team has won the NCAA West Regional Championship two years running and their woman's soccer team was runner-up division champions last year. UCSD also works to embrace the concept of student-athelete with 64 Academic Achievement Awards and 84 students being named to the All-Academic teams in their respective conferences. In addition, more than 55% of the athletes have a GPA of 3.0 or greater.
So imagine the surprise and dismay of the faculty and staff when a survey of students asked how to improve the school resulted in moving the schools athletic programs into a Division I status (Division I-AAA due to a lack of football program).

Professor Ivan Evans fears the pursuit of higher sports at UCSD will spoil the historical environment of pure research and academics. http://chronicle.com/article/Students-Dreams-of-Big-Time/129055/ Professor Evans stance is completely understandable given the ongoing controversies which seem to plague big time collegiate sports eg the recent University of Florida booster scandal however Professor Evan's stance my not supportable in the athletic environment UCSD has nurtured. As aforementioned the majority of student athletes are exceptional students at an academically exceptional institution. These student athletes and student fans are simply continuing with the excellence expected of them. These students strive to be successful in the classroom so it is only natural they would pursue bigger challenges on the sports field. Given these students have achieved continued national recognition for their sports programs on a budget derived from student fees is remarkable and speaks to their dedication.

The topic comes full circle as we return to the subject of money and finance. Transitioning to a Division I (albeit AAA) school is likely to be very expensive given the move towards more student athletic grants and expanded team travel and other commitments required of a Division I school. Furthermore, a feasibility study has been engaged to determine whether or not UCSD should start a football program and in a financially tight situation, as the University finds itself in, many may see this a confrontation between sports and academics when it doesn't have to be.

This process of changing to a Division I school is likely to take several years, especially if they are going to make a football program a part of this change. During this time, since UCSD is a student driven institution the Division change is most likely a foregone conclusion, UCSD needs to start fund raising from various school supporters and other entities who would potentially gain from UCSD having an enhanced sports program as it is unlikely the state of California will be able to assist financially for the foreseeable future.In taking the initiative to develop it's own income and funding streams UCSD will become less dependent upon the state while moving to meet not only the academic needs of the students but their competitive needs as well.