Future of Division III

[Kuiper]

Letter from Bryn Athyn President to school community

After a comprehensive review of our financial position, we have made difficult —but essential
—changes to protect our core academic offerings and position the College for sustainable
growth. We have taken strong and necessary action to ensure the long-term sustainability of our
mission: to provide a distinctive higher-education offering grounded in the Heavenly Doctrine.
This is a turning point —not an ending.

I took a decisive step by reducing the equivalent of 20 full-time positions (FTE), impacting 29
individuals —colleagues who have given much of their lives to this place, and whose absence
will be deeply felt.
This decision is a necessary step for our survival. To ensure this institution, rooted in a
distinctive vision almost 150 years old, can thrive for the next 150 years.

Today's approach focuses on three critical areas:

1. Student Life and Athletics

We are restructuring Student Life and discontinuing all 11 NCAA Division III athletic
programs, our club hockey team, and associated athletic staff and trainers. These
programs will remain active through the end of the academic year, and all affected
students will receive full support. A new model —robust, inclusive, and financially
sustainable —will rise in the form of Club Sports. This change accounts for a net
reduction of 11 FTEs.

2. Information Technology

We are fully outsourcing our IT operations, encompassing everything from cybersecurity
to infrastructure management, support services, and other related areas. This results in a
reduction of 4 FTEs.

3. Streamlining Student and Institutional Support

To better align our functions with the College's evolving needs we are reorganizing
across Annual Giving, Alumni Engagement, Advancement and Development, Marketing
and Communications, Internal and External Partnerships, the Bookstore, Financial Aid,
and Academic Advising. This results in a net reduction of 5 FTE positions.

The review of athletics costs revealed an untenable financial reality. According to benchmarking
data from 69 DIII institutions without men's football, athletic expenses should comprise roughly
3% of an institution's budget. Ours, conservatively, stand at 12% and climb as high as 21% when
accounting for overhead. That places us at 400–700% of the national benchmark. This level of
financial expenditure is unsustainable. And the choice, due to NCAA requirements, is binary:
maintain ten teams or none. (NCAA, Trends in Division III Athletics Finances, November 2021,
p. 17)

I had hoped to preserve club hockey, given its storied legacy. But even stripped of overhead, its
cost remains too high. I share the grief this will bring especially considering the magnitude of
hockey's history in the college and in Bryn Athyn.

***

But the facts are clear. We are facing a $3.4 million "true deficit." We must stabilize —not later,
not soon —now.

[jknezek]

That will be interesting. If 50% of the students are athletes and you take a huge enrollment hit, how does that save money? I guess they have the numbers showing that the programs cost more than the tuition, or they believe they can stabilize enrollment without the sports, but this seems odd to me.

I'm also kind of shocked that the club teams don't pay for themselves. I know we did at W&L. I think the club rugby and soccer teams got a whopping $1000 each from the school every year, but everything else the players paid for. Though I suppose field maintenance we also didn't pay for, but unless you are just going to turn those fields into meadows someone still has to maintain those spaces.

[IC798891]

I'm also kind of shocked that the club teams don't pay for themselves. I know we did at W&L. I think the club rugby and soccer teams got a whopping $1000 each from the school every year, but everything else the players paid for.

But it's hockey, which means a rink/facility that is probably not multi use.

[jknezek]

I'm also kind of shocked that the club teams don't pay for themselves. I know we did at W&L. I think the club rugby and soccer teams got a whopping $1000 each from the school every year, but everything else the players paid for.

But it's hockey, which means a rink/facility that is probably not multi use.

I know. Hockey is the most crazily expensive sport. Again, it's a club sport. I'm surprised the school is paying much of anything for it. In my experience, that's not really how club sports at colleges work. The college doesn't pay, the athletes pay. I'm not sure why renting rink time would change that equation much for a club sport. More expensive for the athletes, but if you grew up playing youth hockey you know the drill on expenses.

[Hawks88]

I'm also kind of shocked that the club teams don't pay for themselves. I know we did at W&L. I think the club rugby and soccer teams got a whopping $1000 each from the school every year, but everything else the players paid for.

But it's hockey, which means a rink/facility that is probably not multi use.

I know. Hockey is the most crazily expensive sport. Again, it's a club sport. I'm surprised the school is paying much of anything for it. In my experience, that's not really how club sports at colleges work. The college doesn't pay, the athletes pay. I'm not sure why renting rink time would change that equation much for a club sport. More expensive for the athletes, but if you grew up playing youth hockey you know the drill on expenses.

According to their website the rink is on campus and is open air. If you find it on google maps, it is a roofed pavilion but the sides are open.

[Ralph Turner]

I believe that dropping athletics gives the Board one more year to figure how to close the school.

What have we heard? 50% of the 295 students are athletes, 150 student-athletes?
30 graduate this spring.
40 will be seniors and decide to stay graduate in 2026.
60 of the remaining 80 transfer.
We are down to 205 students enrolled.
How many 2025 high school graduates matriculate at Bryn Allyn?

That gives the Board time to be absorbed by another institution and unwind the endowment.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The New Church isn't huge, but they have a theological school and a K-12 school on adjacent property that share athletic facilities (I think) - there are probably ways to keep things moving for a while with that kind of feeder.

[Pat Coleman]

I was thinking it might be Keystone.  I can't find anything on them for this upcoming year, and they aren't showing up on any Landmark Conference opponents' schedules.  What's up with Keystone?

The Landmark issued a new conference master schedule in December, swapping out Keystone for Western Connecticut.

[uwwcontra2007]

I was thinking it might be Keystone.  I can't find anything on them for this upcoming year, and they aren't showing up on any Landmark Conference opponents' schedules.  What's up with Keystone?

See https://www.keystone.edu/about/accreditations-and-authorizations/

Keystone College's current accreditation status is Non-Compliance Show Cause. The Commission's most recent action on the institution's accreditation status, taken on February 27, 2025, was to issue show cause.

They're fighting a battle to remain accredited and their future is still very much in doubt.

I'm aware of this battle, but nothing definitive of their program succeeding or failing at this point.  They're just fighting to stay afloat and leaving everyone in limbo.  Should I just assume they're not going to have a team this year?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Keystone got a reprieve on February 27th.  New financial information changed the suspension and rendered the appeal moot.  They're all good for the moment, I believe.

https://www.msche.org/institution/0513/

That's not to say they won't be closing this summer, but it's not being forced by the accrediting agency right now.

[Ron Boerger]

You'd think they'd have updated their own website by now ...

[Kuiper]

Interesting conversation with Pomona-Pitzer Athletic Director Miriam Merrill.  Part of the interview is about the benefits of the FloSports deal in a changing college sports world (and not just about the revenue they are getting) and about the possibility about collaborating across NCAA divisions and NAIA in a world where they had to play regionally even more than they do already.

[Kuiper]

This makes a lot of sense, but it's made easier by the fact that all three are part of the Cal State system.  It seems like the Penn State branch campuses should be doing the same if they aren't already.  More broadly, consortiums are probably something a lot of small liberal arts colleges that are in close proximity may consider.  People know about cross-registration at the Claremont schools, but they also combine departments, such as communications, real estate & housing, campus safety (which makes the most sense since the campuses are contiguous), libraries, and student services.

Three Bay Area Universities Considering Merging Operations Amid Budget Cuts

Three of the Bay Area's five California State University campuses are considering merging some administrative services in an effort to cut costs in the face of budget crises.

The proposal, called the San Francisco Bay Region Network, would combine certain operational services — finance, administration, human resources, IT security and construction — at Sonoma State University, San Francisco State University and Cal State East Bay. Mildred Garcia, the chancellor of the California State University system, announced the proposal at a meeting of the Board of Trustees in Long Beach on Tuesday.

[Kuiper]

Another small Catholic college in Southeastern PA is gone (at least as a separate D3 athletic program, presumably)

Villanova University and Rosemont College Enter into Merger Agreement

Rosemont College and Villanova University have entered into a merger agreement that will preserve the legacy and heritage of Rosemont College and merge the neighboring institutions. During this multi-year transition, Rosemont College will continue operating as a separate entity, providing students the opportunity to graduate with Rosemont College degrees.

"The leaders of both boards have worked to create a true partnership that recognizes the changing higher education landscape while ensuring a smooth transition for Rosemont students, faculty, staff and alumni," said Maria Feeley, chair of the Rosemont College Board of Trustees. "Rosemont is proud to announce this next chapter, which will build on our decadeslong relationship with Villanova and preserve Rosemont's mission." 

"Villanova and Rosemont enjoy a longstanding connection, and many families in the Greater Philadelphia region celebrate alumni from both institutions," said Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. "This merger agreement represents a unique and powerful opportunity for our two institutions given our shared commitment to advancing Catholic higher education, our close physical proximity and deep alumni connections."

"We are committed to securing the best possible options for our students, faculty and staff and believe this merger with Villanova offers the best opportunity to ensure that the Rosemont College history and legacy endures," said Rosemont College President Jim Cawley.

During the transition, the first phase of which will start in 2027, Rosemont College's educational and many extracurricular activities will continue as planned—supported by Rosemont faculty and staff. Rosemont students who have not completed their degree by 2028 will have multiple options, which include the ability to transfer to Villanova's College of Professional Studies where they will have the opportunity to complete a degree.

Following the transition, Rosemont will become "Villanova University, Rosemont Campus," and the campus will honor the legacy of Rosemont's founders, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Additionally, the Chapel will be preserved as a place of gathering and inspiration, and an endowed scholarship will be established supporting the mission of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

The terms of the merger are subject to approval from The Middle States Commission on Higher Education as well as state and federal regulators. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.

Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD added, "This agreement represents an opportunity to build upon our strengths, invest in critical areas and enhance the Villanova experience for our entire community—now and well into the future."

UPDATE:  According to D3 Sports and the Philadelphia Inquirer, Rosemont will field its D3 sports teams in 2025-2026, but they will convert to club status in 2026-2027 before the merger is complete.  So, next year will be the final one for Rosement in D3

Rosemont College and Villanova University have entered into a merger agreement that will preserve the legacy and heritage of Rosemont and merge the neighboring institutions. During this multi-year transition, Rosemont College will continue operating as a separate entity, providing students the opportunity to graduate with Rosemont degrees.

Rosemont will be the second Division III school in the Philadelphia area which Villanova will have taken over, following the school's purchase of Cabrini, news of which D3sports.com broke in June 2023. In addition, it is the second Philadelphia-area school and member of the United East Conference to be losing Division III athletics, following the news last week of Bryn Athyn shutting down athletics.

According to the Villanova release, Rosemont would seemingly be able to continue separate athletics through the 2027-28 academic year, however, a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer clarifies that to say that Rosemont's athletics would transition to club status after the 2025-26 season.

[Pat Coleman]

Yes, will stop intercollegiate athletics after the 2025-26 academic year.

https://d3sports.com/notables/2025/03/rosemont-merging-with-villanova