1. Athletics as Enrollment Driver: The Good, The Bad, The Reality
Tuesday, March 14
3:40 p.m.

2. Session Overview Overview of athletics and enrollment decisions
Panel Discussion
Open Discussion
Welcome and introductions. [5 minutes] 
Lecture to review existing research about athletics and enrollment decisions. [10 minutes]
Panel and audience discussion regarding the investment, return, benefits and challenges of using athletics to increase enrollment. [30 minutes]
Closing remarks, including list of available national resources to aid this analysis.

3. Learning Outcomes Participants will:
Evaluate the strategy of adding sports to increase institutional enrollment.
Identify the impact of sports on enrollment decisions.
Leave with tangible resources to assess the investment and return on adding a varsity sport.

4. Panelists
Lora de Lacey, Senior Vice President for Student Life, Aurora University
Laura De Veau, Vice President for Student Affairs, Mount Ida College
Dan Dutcher, Vice President for Division III, NCAA
Demond Hargrove, Associate VP for Student Affairs , New Jersey City University

5. Athletics and Enrollment Strategy
An Overview of the Landscape

6. 10-Year Division III Profile
% Change
Number Members
441
450
+2%
Total Number Teams
7,198
8,007
+11%
Avg. Number Sports Sponsored per Institution 17 20
+18%
Total Number Student-Athletes
156,108
189,067
+21%
Avg. Number Student-Athletes per Institution
360
425
% Students Participating in Athletics
18%
21%
+3%

7. Where is the growth occurring?
Men’s Lacrosse: 65% increase in the number of teams – 138 to 228.
Women’s Lacrosse: 63% increase in the number of teams – 167 to 273.
Baseball: 15% increase in average squad size – 31 to 35.
Women’s Track: 15% increase in average squad size – 24 to 28.

8. Funding the Growth
33% increase in the median athletics expenses in the past 5 years – $2.3M to $3M.
Largest total expenses reported: $16.4M.
At the median, Division III schools spend 4% of their institutional budgets on athletics.
18% increase in the average expense per student-athlete – $6,709 to $7,887 in the past five years.

9. The Pipeline Three-quarters are recruited.
Sports with heaviest recruiting: Basketball, Football, Baseball, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse.
Athletics and academics equal and top factors in the college choice.
More than 90% do campus visits.

10. Return on Investment Nearly 80% are glad they chose their school.
More than two-thirds would have attended their school even if it was a different coach.
Less than 20% would consider transferring if their coach left.

11. Return on Investment
More than two-thirds would like to attend graduate school.
87% graduate or transfer to another school.
More than 90% say that college sport has taught them personal responsibility, teamwork skills and work ethic.

12. Panel discussion

13. Lora de Lacey, PhD Senior Vice President for Student Life Aurora University
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14. Laura A. De Veau, M.Ed. Vice President for Student Affairs Mount Ida College

15. Demond T. Hargrove, Ph.D. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs New Jersey City University

16. Open Discussion

17. Thanks!