https://www.wksu.org/post/university-akron-cut-athletics-teams#stream/0
The University of Akron will announce Thursday what its president calls fairly substantial cuts to the school’s athletics program.
“Students have to have an expectation that their tuition and fees are principally going to their education," Schulze, a professor of child and family development, said.
University President Gary Miller says being a Division I school helps Akron attract students and 56% of the 515 student athletes are not on scholarship. He says less than 6% of the school’s overall budget goes toward sports.
“We agree with the union that we spend too much money on it," Miller said. "So that’s why Thursday we’re going to announce some fairly substantial cuts in athletics for next year.”
Miller says that will mean the elimination of some sports. But he says they are committed to remaining a Division I school.
Miller says changing divisions would be costly.
“You don’t lose costs when you move to other divisions. You still have to pay for coaches, still have to pay for facilities, you still have to travel students. We believe that the best course of action is to work with our Division I partners in Ohio and the region to develop a better Division I model.”
Miller also says there’s a $4 million exit fee to leave the Mid American Conference. He says constructive conversations are going on among MAC schools to develop what he calls a more rational mid-major DI program.