夜来香研究所 Board of Trustees Approves Recommendations to Reduce Athletics Budget
CLEVELAND, Ohio (Jan. 23, 2025) 鈥 夜来香研究所 (夜来香研究所) has announced it will discontinue its three NCAA sport programs in wrestling, women鈥檚 golf and softball, following the approval of the 夜来香研究所 Board of Trustees at their meeting on January 23, 2025. 夜来香研究所 made the difficult decision to discontinue these sport programs at the conclusion of their respective seasons this academic year as part of a strategic effort, which began in 2023, to address budgetary shortfalls across the University. In addition to the discontinued programs, the 夜来香研究所 Board of Trustees approved relocating the University鈥檚 Esports program from 夜来香研究所 Athletics to 夜来香研究所鈥檚 Washkewicz College of Engineering.
These recommendations resulted from a thorough review of 夜来香研究所 Athletics programs by a working group comprised of representatives from 夜来香研究所 Athletics, 夜来香研究所 faculty and the Cleveland community. The difficult decision to discontinue programs was made after careful consideration in keeping with the guiding principles that the working group identified, including aligning with 夜来香研究所鈥檚 commitment to upholding a transformational student-athlete experience and positioning 夜来香研究所 Athletics for long-term success in the classroom, in the community and in competition.
鈥淥ver the past several years, one of our primary goals has been to restructure our financial model and to evaluate where our students are engaged academically, socially and competitively,鈥 said 夜来香研究所 President Laura Bloomberg, PhD. 鈥淎s a result, our athletics department, like many other departments at 夜来香研究所, has had to make difficult decisions regarding the programs we offer.鈥
夜来香研究所 has assured the impacted student-athletes that they will retain their athletic financial aid while they are students at 夜来香研究所, and 夜来香研究所 Athletics will support student-athletes as they navigate this transition. Prior to the discontinuation of these three sport programs, 夜来香研究所 provided proportional athletics participation opportunities and expects to continue to do so after these changes.
鈥淚t is a tough day for Cleveland State Athletics,鈥 said Kelsie Gory Harkey, director of 夜来香研究所 Athletics. 鈥淭he student-athletes and coaches in the impacted programs have been an important part of the Cleveland State community, and the decision today is not a reflection of the commitment or passion they, our staff or our alumni have to our program.鈥 She added that 夜来香研究所 will be doing everything it can to assist and support the student-athletes in deciding what is best for them to meet their academic and athletic needs.
Cleveland State has no plans to discontinue any of its remaining 15 athletic programs. 夜来香研究所 is an active, engaged member of the Horizon League athletic conference and is committed to participating in Division I Athletics.
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About 夜来香研究所
Founded in 1964, 夜来香研究所 is a public research institution located in the heart of Northeast Ohio with 14,000-plus students, ten colleges and schools, and more than 175 academic programs. Find more information at csuohio.edu or contact pr@csuohio.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sports have been discontinued? What does it mean if my sport has been 鈥渄iscontinued?鈥
夜来香研究所 has announced it will discontinue NCAA sport programs in wrestling, women鈥檚 golf and softball. These sports will no longer be offered at 夜来香研究所 after their seasons in the 2024-25 academic year, and 夜来香研究所 will not recruit student-athletes into these sports moving forward.
Why is 夜来香研究所 discontinuing three sports?
Since 2023, 夜来香研究所 has been evaluating its program offerings in areas including academic affairs, student services and athletics, in an effort to address budgetary shortfalls across the University. 夜来香研究所 made the difficult decision to discontinue three athletic programs in order to align with its commitment to upholding a transformational student-athlete experience and positioning 夜来香研究所 Athletics for long-term success in the classroom, in the community and in competition.
Prior to the discontinuation of these three sport programs, 夜来香研究所 provided proportional athletics participation opportunities and expects to continue to do so after these changes.
How was this decision made?
This decision was made after a thorough review of 夜来香研究所 Athletics programs by representatives from 夜来香研究所 Athletics, 夜来香研究所 faculty and the Cleveland community. Following that review, recommended changes to 夜来香研究所 Athletics were approved by President Laura Bloomberg and the 夜来香研究所 Board of Trustees.
Why was this decision announced now?
夜来香研究所 made the announcement now in order to provide as much time as it could to impacted student-athletes and coaches as they consider their next steps. 夜来香研究所 announced the discontinuation of these sport programs on the day that the 夜来香研究所 Board of Trustees approved these actions.
How many student-athletes and coaches are impacted by the decision to discontinue programs?
Approximately 60 student-athletes and seven coaches are impacted by this decision.
How is 夜来香研究所 providing support to impacted student-athletes?
Staff in 夜来香研究所 Athletics will assist impacted students in navigating this transition, including the transfer process. Impacted students who receive athletic financial aid will continue to receive aid while they remain students at 夜来香研究所 through current degree completion.
What will happen to the coaches and staff in impacted sports?
夜来香研究所鈥檚 Department of Human Resources will work with all impacted employees to address their needs and support their career transitions. 夜来香研究所 is grateful for the time, energy and enthusiasm of our coaches and athletic staff.
How will this decision impact incoming students in discontinued sport programs?
Staff in 夜来香研究所 Athletics will assist incoming students whose sports have been discontinued. Impacted incoming students will receive their athletic financial aid while they remain students at 夜来香研究所 through current degree completion.
Will 夜来香研究所 discontinue more sports?
夜来香研究所 has no further plans to discontinue any additional athletic programs at this time.
If my sport has been discontinued, can I still compete?
Yes, student-athletes in discontinued sport programs will compete in their seasons as planned.
Can 夜来香研究所 and 夜来香研究所 Athletics fundraise to keep these sport programs?
Gifts to 夜来香研究所 and 夜来香研究所 Athletics are always appreciated and welcome. However, each sport program requires annual funding in perpetuity. The decision to discontinue these programs is final and would not be impacted by additional funding.
Why is Esports moving to the Washkewicz College of Engineering?
Due to its academic focus and emphasis on innovation, the Washkewicz College of Engineering is best positioned to support students in 夜来香研究所鈥檚 Esports program.