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June 24, 2020

UConn to cut sports, including men's tennis, as it projects $47M fall semester shortfall

HBJ Photo | Sean Teehan UConn President Thomas Katsouleas addresses the university’s board of trustees at an August meeting.
By Sean Teehan

The University of Connecticut will end four of its sports programs, including men's tennis and women's rowing, as the state’s flagship university projects a $47 million budget shortfall for the fall semester.

UConn President Thomas Katsouleas announced the cuts of those two sports along with men's cross country and swimming and diving during a meeting of the university's board of trustees Wednesday morning. 

"This was a brutal decision," board member and Travelers Cos. Chief Administrative Officer Andy Bessette said. "It's important for us to do this, and make sure this university lives on successfully, but it doesn't mean that this isn't painful."

As a cost-cutting measure, UConn will reduce subsidies to its athletics department by 25%, or about $10 million over three to five years, according to the university. 

UConn's projected  $47 million budget shortfall in the fall will be largely attributable to reductions in housing density, and the likelihood of losing millions in housing costs for in-state and international students, according to projections.

In a presentation, Dean of Students Eleanor Daugherty told trustees housing density in apartment and suite housing on the Storrs campus can operate at 100% capacity, but residence halls will reduce density by 50% this fall. In total, housing will operate at 70% occupancy this fall.

Katsouleas said UConn expects to see an $8.2 million loss in revenue from in-state students, and $12.9 million from international students. One bright spot, he said, is an expected $9.9 million increase in revenue from out-of-state students, based on housing deposits they're seeing.

"During times of financial crisis… applicants tend to prefer during times of crisis public flagship universities and elite private institutions," Katsouleas said.

UConn plans to resume in-person classes on Aug. 31, and end in-person classes and send home residential students after the Thanksgiving break. Residential students can start moving in two weeks prior to classes starting, and are required to agree to social distancing and other measures on campus. Residential students will also be tested for COVID-19 before moving into housing.


 

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2 Comments

Anonymous
June 24, 2020

But it is football that is generating massive deficits and as an independent will likely continue to lose millions. Why are the non-revenue sports, which cost comparatively little, being cut when the 800 lbs gorilla is football? Sports Illustrated published a devastating article about UConn's failed football program, a program that has virtually no possibility of achieving success (e.g. winning games).

Anonymous
June 24, 2020

Cutting men’s cross-country? Other than travel costs and coaches salaries, this sport costs the university next to nothing. How about cutting seriously inflated professor salaries...

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