[fullmetal]

It seems possible that it wasn't entirely covid-motivated, but covid is motivating just about everything these days, and if you say it's not covid-motivated, then maybe people won't be lobbying at your front door with pitchforks (or wallets) to reverse these decisions once the pandemic is over.

Interesting that many of the downgrading sports have club equivalents (though sometimes not same gender).  That makes sense from the athletic dept's view, but wow, talk about perverse incentives.  Imagine being a varsity athlete receiving notice of your sport's downgrade, partially because a club equivalent already exists.

The committee assessed such factors as the existing strengths of each team; current squad sizes; and the quality of facilities available for practice and competition.

Lesson: be successful, carry a large roster, try to run lean with facilities/infrastructure, and (unspoken) have a large/generous alumni base.

[fullmetal]

It seems possible that it wasn't entirely covid-motivated, but covid is motivating just about everything these days, and if you say it's not covid-motivated, then maybe people won't be lobbying at your front door with pitchforks (or wallets) to reverse these decisions once the pandemic is over.

Interesting that many of the downgrading sports have club equivalents (though sometimes not same gender).  That makes sense from the athletic dept's view, but wow, talk about perverse incentives.  Imagine being a varsity athlete receiving notice of your sport's downgrade, partially because a club equivalent already exists.

The committee assessed such factors as the existing strengths of each team; current squad sizes; and the quality of facilities available for practice and competition.

Lesson: be successful, carry a large roster, try to run lean with facilities/infrastructure, and (unspoken) have a large/generous alumni base.