Bradley faculty looking at moving athletics to D3

[braves16]

https://twitter.com/MattBrownEP/status/1720072144506277954

[braves16]

https://www.wsiu.org/state-of-illinois/2023-10-31/bradley-university-faculty-warn-of-irreversible-damage-to-institution-if-academic-cuts-proceed

[Stryker]

https://twitter.com/MattBrownEP/stat...72144506277954

Just a bunch of academics worried about losing their jobs that are closer to mal-investment than actual productive members of society.

[bradleyfan124]

They get alot of donations because they compete in D-1. Watch all that money disappear if they switch to D-3

[yoda]

Lots of faculty are jealous of the funding that goes to Athletics - it’s always been that way- nothing new

Few years ago when $20 million+ was disclosed as somewhat wasteful spending in Athletics by the former admin, she tried to hide it from the Board but got “caught” & several faculty fired off angry responses when their departments were instructed to cut costs & lay off to help balance the losses.

https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sports-forums/basketball-fan-talk/27488-fund-raising#post462784

[molar50]

I’m a supporter of Bradley athletics, but I wonder how all of the following factors will play out. 1) significantly decreasing high school students from Illinois high schools. This is not unique to Bradley.
2) increasing costs of tuition causing many to reassess the value of college vs trade vocational school and the return of investment 3) How supportive the average student is toward paid college athletes, that enable some to transfer to the highest bidder. 4) How mid-majors compete economically vs big name programs. Answer is that they cannot and funding will all go to bigger programs. 5) Is the purpose of universities and colleges is to educate and prepare students to better their lives or is it to entertain fans, alums, and build professional sport teams?
I have enjoyed Bradley basketball and other sports, but I’m afraid of the forces of money and self interest by many parties.

[ollienanyes]

I'd like to correct the headline: what *passed* was a University Senate resolution for admin to *study* the potential cost savings obtained by switching from D1 to D3. The vote in the Senate was close enough that there had to be an actual by hand count (these are usually voice vote) and the resolution passed very narrowly, after some debate.

[The Old Guy]

Neither the Faculty Senate nor AAUP are unions. Bradley faculty are NOT required to join AAUP and all senate members are elected. An alternative approach might be to look at a cost benefit analysis for each vice president’s office. If the office does not bring in as money as it spends, consider elimination. In my opinion, the University is top heavy with administrative salaries.

[JMM28]

There are a handful of academic types on that campus who haven't worked a day in their life and are worried that the jig is up is the short story.

The long story is that there are 30+ majors that have had no graduates the last few years. There is about double that amount of majors who have had single digit graduates in the last few years. Those majors are going bye bye and the bloated salaries of their professors that don't actually work. These are the same types that take sabbaticals at full pay to research their useless field of study. Gary Roberts was brought in to be the bad guy and cut these, but ultimately was ineffective across his entire leadership including that duty.

Athletics went through a pretty serious haircut about 5 or 6 years ago whenever Roberts came to town. There isn't any meat on the bone to cut anything athletics wise. And they won't be. Because athletics makes up less than 3% of the university's expenses annually.

The faculty dipshits used the 2021 tax return numbers to claim a 7.5 million subsidy to athletics. That is inflated due to the fact that year had $0 in ticket revenue for all sports thanks to the Governor. The real number is somewhere in the 5-6 million range which, again, is less than 3% of total university expenses. The $500,000-$1,000,000 to fund a major with zero graduates is probably the easier cut to be made.

[Da Coach]

...
The long story is that there are 30+ majors that have had no graduates the last few years. There is about double that amount of majors who have had single digit graduates in the last few years. Those majors are going bye bye and the bloated salaries of their professors that don't actually work....

Bradley has just sent out a special notice from the President of the University- https://myemail.constantcontact.com/...&aid=rdmRiZCU1 4Q

Bradley is making moves to address the shortfall for fiscal year 2024.

The following programs have been recommended for discontinuation:

Actuarial Science (Mathematics)* Apparel Production and Merchandising Business Law Ceramics Entrepreneurship** Family Consumer Science Education Family Life Science Hospitality Leadership International Studies Manufacturing Technology Math Education Pre-K – 12 Administration and Leadership Printmaking Professional Sales Public Health Education Religious Studies Statistics

The following programs will no longer offer majors or concentrations, but will remain as service units, offering classes as part of the Bradley Core Curriculum or other courses as required by specific majors or concentrations:

Economics French Mathematics Philosophy Physics

Discontinuing these offerings directly impacts about 3.5% of the Bradley student population, and any students enrolled in these programs will be able to finish their degrees in their current major or program at Bradley University. Students who could be affected directly by program discontinuation will receive an additional communication from their college dean, pointing them toward the appropriate resources for questions and guidance.

All programs on the above list will have 30 days to respond to the consideration for discontinuation. Final program decisions will be made by President Standifird by the end of the calendar year.

During these transitions, there will regrettably be a reduction of jobs in some departments. Forty-seven currently occupied faculty positions are being eliminated, and 21 faculty positions are being eliminated through attrition. Bradley University is committed to helping the individuals in those positions with outplacement services and will exercise compassion and support throughout the process.

Bradley leadership recognizes these changes may create concerns among students, faculty, staff and the broader university community. Open communication, collaboration and shared responsibility will be prioritized as the campus community works together to address these challenges.

[Classof77]

I didn't know you could get a Bachelor's degree from Bradley in ceramics.

[yoda]

If Physics tanks then the quality of engineering degrees will suffer- hard to believe anyone wants a ME, CE, or EE with a weak background in physics.

[Da Coach]

If Physics tanks then the quality of engineering degrees will suffer- hard to believe anyone wants a ME, CE, or EE with a weak background in physics.

The following programs will no longer offer majors or concentrations, but will remain as service units, offering classes as part of the Bradley Core Curriculum or other courses as required by specific majors or concentrations:

Economics French Mathematics Philosophy Physics

They are not discontinuing the Physics program, and will continue to offer physics classes as above.
They are only considering ending Physics as a major. However, I am also surprised to see Physics, Mathematics, and Economics on the list of Majors being proposed to get cut.

[houstonbrave]

If I remember correctly a couple of years ago there were 2 physics majors and one of them is now enrolled at Nebraska and plays basketball. I believe Physics has been on the chopping block for some time.

[braves16]

I didn't know you could get a Bachelor's degree from Bradley in ceramics.

I'm guessing a lot of students didn't know it either.