Dive Brief:
- University of the District of Columbia Trustees voted 7-to-5 Tuesday night to postpone interim President James E. Lyons Sr.'s proposal to end the institution's participation in NCAA Division II athletics.
- The trustees did, however, approve his proposed cuts of 17 academic programs – including undergraduate majors in sociology, economics, history and physics – because of low student enrollment.
- The school's athletic program cost $4.1 million during the last fiscal year but only brought in $1.1 million in revenue, and Trustee Jerome Shelton called the opportunities afforded by the program "critical to the life of a university."
Dive Insight:
The trustees were in favor of other proposals by Lyons, which include reworking curriculum to develop stronger connections with Washington-area employers. Regarding the athletic program, however, Lyons argued that the funds spent there would be better served on intramural sports, as well as health and wellness programs. Students, faculty and others showed up to protest the cut programs, though officials said students currently working toward degrees on the chopping block would be allowed to complete them. A handful of other programs were considered in the cuts but ultimately spared, including undergraduate degrees in chemistry, elementary education and special education.