Athletics reallocates scholarships

Changes in eight varsity sports address Title IX

JMU Athletics took away scholarships from eight varsity sports. Rather than eliminate these sports or reapportion money from other sports, JMU Athletics divided sports into two categories: those receiving the maximum amount of scholarship funding and those that received none.

JMU Athletic Director Jeff Bourne said, in doing so, JMU kept all 28 sports and remained one of the largest athletic programs in the state.

"What we’re really looking at is finding ways to enhance support needed for our students," Bourne said. "Intercollegiate sports should parallel the undergrad population … meaning 62 percent should be female."

Reallocation of funds began in 2001, Bourne said, to enhance sport support programs and provide resources to developing sports programs such as women’s softball. About $683,000 has been shifted in the past four years. Bourne said the athletic department identified programs aimed mostly as "participatory sports." While resources still are allocated to are allocated to these programs, students on these teams sought participation, rather than extreme competition.

Bourne said because of JMU’s high ratio of female students, at least 59 percent of funding and scholarships should go to women’s athletic programs to meet Title IX guidelines. JMU never was in violation of Title IX guidelines — changes were made to address varying needs of the athletic department.

Scholarship sports for men include football, basketball, soccer and baseball. Women’s sports receiving scholarship funding include soccer, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, softball, volleyball, indoor/outdoor and cross-country track.

Specific figures on each sport vary because the NCAA’s scholarship guideline differ between sports.
The appropriation restrictions explain why nine women’s sports received full funding to four men’s sports, Bourne said.

Non-scholarship teams still compete, but the budget cuts have "affected their competitiveness," Bourne said. "There’s now only recruitment for walk-on students, with no funding."

"In some sports, cuts in funding mean we are not as competitive as we used to be," he said.

Senior Evan Kays, a member of the men’s cross country and track team, said, "Budget cuts end up hurting some people and helping others at the same time."