Thursday, October 23, 2003
The Associated Press
October 20, 2003, Monday, BC cycle
Colgate to offer limited number of sports scholarships
By JOHN KEKIS, AP Sports Writer
HAMILTON, N.Y.
Breaking from its long-standing tradition of awarding financial aid solely on need, Colgate University announced Monday that it would begin offering a limited number of athletic scholarships as part of a plan 'to enhance excellence in programs across the campus.'
The policy, approved Saturday by the school's board of trustees, will go into effective with the class entering in fall 2004.
'Our aim is to make Colgate the school of choice for students committed to making meaningful contributions both in the classroom and on the playing field,' Provost Jack Dovidio said.
The decision comes four years after the Patriot League, in which Colgate competes in 23 sports, began allowing athletic scholarships. The private liberal arts college, located about 35 miles southeast of Syracuse, has an enrollment of 2,800.
In all, 31 full scholarships worth about $37,000 each will be available for both men and women in basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and swimming and diving. Women competing in field hockey, softball and volleyball also will be eligible. No athletic scholarships will be given in football because the league does not allow it.
'We are enabling our coaches to selectively recruit that special blend of scholar-athlete - the student who is currently being wooed away by schools with equally high academic standards but with more to offer in terms of scholarship aid," Dovidio said. "This effectively levels the playing field and puts us in a position to improve both our academic and athletic profiles.
"A lot of times, we end up having to turn our backs on some kids because they're great students and great athletes but have little or no financial need," Dovidio said. "A lot of times we're losing those kids to scholarship schools."
The policy change was reached after a 13-month study by committee comprised of about 20 senior administrators and faculty.
Dovidio said the change would reduce the number of recruited athletes by about 25 percent. Roster size was not expected to decrease because walk-ons and other students who can play Division I sports but who are not recruited athletes will still be among the students attending Colgate, he said. The change also is expected to have another effect.
"Winning teams are phenomenal for school spirit. So the more winning teams we can have, the better it is for all of our students and faculty," Colgate president Rebecca Chopp said.
Chopp said the university wasn't adding any money to its scholarship pool, only rearranging it. She said a major evaluation of the new policy would be done in four years.
@ 10:29 AM
October 20, 2003, Monday, BC cycle
Colgate to offer limited number of sports scholarships
By JOHN KEKIS, AP Sports Writer
HAMILTON, N.Y.
Breaking from its long-standing tradition of awarding financial aid solely on need, Colgate University announced Monday that it would begin offering a limited number of athletic scholarships as part of a plan 'to enhance excellence in programs across the campus.'
The policy, approved Saturday by the school's board of trustees, will go into effective with the class entering in fall 2004.
'Our aim is to make Colgate the school of choice for students committed to making meaningful contributions both in the classroom and on the playing field,' Provost Jack Dovidio said.
The decision comes four years after the Patriot League, in which Colgate competes in 23 sports, began allowing athletic scholarships. The private liberal arts college, located about 35 miles southeast of Syracuse, has an enrollment of 2,800.
In all, 31 full scholarships worth about $37,000 each will be available for both men and women in basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and swimming and diving. Women competing in field hockey, softball and volleyball also will be eligible. No athletic scholarships will be given in football because the league does not allow it.
'We are enabling our coaches to selectively recruit that special blend of scholar-athlete - the student who is currently being wooed away by schools with equally high academic standards but with more to offer in terms of scholarship aid," Dovidio said. "This effectively levels the playing field and puts us in a position to improve both our academic and athletic profiles.
"A lot of times, we end up having to turn our backs on some kids because they're great students and great athletes but have little or no financial need," Dovidio said. "A lot of times we're losing those kids to scholarship schools."
The policy change was reached after a 13-month study by committee comprised of about 20 senior administrators and faculty.
Dovidio said the change would reduce the number of recruited athletes by about 25 percent. Roster size was not expected to decrease because walk-ons and other students who can play Division I sports but who are not recruited athletes will still be among the students attending Colgate, he said. The change also is expected to have another effect.
"Winning teams are phenomenal for school spirit. So the more winning teams we can have, the better it is for all of our students and faculty," Colgate president Rebecca Chopp said.
Chopp said the university wasn't adding any money to its scholarship pool, only rearranging it. She said a major evaluation of the new policy would be done in four years.
@ 10:29 AM
