EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................ 3 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................................... 5 BACKGROUND INFORMATION .............................................................................. 6 UNIVERSITY MISSION/VALUES: ........................................................................... 7 DIXIE STATE ATHLETICS ....................................................................................... 9 Western Athletic Conference Analysis ............................................................ 10 WAC BENCHMARKING ......................................................................................... 12 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ........................................................................................... 14 REVENUE AND EXPENSE PRO FORMA ............................................................. 17 FACILITIES .............................................................................................................. 24 WHY GO DIVISION I .............................................................................................. 40 DIVISION I OVERVIEW ......................................................................................... 42 RECENT TRANSITIONING UNIVERSITIES ........................................................ 79 10/1/18 Collegiate Consulting Page 2 This document contains proprietary and confidential information. No part of this document may be reproduced or disclosed to a third party without written consent from Collegiate Consulting. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Dixie State University, a public institution located in St. George, Utah, is considering a move from NCAA Division II status to NCAA Division I status and potential membership in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Dixie State boasts a total enrollment of more than 9,000 students and has evolved rapidly as an institution over the past 15 years. Dixie State Athletics currently offers 15 sports – six men’s and nine women’s - and is currently a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after transitioning from the Pac West Conference on July 1, 2018. Dixie State retained Collegiate Consulting to conduct a feasibility study regarding its potential Division I transition. The study provides a detailed Division I overview and compares DSU to all current WAC members and Big Sky football members. It will also provide benchmarking data including financial comparisons, and include a series of recommendations for Dixie State University to consider in moving to NCAA Division I status. Key elements presented include: ● Institutional comparison ● NCAA Division I guidelines ● Sports participation and operating budget ● Revenue and expense analysis ● Academic performance ● Staffing/salaries of administration and coaches ● Title IX overview ● New sports recommendations ● Pro forma From an NCAA perspective, Dixie State already meets the NCAA Division I FCS minimum of 14 sports, therefore it would not need to add any sports for eligibility purposes. However, for membership into the WAC, one of two things needs to happen: 1) football becomes a sport that is sponsored by the WAC; or 2) Dixie State would need to add a men’s sport to meet the WAC entry requirements. The deadline for the NCAA Division I application is June 1 each year and applying would require Dixie State to have a membership offer from a Division I conference; meet the sports participation minimum; pay an application fee of $1.7 million; and submit application with copy of feasibility study and Division I strategic plan. Once approved by the NCAA, it is a four-year process for full Division I membership status, which is outlined within this report. 10/1/18 Collegiate Consulting Page 3 This document contains proprietary and confidential information. No part of this document may be reproduced or disclosed to a third party without written consent from Collegiate Consulting. The WAC, which sponsors 19 sports, has initiated preliminary discussions with Dixie State University regarding joining the conference. This would mandate that DSU would move from NCAA Division II membership to NCAA Division I membership. The WAC currently features six public institutions (Dixie State would be the seventh) and two private institutions. Dixie State would rank seventh in total enrollment (sixth in undergraduate enrollment) and currently has the lowest tuition and fees of any WAC member. Atlanta-based Collegiate Consulting, which compiled this feasibility study, was founded in 2005 and has serviced more than 575 institutions, conferences, and organizations from 48 states in the U.S., as well as completed international projects in Canada and the United Kingdom. Collegiate Consulting’s customers represent NCAA Division I, II, and III, NAIA and international institutions. 10/1/18 Collegiate Consulting Page 4 This document contains proprietary and confidential information. No part of this document may be reproduced or disclosed to a third party without written consent from Collegiate Consulting. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS • Dixie State is in a strong position to consider the move to NCAA Division I. With the addition of the Human Performance Center (already under construction), Dixie State has the necessary facilities for a Division I program. • A move to NCAA Division I would elevate Dixie State’s brand and stature regionally and nationally, providing increased exposure for not only athletics, but also the school’s academic growth and expansion. • Dixie State can expect an invitation from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) if it commits to a transition to Division I. A conference invitation is a mandatory component for NCAA consideration of a move from Division II to Division I. • Collegiate Consulting recommends that Dixie State would need to add resources in the following areas to execute a successful transition from Division II to Division I: o Scholarships: Dixie State’s relatively low cost of attendance and the NCAA Division I Grants-In-Aid supplement makes scholarships an interesting area of growth. Dixie State would receive a minimum of $2,957.40 for every additional scholarship awarded over 150 (currently at 97). Collegiate Consulting recommends that Dixie State increase the number of scholarships awarded to a minimum of 177, which would place Dixie State at the WAC averages for all sports and a full complement of 63 football scholarships needed to schedule “guarantee games” with NCAA FBS institutions. o Academic Support Resources: This would include both Academic Support Staff, as well as centralized Athletic Academic Support area. o Athletic Staff: In addition to academic support staff, Collegiate Consulting would recommend increasing athletic staff, particularly in the areas of business operations, marketing/promotions, ticketing and facilities. o Coaching Staff: Collegiate Consulting would recommend increasing the number of full-time coaching staff members to meet current minimum coaching benchmarks in the WAC. o Nutrition/Food Service: Dixie State currently does not have an adequate food service programs for student-athletes, relying solely on on-campus dining options. • Dixie State should only consider an invitation from the WAC if the conference is actively exploring adding a sponsorship of football as part of its membership portfolio. The WAC has confirmed to Collegiate Consulting it is initiating a study in the Fall 2018 to explore the options and opportunities of starting a FCS football conference. 10/1/18 Collegiate Consulting Page 5 This document contains proprietary and confidential information. No part of this document may be reproduced or disclosed to a third party without written consent from Collegiate Consulting. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Dixie State University Dixie State University is a rapidly evolving university located in St. George, Utah. Its institutional growth has been mirrored by growth in the community. According to the most recent Census Bureau data, St. George is the fastest- growing metropolitan area in the U.S. with an estimated population of more than 165,000. Dixie State University was founded in 1911, under the name St. George Stake Academy. After a series of name changes, the school was named Dixie Junior College in 1923. In 2000, the school was renamed Dixie State College after the Utah State Legislature authorized Dixie to become a four-year state college. In 2013, the Utah State Legislature expanded the role of the institution to university status and the name was changed to Dixie State University. Today, Dixie State offers 52 bachelor’s degrees with 65 different emphases, as well as 19 associate’s degrees, 36 minors and 16 certificate options, while continuing to expand curriculum offerings. DSU currently offers one graduate program, with seven more programs to be added over the next few years. In addition to the rapid growth in the depth and breadth of academic offerings, Dixie State is quickly becoming a center for technology development and entrepreneurship. The school has acquired an adjacent property to Trailblazer Stadium to develop the Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Innovation Plaza. DSU is positioned as an extremely affordable higher education option. The Utah resident tuition for the 2018-19 academic year is $5,253 while the non- resident tuition is $15,051. Dixie State is currently the only public, NCAA Division II university in Utah. Within the state, there are currently six NCAA Division