NEW ORLEANS – UNO is investigating moving its athletics department from NCAA Division I status to Division III, a move that could save the university money, the school announced in a release Wednesday morning.
Budget cuts for the current academic year combined with a vote against an increase in student fees this past spring have put the school’s athletics department in a financially tough position.
In May, Hornets owner George Shinn announced his intention to help raise money for the department and this summer, the school learned of a donation from the estate of Wick Cary. Both were supposed to help the school make up the money it needed for scholarships.
But the private fundraising hasn’t come through with the money needed and the money from the estate won’t come as quickly as expected, the school said.
“We had to reduce funding for athletics in the previous round of budget cuts and since then, the financial picture of the University and the athletics program has not improved,” Chancellor Tim Ryan said.
To get the athletic department back in financial good standing, the school has decided look into moving to Division III, where scholarships aren’t given. The move would take several years and could begin as soon as the fall of 2010.
NCAA requirements for D-III include having six sports per gender and the move would allow the school’s football and soccer club teams to move up.
“The good thing about Division III is the focus on student-athletes,” Ryan said. “Division III is about students having a NCAA Conference experience that is an enhancement to their academic pursuits and is also much more cost effective.”
Currently, UNO is a member of the Sun Belt Conference in all sports.
The school said all moves must be approved by the LSU System along with the NCAA.
