Future of Division III

[WUPHF]

Indeed it is....no division is immune. Maryland is cutting $104 million between 2025-2027
Kansas - $32 million this year.
Oregon - staff cuts, non-essential travel ban.

In some cases, it is far crazier at the other levels as institutions layoff faculty and staff specifically to pay student athletes.

[CNU85]

Indeed it is....no division is immune. Maryland is cutting $104 million between 2025-2027
Kansas - $32 million this year.
Oregon - staff cuts, non-essential travel ban.

In some cases, it is far crazier at the other levels as institutions layoff faculty and staff specifically to pay student athletes.

Optics are real. It's difficult to understand when you're the one being let go, and making a pittance compared to the NIL money an athlete is making. The reality is that if the NIL money isn't used properly, the athletes go elsewhere and suddenly revenue drops from athletics because nobody wants to watch sub 500 teams or purchase merhcandise, or donate large sums. That leads to even more cuts.

And the optics at D3 schools are also present. While NIL money usually isn't a factor, when schools cut staff, majors, minors, and don't cut athletics, it's a tough pill to swallow when you're packing your personal items.

At the d3 level, as you all know, athletic programs mean enrollment, and in some places, some sports are actually net positive when it comes to revenue vs cost.

[MCScots2013]

TSSAA is sponsoring lacrosse (a recent development I believe) and MC's new track facility has a turf field with lines that seem to suggest lacrosse is coming soon.  Men's and women's combine roster is what, 75 students?  Another couple million in annual revenue to the College, I suppose.  No idea how much it costs to outfit each player with equipment.

Switching gears:
What are some thoughts on Greek life for small colleges and universities?  Evidently Maryville has a committee to explore allowing Greek life on campus to help boost enrollment and retention.  There is currently one frat with a presence on campus, DKE, through a charter with the city (does that even count??).  Does Greek life seem to have a positive effect on increased enrollment?  Another way to compete with mid-size universities?

[WUPHF]

In 30 years working in higher education, I have never heard of a small college or university purposefully bringing social fraternities or sororities to campus as an enrollment strategy. But for a variety of reasons, I like the idea.

[WUPHF]

There has been a widely discussed trend of students looking to go south for college.

For an institution such as Maryville, they may have decided that the Greek letter organizations can help them better capitalize on the trend.

https://www.boston.com/news/the-boston-globe/2025/10/10/yo-you-got-to-go-why-more-students-from-the-northeast-are-heading-south-for-college/

[MCScots2013]

Jury's still out on whether or not they'll do it.  I think I'd be more surprised if we did it.  Bryan Coker (President) has some experience in that world from prior positions.  Might have been at UT when the, shall we say, "unorthodox consumption of alcohol" thing happened.

To your second point: there was a time when Maryville had a ton of kids from NJ and PA, 70s into the 80s maybe.  When I was there, of course Tennessee had the lion's share, but Florida was a close second.  Georgia is creeping up there, too, especially amongst athletes.  If memory serves, I was told back in the day they gave preacher discounts so preachers could send their kids to school at a much lower rate (hence out of region state mix).  I don't think that practice is still in place.

Would love to see them parlay adding lacrosse and Greek life into attracting more from the northeast.  Their parents might want to come down with them and take advantage of the no income tax.  Can trade that for tuition dollars!

[CNU85]

Here is some info on what Greek Life looks like at CNU. I can't say how things impact other institutions, but at CNU Greek Life is integral to the student experience and involved in the community. We have 23 organizations involved.

CNU Greek Life

[CNU85]

Some more info

CNU Greek Village