BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Decision to Eliminate Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Teams Blue Ribbon Task Force Report | Oliver & Lindemenn Report It should be noted that recommendations contained in the reports of advisory groups and consultants are provided to help inform and assist University managers, and ultimately the senior administration, in policy deliberations. The decisions of the responsible administrators are guided by the advisory recommendations, but the discretion regarding which recommendations to use are a function and responsibility of management to exercise its best judgment in the larger context of the optimal interests of the entire University community. For example, six of the 12 recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Task Force Report were implemented by the University, including: creating a single, unified department of athletics with one athletics director; adding part-time assistant coaches to four teams; investing $6 million in improved athletics facilities (i.e., all-purpose field and updated locker rooms in Biemesderfer Stadium, softball field renovations, Pucillo pool renovations, new baseball field, and new training facilities), improving athletics facility reservation systems, placing athletic directors in a non-teaching faculty department, and consolidating all athletics-related staff in one facility, Jefferson Hall.

Millersville, Pa. - Millersville University of Pennsylvania announced a reduction of three varsity intercollegiate athletic sports in order to strengthen existing teams' competitive opportunities and ensure a sustainable financial future for the athletics department, according to Dr. Aminta Hawkins Breaux, Vice President of Student Affairs, who oversees the intercollegiate athletics program.

“This direction was made after careful deliberation when trying to concentrate diminishing budget dollars,” she said. “The University cannot sustain 22 intercollegiate teams and be responsive to growing needs that affect all student-athletes.”

The discontinued sports include men's indoor and outdoor track and field and men's cross country. Millersville, which fielded the second-highest number of teams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), will move from 22 to 19 teams.

The decision takes into consideration recommendations made in a 2006 study by the University's Blue Ribbon Task Force, the 2010 study completed by Oliver & Lindemenn, a nationwide athletic consulting firm, and an internal assessment conducted by the Department of Athletics in the spring of 2011.

The University will realize approximately $200,000 in savings. This will bring funding per sport in line with other PSAC and NCAA Division II athletic programs. Millersville athletics has already taken steps to reduce its operating budget by more than $100,000 over the last two years. Steps include freezing positions, eliminating overnight travel and reducing preseason meals.

In addition to financial impact, the decision also factored each sport's history of competitive success, moving closer to compliance with Title IX and the principles of gender equity as well as improving Millersville athletics' competitive standing.

The elimination of sports affects approximately 30 student-athletes. The student-athletes participating in the affected sports who continue their undergraduate education at Millersville University will continue to receive their athletic scholarships for a period equal to their remaining eligibility. The Department of Athletics will grant releases to student-athletes who choose to transfer and compete for another university.

The reduction results in the elimination of one full-time head coaching position.

Coach Andy Young will be retained as the head coach of the women's cross country and track and field teams.  He had served as the men and women's cross country head coach and the director of the track and field programs. The men's outdoor track and field team will compete in the spring of 2012.

Millersville University athletics will continue to serve nearly 400 student-athletes as well as more than 3,000 students in club sports and intramurals.  Students who participated in men's indoor and outdoor track and field and men's cross country and are interested in making it a club sport should contact Campus Recreation.

Millersville Athletics FAQ
Q: How did the University reach this decision?
A: Following more than 18 months of careful deliberation and delay, the administration reached a decision to eliminate the three teams based on the University's declining resources.
 
Q: What information was the decision based on and who was consulted in the process?
A: Enhancing intercollegiate programs at Millersville has been the goal of more than six years of research and study. In 2006 the Athletics Blue Ribbon Task Force, appointed by the president in 2005, delivered a report that addressed several concerns including staffing, scholarships and facilities. The result was a $6 million investment in athletics programs, including construction of the Carpenter Trout Athletic Training Center, and major renovations to the Pucillo pool, softball field and football stadium. In 2009 Oliver & Lindemann Consultants were contracted to make further recommendations; cost containment strategies and revenue enhancements were at the top of the list, among other team-specific suggestions. While focusing on increased revenues, the athletics program sought considerable input through focus groups conducted with students on the Student Athletics Advisory Committee, all coaches, and alumni in spring 2011.
 
Q: Why do these cuts have to come from the athletics program? Can't the University cut other areas?
A: Significant cuts have already been made, which have spared athletics programs until now. Over the last five years Millersville reduced its budget by $15.5 million by eliminating or freezing more than 124 faculty and staff positions. In addition, other measures were taken including a 50% decrease in the repair and renovation budgets and deep cuts to the instructional equipment budget.
 
Q: What is the budget future for Millersville?
A: In 2012 the Governor informed the State System that 5% of its current operating budget would be frozen in anticipation of an unexpected decline in state revenues. In February the Governor announced a proposed 20% funding reduction for 2012-13 for all 14 State System universities.
 
Q: How will the elimination of these teams help balance the budget?
A: Budgets are still threatened. With limited resources, however, Millersville cannot successfully field 22 teams. Once the decision was made to eliminate the three men's teams, the amount of $200,000 was earmarked for reduction from the athletics budget.
 
Q: How did Title IX factor into the decision?
A: With approximately 10 student-athletes participating in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field and approximately 20 competing in indoor track and field and outdoor track and field, the elimination of the three teams accounts for more than 70 participant opportunities, which increases the ratio of female to male student-athletes and more accurately reflecting Millersville University's student-body. 
 
Q: When was the decision announced and who was informed?
A: The announcement was made on February 14, 2012. Dr. Breaux, vice president for student affairs, and other athletics administrators met first with student-athletes, team members and coaches – those who would be most affected by the decision. They explained the reasoning and justification for the decision. Then key alumni and athletics donors were contacted before the announcement was made public. Dr. Breaux and Mr. Bruszewski, vice president for finance and administration, addressed the Student Senate on Feb. 23 to discuss the decision and review the financial reasons for the elimination of the teams. Two more meetings were held in February and March with the coaches' union.
 
Q: What will happen to the coaches of the affected teams?
A: One full-time coaching position will be eliminated and Andy Young, the current head cross country coach for both the men and women's programs as well as the track and field coordinator, will be retained as the head coach for the women's cross country and track and field teams.
 
Q: What happens to the student athletes – do they have any other choices?
A: Any student-athlete that wishes to compete in the NCAA and wishes to transfer will be assisted by the athletics department. Current student-athletes participating in the affected sports who continue their undergraduate education at Millersville University will continue to receive their athletic scholarships for a period equal to their remaining eligibility.
 
Q: What has been the reaction to this decision?
A: Understandably, the affected team members are unhappy as are other student-athletes at the University. Many alumni of the cross country and track and field program have expressed their disappointment with the decision. On March 2 Dr. Breaux accepted a petition requesting program reinstatement. The University has received many comments demanding reinstatement of the teams, suggesting budget solutions to find the revenue needed to support and sustain the program. Unfortunately, replacing the cost to field these programs does not solve the overall budget situation. 
 
Q: Will there be any more cuts to athletic teams?
A: In these difficult economic times we are always reviewing the entire budget at Millersville University. At present we do not anticipate any additional cuts to the athletics program.
 
Q: Are there opportunities for student-athletes to compete on club teams?
A: Millersville has a strong intramural sports program that offers students competitive experiences in many areas. Student-athletes have been encouraged to establish a club team through the Campus Recreation program.