Chancellor Donald J. Reaves
I was extremely pleased that so many alumni, students, faculty and members of the community participated in the discussion of the major issues facing Winston-Salem State University at our recent Alumni/Community Forum. I believe this underscores the important role this institution plays in this city, county and Triad region.
The original intent of the forum was to discuss the status of the athletic program, but given the looming budget crisis and the importance of our efforts to retain and graduate our students, I expanded the agenda. So, the presentation began with an overview of our enrollment growth and retention statistics; it moved to a discussion of the budget situation; and ended with a status report and discussion of the athletic program. The order in which these issues were presented demonstrates their priority and how they are linked by the budget and the difficulties that it presents.
A great deal more time, however, was spent on the athletic program. There was much discussion on whether we could complete the transition to NCAA Division I status, a process begun five years ago. While this is an important issue, the real emphasis should focus on our most important win/loss record, the extent to which we are graduating our students.
Athletics at Winston-Salem State enjoy a rich history, and the pride and nostalgia associated with that history was evident throughout the forum. The athletic program is an important activity for our students and also provides an opportunity for many of our alumni and the broader community to be engaged with the University. While we certainly hope that the program will thrive and grow, the reality of the current situation is that the cost of competing at the Division I level appears to be well beyond the financial capacity of the University at this time.
From the financial information shared, it is easy to see that funding an athletic program at the Division I level would not be easy. The lack of diversified sources of revenue, in combination with the low athletic fee and small student body compared to many other MEAC schools, present the greatest obstacles. It is important to note that athletics on UNC campuses may not be funded from State appropriations or tuition dollars. Additionally, attempting to finance a Division I program predominantly from student fees would place a disproportionate burden for supporting athletics on the backs of our students. While the $579 athletic fee at WSSU is the second highest among the UNC campuses, it is near the bottom among our MEAC peers.
Part of the discussion at the forum rightfully focused on whether the funds that are needed to support the athletic program could be raised year after year. There is a greater issue of whether that additional $3 million we need to transition to Division I ought to be raised for athletics as opposed to some other priority activity, such as general scholarships. There is no doubt that the University’s athletic program provides access to a college education for several hundred gifted young people each year. Yet we must strike and maintain a balance between athletics and academics, with the latter assuming priority status.
For example, we awarded 99 full athletic scholarships at a cost of $1.43 million during the current academic year. The average value of each scholarship was $14,436. At the same time, we spent $930,000 for 83 non-athletic scholarships, at an average of $11,200, for the remainder of the student body. That is why raising money for undergraduate scholarships must be the highest advancement priority.
We must also remember that the University has experienced tremendous growth over the last decade, expanding from fewer than 3,000 to almost 6,500 students during the current year. The University has always done an outstanding job of providing access to a college education for a population of students who might not otherwise attend college. Yet, we are losing some of the best students to competitor institutions while the current student body profile suggests the need for aggressive intervention if we are to improve the educational outcome for the students who are on our campus. With more than 60 percent of the current first year class enrolled in one or more remedial courses and with almost 60 percent of that same class receiving at least one grade of D or F after the first semester, there is no doubt that we have an obligation to do all we can to provide these students with at least a chance to succeed.
Graduating students who can distinguish themselves as leaders in their professions and their communities is our number one priority. We know that we are facing a budget crisis of monumental proportions that will make it even more difficult to make the necessary decisions to support that priority. Due to budget constraints, moving forward with an initiative to improve the retention of our students will force reductions or eliminations in other areas. That means we will face some tough decisions just as we have seen on other university campuses, in halls of government and in most corporate boardrooms around the country. So, we need the support of everyone if we are to be successful.
Currently, the University raises about $3 million a year to support an array of activities. Of that total, less than $100,000 has been raised to support athletic operations. This breakdown in funding reflects donor preferences – donors choosing where to invest their money. During the forum, I expressed skepticism about our ability to raise large sums of money either for athletic or non-athletic activities based on the past giving history. The response I heard is that we must try and I agree. With that in mind, the administration is prepared to work with the Alumni Association and with others to raise funds to support the University, including its athletic program. But, there is not a lot of time left and we need unconditional support in the form of annual donations to your activity of choice.
So, I close by making note of the University’s off-the-field performance record, which currently stands at 13 and 39 – 13 percent of our students graduate after four years and 39 percent graduate after six years. Those numbers have not changed significantly in the last 10 years. If we are to enjoy the support that this University deserves and our students so desperately need, we must improve our performance record. Doing so will require a collective effort and I encourage each of you to do your part.
Donald Julian Reaves
Chancellor
[Note: The Chancellor's presentation at the Forum is posted on www.wssu.edu under the Featured Links section.]
