Eastern Washington University Intercollegiate Athletics Analysis and Assessment February 2021 Table of Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 1 University Mission ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Status of EWU Athletics ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Analysis and Assessment ................................................................................................................................... 2 In Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Process and Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 4 Requested Documents ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Interview Process .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Survey Instruments ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Outreach to Conference Commissioners .......................................................................................................... 6 Outreach to NCAA Staff ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Economic Impact Studies .................................................................................................................................. 7 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Findings and Observations ............................................................................................................................. 8 Survey Monkey Questionnaires ........................................................................................................................ 8 Interviews ........................................................................................................................................................ 16 Campus Visit .................................................................................................................................................... 17 S.W.O.T. Analysis ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Current State of Eastern Washington Athletics ............................................................................................ 18 Academic Achievement ................................................................................................................................... 18 Competitive Achievement ............................................................................................................................... 19 Student-Athlete Demographics ....................................................................................................................... 20 Financial Challenges ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Financial Overview of EWU Athletics .............................................................................................................. 22 Explanation of Charts ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Eastern Athletics Budget and Financial Reductions ........................................................................................ 25 Overview of NCAA Structure ........................................................................................................................ 26 Division I .......................................................................................................................................................... 27 Division II ......................................................................................................................................................... 27 Division III ........................................................................................................................................................ 27 NCAA Options for Eastern Washington Athletics Program ........................................................................... 28 Option A: Remain Division I--Football Championship Subdivision ................................................................. 28 Option B: Division I Subdivision (without football) ......................................................................................... 32 Option C: Division II ........................................................................................................................................ 38 Option D: Division III ....................................................................................................................................... 43 Comparison of Generated Revenue by NCAA Division .................................................................................... 46 Comparison of Summary Data by Conference ................................................................................................ 49 Intangible Assets ............................................................................................................................................. 49 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 52 Executive Summary Historically going back to 1964, the place of the intercollegiate athletics program at Eastern Washington University has been questioned and reviewed multiple times. Since the EWU Board decision in 1984 to move the athletics program to the NCAA Division I level, the role and contributions of the athletics program to the university mission have not been clearly articulated. Most recently, in response to declining enrollment and corresponding budget cuts, a faculty report was released in February 2020 that took a critical look at the athletics program and suggested several approaches, including the elimination of the athletics program. University Mission The mission of Eastern Washington University is to enhance access to higher education through recruitment of traditional as well as non-traditional and underserved populations. Athletics has enhanced the university’s profile, increased its visibility outside the state and region and thereby attracted students to the university. Athletics scholarships (i.e., grants-in-aid) are frequently offered to minority students and others from low income and underserved populations. As a co-curricular activity, the athletics program contributes in meaningful ways to campus life and community engagement. The success of EWU’s Division I athletics program in the highly visible sports of football and men’s basketball, and especially its nationally competitive football program has brought regional and national recognition to the university and contributes positively to campus life. The red turf on the football field has become associated with Eastern Washington and brings attention to the university each time a football game is televised. The perception of some affiliated with the university is that athletics does not contribute to the university mission. However, the athletics program’s recruitment and support of over 300 student-athletes brings diversity to the university and helps EWU achieve its enrollment goals. Campus and prospective student events surrounding football games and other athletics events bring future students to campus to enhance admissions and enrollment efforts. The success of the athletics program brings former students back to campus and provides a significant enhancement to the university’s alumni relations and development efforts. Status of EWU Athletics Eastern Washington University’s athletics program offers 14 Division I sports including football at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. It is a member of the Big Sky Conference and offers a competitive athletics experience for over 300 student-athletes. Complementing its athletic success, academically EWU student-athletes have performed well in the classroom, achieving a higher-grade point average than the median performance of other Division I and Big Sky peer institutions. As a result of their academic and athletic achievements, EWU has won the Big Sky Presidents’ Cup on multiple occasions--a point of pride for the university. Eastern Washington University is currently facing significant financial challenges caused in large part by decreasing enrollment and compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with other university programs and services, the athletics