$54 million athletic cost = $0 academic benefits?
Posted
#339232
(In Topic #47588)
VIP DONOR
Member since 2005
Many comments online regarding the donation are outraged that $54 million will be spent on something other than academics. They do not see how successful sports teams yield a growing academic infrastructure.
Does anyone know of any reports or website links that really sum up how athletics really move academics forward?
I'm trying to help stave off the Hornets nest of dissenting viewpoints. Trying to find more stories of how athletics benefits academics.
Thanks everyone for any thoughts and links you can provide!
Posted
VIP DONOR
Member since 2007
First of all, I haven't seen anything that directly links the two. According to the
ERROR: A link was posted here (url) but it appears to be a broken link.
IEA website:- Total applications to FAU for Fall 2010 were 15,271. Previous years: 15,278… 14,617… 12,593… etc.
Applications for 2011, the year the stadium opened: 28,906.
- GPA and SAT scores have gone up as well: 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, and what is it now… 3.7? 3.8? Can't remember.
And you can look at reports from the FAU Foundation to see changes in giving since the stadium.
Now, you could argue that there have been parallel improvements in academics, scholarship offers, general marketing efforts etc that may also explain those numbers, but it's a combination of all these things.
What people really want is for FAU to receive millions of dollars towards research, lab equipment, scholarships, advising centers and, as you might imagine, salary bumps (even in the form of one-time bonuses) to faculty and staff. Which is understandable but the reality is that more often people want to throw money at things that are already successful and/or to give their kids a leg-up in admissions there (like when someone donates to Princeton or Stanford). That doesn't apply to us as much.
Posted
Administrator
Member since 2006
fauprowler said
Does anyone know of any reports or website links that really sum up how athletics really move academics forward?Posted On: Dec 3rd 2014, 7:49 AM #339232
TCU application numbers on the rise | TCU 360
http://articles.philly.com/1995-02-07/news/25705825_1_applications-high-school-graduates-penn-state-s-rose-bowl
Schools like Butler, VCU, Florida Gulf Coast see admissions boosts
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/education/fgcu-team-historic-run-eagles-ncaa-tournament-fla
http://www.appstate.edu/~mt54813/documents/Trivette_Admissions.pdf
Happy reading…
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2006
Sports Management
Sports Medicine
Nursing
Exercise Science
Nutrition
The students of these programs will have an opportunity to work/intern and gain great work experience. This could raise the caliber of those programs and in turn reputation. Sports Man age mentioned is #4 & 6 in the nation and world respectively.
I laugh at the negative comments just read one that said, what about money to Marine Biology dept. These students have no clue that the same people that their college is named after donated for this Athletic Academic Center
Posted
Administrator
Member since 2006
Boozie132 said
These students have no clue that the same people that their college is named after donated for this Athletic Academic CenterPosted On: Dec 3rd 2014, 8:53 AM #339242
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VIP DONOR
Member since 2005
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Wise Owl
Member since 2011
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VIP DONOR
Member since 2007
teambeer said
Was just thinking the same Boozie, College of Arts and Letters, Science and Med School all have the Schmidt name, they care about academics. They see this as a way to elevate the university as a whole. A rising tide raises all ships.Posted On: Dec 3rd 2014, 9:09 AM #339244
+1
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Wise Owl
Member since 2007
FAU - We got Bowls!
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Wise Owl
Member since 2014
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