We Have More Athletes Than We Have Fans

Enrollment is a foundational measure for institutions impacting everything from financials to course planning. At Lourdes University in Sylvania, OH, focus on growing enrollment came in the form of building their athletic programs. Sports is a common connection point of alumni to the universities and colleges they once attended and can be an effective method to bring students to the school. Lourdes saw success with their efforts with student athlete counts tripling in a ten-year period. But the hidden metric was that their non-student athlete population fell over that same period. While an increase is an increase, Kelderman points out that athletic programs are expensive and funneling money to run them can lead to a reduction in course offerings, which can continue to erode the academic offerings. In addition, if you later look to cut a sport, it becomes an impactful decision because the athletes in that sport likely translate to student losses overall. Decisions in any setting come with short-term and long-term impacts. In a time when funding sources are more uncertain than usual, Kelderman reminds us that ensuring decisions are based on the values and missions of an institution will ensure resources are utilized responsibly.

Find your purpose and let it guide you.

 



References:

  • [1] Kelderman, Eric. “We Have More Athletes Than We Have Fans” The Chronicle of Higher Education, vol. 71, no. 16, April 11, 2025, page 24 – 30.

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