#10: Marymount intends to eliminate ten degrees and programs, mostly in the humanities. (link) |
#9: Misericordia will grow its offerings to 28th with the addition of MIH in 2024-25. President Myers: “Misericordia University is committed to expanding opportunities for students to be challenged academically, socially and athletically. The addition of ice hockey affords more students the opportunity to engage in our university's culture, one focused on student success, mutual support, and service to others. Our student-athletes are examples of our core values in action.” (link)
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#8: The NCAA approved Penn State Brandywine’s (USCAA) request for a DIII exploratory year in 2023-24. Chancellor Wells: “Applying for NCAA Division III membership and enhancing our athletics program is one of 13 key objectives in our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, as we recognize the positive impact this will have not only on our student-athletes, but our entire campus community. We know that a sense of belonging is critical to our students’ success and persistence, and athletic programs provide our student-athletes with a close community of peers, as well as social and teamwork skills. Our athletic teams also reflect the rich diversity of our campus and strengthen our commitment to an equitable and inclusive environment — one of three goals in our Strategic Plan.” (link)
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#7: Tufts, Smith, Ithaca, NYU, Scranton, Christopher Newport, Ohio Northern, Transylvania, Wisconsin-Whitewater and Trinity (TX) sit atop the WBB regional rankings. (link) |
#6: Extra Points purveyor Brown ponders how the outcome of the Johnson v. NCAA case and the potential classification of student-athletes as employees could impact DII and DIII departments, as the financial implications would likely overwhelm a department. Brown: “I wonder if an alternate path forward here, at least for smaller colleges, would be to radically reimagine college sports with substantially less control over athletes as a way to comply with the law. […] I wonder if there is room in the FLSA guidelines to move D-II or D-III sports to something slightly closer to a Club Sports type model, where coaches and athletic departments no longer can academically cluster athletes into specific majors, or where mandated meeting times dramatically decrease, and the off-the-court obligations much more closely mirror that of a student newspaper or marching band. If spending more is not a practical option, perhaps schools could simply ask less of their athletes. Maybe that isn’t practical….and if that’s the case, then I recommend every single-bid D-I conference, and every D-II and D-III league, start having some pretty hard conversations about compliance in a post-employment model world would look like. That’s not a vapid thought exercise…that is preparing for a reality that could happen in the next 24 months.” (link)
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#5: The latest MBB regional rankings see Saint Joseph (CT), Keene State, Oswego State, Rowan, Swarthmore, Randolph-Macon, Case Western Reserve, Wheaton (IL), Wisconsin-Oshkosh and St. Thomas (TX) atop their respective regions. (link) |
#4: Brooklyn College names Hostos CC (NJCAA) AD Smiles as the Bulldogs' next AD. BC VP for Student Affairs Jackson: "While the former Athletic Director, Bruce Filosa, has left an indelible mark on the department and the larger campus community, I'm confident that Erik has the skills and abilities to move the department to new heights carving out his own legacy for the Bulldogs." (link)
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#3: Wisconsin-Platteville confirms that Men’s Wrestling HC Kittleson and two other staff members are no longer with the university as a result of ongoing NCAA investigations into the program. Former HC Walter has stepped in as Acting HC. (link)
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#2: The Boston Globe publishes a story on sexual abuse committed on and off campus by former Wellesley T&F HC Babington, who served at the school for more than a quarter century until 2013. Per the Globe, upon confirmation from Babington of one allegation, “Wellesley, rather than fire Babington, placed him on unpaid leave for the 1998 fall cross-country season, on the condition that he receive counseling and produce a psychologist’s written opinion that he would not pose a risk to other young women. Soon, Babington was back. He did not inform Wellesley or the psychologist about his previous sexual misconduct, he said, and the school reinstated him, based in part on the therapist’s opinion that his improper behavior was an isolated episode. Babington and Wellesley concealed the reason for his absence from his interim replacements, assistant coaches, and student-athletes, many of them said in interviews. They recalled him saying he had taken a sabbatical.” (link); Current Wellesley President Johnson released a statement on the Globe’s story. (link)
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#1: The Farmingdale State vs Yeshiva MBB contest scheduled for Saturday evening was declared a forfeit in favor of the Rams after the Maccabees, citing player health and safety, decided against playing the game. Per Yeshiva AD Fox: “When we arrived at the game, as early as possible after Shabbat, we were not provided with sufficient time to warm up. In the interest of safety, we could not allow our student-athletes to proceed. Farmingdale had made a prior commitment to provide adequate warmup time, which was not honored.” As a result, FSU will be the 1-seed in the Skyline tournament, while YU, which would have been the 1-seed with a win, will be the 3-seed. (link, link)
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