Athletics Classification Overview

Introduction
In recent years, intercollegiate athletics has experienced significant change and disruption. Of particular
importance to Le Moyne, which is currently a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division
II institution, a number of our peer institutions are changing their classification from Division II to
Division I. In light of these changes, the Board of Trustees, at the recommendation of President LeMura,
created an ad hoc committee on athletics reclassification. The committee is composed of the president and
members of her leadership team, including the provost and the vice presidents of finance, mission,
enrollment, and advancement; four members of the faculty; and five trustees, including the present and
past board chairs. (See the end of this narrative for a list of the ad hoc committee members.)

Throughout the summer, the ad hoc committee met to review the impact of intercollegiate athletics on all
aspects of the campus community, including: academics; student life; mission and identity; enrollment
management; equity, diversity, and inclusion; student wellness; and advancement. The purpose of this ad
hoc committee is to determine whether reclassification from Division II to Division I would advance
Le Moyne’s academic, spiritual, and social mission while contributing to the College’s regional and
national reputation, institutional growth and sustainability, and long-term financial resilience.

Please note that the College would be eligible to reclassify only after receiving an invitation from a
Division I conference. At the time of this writing, we have not received an invitation.

Below, we provide additional information regarding a potential reclassification of Le Moyne’s

intercollegiate athletics.

Division II Transition
Since 2007, Le Moyne’s intercollegiate athletic programs have competed in the NCAA Division II
Northeast 10 Conference (NE10). Recently, former NE10 institutions Bryant University, Merrimack
University and Stonehill College have reclassified to Division I. The remaining members of the NE10 are
considering admitting colleges with football programs that are not closely aligned with Le Moyne’s
academic strengths and mission. While we are confident that Le Moyne would continue to enjoy success
should it remain in the NE10, we also believe that our profile and opportunity for growth may benefit by
reclassifying to Division I.

Currently, the College is most carefully studying the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and
the Northeast Conference (NEC) due to the member’s academic profiles, mission, and geographical
proximity of their member institutions.
Discernment
Since June 2022, the ad hoc committee has held over 25 one-hour meetings for detailed discussion,
consultation with external sources, and review of relevant sources regarding divisional reclassification.
The following is a partial list of steps taken during this discernment process:

• Collegiate Consultants prepared a benchmarking study that reviewed Le Moyne’s current

athletics configuration and various options for reclassification and provided a detailed financial
analysis of the costs and projected revenue enhancements associated with reclassification.

• Joe Grasso, vice president for finance, has analyzed the impact reclassification may have on
facilities and College budgets.

• Tim Lee, vice president for enrollment management, and Bill Brower, vice president for
advancement, assessed potential implications of reclassification in their respective areas.

• Members of the committee performed a literature review of relevant academic literature studying
the effects of reclassification.

• Various administrators have consulted extensively with colleagues at Division I conferences that
the College may wish to join.

• The ad hoc committee consulted with the presidents of Stonehill College and Merrimack College,
both of which recently reclassified from the NE10 to Division I, to discuss their respective
processes and experiences during reclassification.

• President LeMura and other members of the ad hoc committee have held five campus-wide
forums that were open to the College community to discuss the process and implications of
reclassification.

Financial Implications
Reclassification to Division I will require a budget commitment of up to $2.3 million in additional costs
per year. This would increase the 2024-28 estimated annual expenditures for athletics from $7.1 million
to $9.4 million. The overall operating budget of Le Moyne College is $100 million.

The net incremental cost figure of $2.3 million includes new or expanded revenue streams due to game
guarantees, ticket revenue, and sport camp revenues. In addition to increased philanthropic support (see
below), the College will consider increases in student enrollment via expanded inter-collegiate team
rosters and an expanded and revitalized club sports program. These changes could offset the cost of
divisional reclassification, generating up to $1.7 million in additional net revenue.
Factors included in this estimated annual increase include:

• Spending at the median of other institutions in the MAAC and NEC to ensure a competitive
posture among fellow conference institutions.
• Increases in athletic scholarships.
• Increased staffing, including additional assistant coaches and administrative support.

If the College reclassifies, it will need to pay one-time application, entrance, and exit fees of
approximately $2.25 million. These one-time fees are not part of the annual increases described above.

With some exceptions, Le Moyne currently possesses athletic facilities that meet Division I standards.
However, whether the College reclassifies to Division I or not, planning is underway for eventual
enhancements to the Athletic Center. Improvements could include an outdoor track, outdoor tennis courts,
updated fitness center, and additional lockers and office space.

Financially, Le Moyne compares favorably with NEC and MAAC institutions. NEC and MAAC member
institutions possess higher student enrollments than Le Moyne (averaging 2,500 and 1,500 more students
respectively than Le Moyne), which affords them greater operational flexibility and capacity. However, at
$246 million, Le Moyne’s endowment is larger than any other NEC institution and is $137 million
greater than the average NEC institution. Le Moyne’s endowment per student (including undergraduate
and graduate students) is $74,563, compared to the NEC average of $18,856. Le Moyne is $60 million
above the average $186 million endowment among MAAC institutions, and our endowment per student is
nearly double the average of $38,854 per student in the MAAC.

NCAA Divisional Alignment and Philanthropy

Philanthropic support would be essential to help mitigate increased expenses that would result from
divisional reclassification. The College is well-positioned to increase support from benefactors committed
to athletics. The success of the recently concluded $100 million Always Forward campaign and the
strengthening of advancement infrastructure provide a broad and deep base to address reclassification
costs. Support for inter-collegiate athletics is part of a broader appeal to support student wellness
(including club sports, intramurals, and accessible and enhanced fitness facilities).

Efforts to increase philanthropic support for athletics are occurring alongside ongoing advancement
initiatives dedicated to support of the College’s academic mission. The president, provost, and vice
president for advancement remain committed to such initiatives as a naming gift for the College of Arts
and Sciences, increasing the number of endowed professorships, and seeking grant support for research,
curricular, and pedagogical professional development. The College is prepared, that is, to increase support
for both academics and athletics and approaches this as an opportunity to increase philanthropy on behalf
of the entire institution.

Analysis of philanthropic support at MAAC and NEC institutions indicates that divisional reclassification
in and of itself does not lead to increased philanthropy. Knowing this, we will take an intentional
approach to philanthropy, working with alumni and campus partners with an interest in athletics to
increase support for facilities and endowment support for coaches, specific teams, the athletic director,
and other expenses associated with student-athlete success. Competing with Division I institutions in
conference and non-conference games will be accompanied by new alumni engagement opportunities and
renewed focus on Le Moyne’s commitment to excellence, which will over time lead to more financial
support for athletics, academics, and the College overall. In addition, the increased visibility of the
College through Division I competition will be leveraged to increase corporate sponsorships.
Ignatian Mission
“The correct practice of sport must be accompanied by practicing the virtues of temperance and
sacrifice; frequently it also requires a good team spirit, respectful attitudes, the appreciation of the
qualities of others, honesty in the game and humility to recognize one’s own limitations. In short, sports,
especially in less competitive forms, foster festive celebration and friendly coexistence. While playing
sports, Christians also find help in developing the cardinal virtues – fortitude, temperance, prudence and
justice.”

- 25th World Day of Tourism “Sports and Culture: Two Vital Forces for Mutual Understanding,
Culture and Development Among Countries” 27 September 2004

From the very beginning of the Jesuit educational enterprise, the value of educating the whole person,
mind, body, and spirit, has been a foundational tenet. The first Jesuit schools, firmly planted within the
cultural context of the Renaissance and humanistic traditions, looked to ancient sources of educational
wisdom to inspire their own growing endeavors. They found that inspiration in the thoughts and practices
of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Broadly speaking, these traditions emphasized the cultivation of one’s
mind and body for the benefit of the individual and society.

St. Ignatius Loyola and St. Francis Xavier, founding members of the Society of Jesus and the first two
Jesuit saints, were both gifted athletes who won some renown for their prowess in the martial arts. Both
were well-trained in various forms of hand to hand combat and knew the value of keeping one’s body in
great form. While the early Jesuit schools did not have athletic programs like the ones we know and enjoy
today, they did sponsor regular opportunities for their students to compete against each other. Games and
events included running races (distance and sprints), jumping over bars, long jump, javelin, and discus.
Many of these events, if not all of them, were represented in the ancient Greek Olympic games and the
connection between the Jesuits’ educational conceptualization and the ancient Greeks could not have been
more explicit.

At all Jesuit institutions, the same philosophical underpinnings articulated by the ancient Greeks and
Romans (and later espoused by the earliest Jesuits) are still relevant. We seek to cultivate strong minds,
bodies, and spirits in every person in our community. Indeed, at Le Moyne in particular, many
outstanding scholar athletes have graced us with their presence on campus and thrilled us with exploits
both on the field of competition and in the classrooms, on stages, and in art studios.

That same philosophical underpinning remains a part of the marrow of this great educational institution
and needs articulating now more than ever. The cultivation of our student’s minds, bodies, and spirits is at
the heart of what it means to receive a Jesuit Education and will remain at the heart of what makes Le
Moyne a distinctive and vibrant college as the 21st century continues to unfold.

Academic Affairs
Excellence in academic affairs is and will always remain the highest priority for the College and has
guided the discernment process undertaken by the ad hoc committee. We are committed to competing
against colleges and universities that meet or exceed our academic profile. The committee thinks
that reclassification to Division I is more likely to offer the College longer-term benefits through
association with institutions with similar or aspirant academic qualities. Should the College reclassify, we
will continue to prioritize recruitment of athletes who excel academically and may have more success
recruiting top performing students than we would remaining in Division II given the changing profile of
our current conference.

Even as the College contemplates reclassification, we are committed to improvements in academic

affairs. The president, provost, and vice president for advancement are actively pursuing a naming gift for
the College of Arts and Sciences, which would create new opportunities for improvement and innovation
in our largest academic school. In addition to two newly established professorships in humanities and
study of the Americas, we are laying the groundwork for three additional endowed professorships, which
will support faculty achievement and create more budgetary flexibility in academics. We are pursuing
new growth in academic programs and have increased the funding available to support faculty travel for
attendance at meetings of professional and learned societies. The ongoing strategic planning process will
include support for academic excellence in research and teaching. Mindful of the opportunity costs that
could come from remaining in Division II, a decision to reclassify will be taken as part of a
comprehensive strategy to improve Le Moyne’s commitment to our overall academic excellence and
faculty support.

Enrollment and Student Experience

Enrollment

Research indicates that a move to Division I alone will not necessarily impact new student enrollment.
With that said, joining the NEC or MAAC could lead to additional name recognition and exposure to
prospective student-athletes and families. With additional marketing dollars allocated to grow name
recognition through parallel means, such as digital ads, billboards, advertisement, social media and
entertaining of key influencers, we could positively impact enrollment by leveraging the new exposure
that would accompany reclassification.

Reclassification would allow us to introduce ourselves to communities in which we have had limited or
no visibility. This increase in visibility would be on top of the expected exposure through other media
outlets that emphasize Division I athletics. At the same time, expansion of athletic teams offered at both
the Division I and active club levels could lead to a direct increase in enrollments of the entering class.
Additionally, having more athletes could help increase retention. At many colleges, retention is often the
highest among student-athletes.

Health and Wellness

Facilities to support student athletes would offer the opportunity to expand club and intramural sports,
increasing the number of students who could participate and adding to their campus experience. This
would attract the student who may not plan to compete as a student-athlete but wants to stay connected to
athletics in some way.

Facilities would be available to our faculty and staff as well, supporting better mental and physical
wellness for the entire campus community.

Reclassification could also increase spirit on campus. Conference rivalries will grow, as will the
excitement that is generated from local rivalries with other Division I institutions that we could play in a
non-conference schedule (Syracuse, Colgate, Albany, etc.). Multiple areas on campus, including Student
Development, athletics, and alumni affairs, will collaborate to grow enthusiasm among students and other
members of the Le Moyne community to support our teams by attending games, as well as generate
excitement among alums and the local community. Athletics can be a focal point for signature events and
fundraising, which, if sustained over time, would become new traditions at the College.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Reclassification will expand the reach of the College and create relationships with new communities that
could diversify our student population. It would open both conference and non-conference opportunities
to geographic areas that represent racially and ethnically diverse populations and communities. The
presence of our athletic teams, along with partnered activities in these communities, could attract both
athletes and non-athletes to the College.

Division I athletics appears to carry greater weight in decision making for male athletes, providing us an
opportunity to be more competitive in the recruitment process. This is evidenced through recruiting
stories of students who shared that the deciding factor for them was the difference of Division I versus
Division II athletics when all other factors were virtually equal.

A move to Division I can offer the opportunity to continue our journey to becoming an even more diverse
and inclusive community with facilities and programs that encourage faculty, staff, and students to bring
their whole, best selves to Le Moyne every day.

Student-Athlete Experience
With eight NCAA team and individual national championships, Le Moyne’s intercollegiate athletics
program has experienced tremendous competitive success nationally at the Division II level.

Division I student-athletes compete at the highest level in collegiate athletics, from competitive peer
market opportunities, competition game day experiences, and fan friendly facilities. In both league and
non-league games, Division I student-athletes have the opportunity to compete in iconic settings against
some of the premier programs and individual collegiate talent in the country.

Reclassifying to Division I will change the Le Moyne student-athlete experience. The game day
experience for student-athletes will improve dramatically throughout the course of their regular season,
and teams earning berths to the NCAA Division I championships will experience an even greater increase
in revenue resources, media attention, and national reputation.

That said, student-athlete access to NCAA championships experience will become more challenging
within the ranks of Division I. Le Moyne would be a mid-major program at the Division I level, and,
while our teams would be able to compete for conference championships, it is comparatively rare for a
mid-major Division I institution to compete in the NCAA championships. In addition, institutions
reclassifying to Division I are not eligible to participate in NCAA championships during their four-year
reclassification period. Conferences have the agency to determine if and when reclassifying schools
compete for its league championship within that four-year window.

Because the NCAA imposes the same time limitations on weekly practice and competition for Division I
and II, student-athletes will not experience increased time demands should Le Moyne reclassify. Given
the geographic footprint of NEC and MAAC members, along with the potential to play an array of non-
conference opponents located within a three-hour bus ride of Syracuse, travel and missed class time for
Le Moyne’s student-athletes should be reduced with a change in divisional alignment.
The College will continue to maintain academic excellence. Student-athletes will have access to strong
academic programs as Le Moyne will continue to provide the necessary academic support for success in
the classroom.

Visibility of the Institution

Reclassification to Division I would present us with an opportunity to elevate the profile and visibility of
the College in Central New York and in additional markets and communities important to the College.
Athletics can serve as an important introduction to the College among prospective students and families.
Who we compete against is a reflection of who we are, and the profile and reputation of our athletics
program extends to the entire institution.

Athletic classification is a strategic choice that places an institution in conversation and competition with
peer and aspirant colleges and universities. Student-athlete travel to different colleges and universities
enhances student learning, world views and experiences, and provides Le Moyne visibility beyond its
current markets. Division I institutions can tout their lofty status to potential recruits, becoming more
competitive as a result. The platform of Division I athletics, from access to linear television deals to a
potential run in a Division I championship tournament, also provides major marketing and branding
resources for schools in general, elevating the overall visibility of the institution.

The ability to compete against high profile opponents can raise the overall profile of Le Moyne College.
In the NEC, Le Moyne would be paired with institutions such as Sacred Heart, Long Island University,
Wagner, Fairleigh Dickinson, Stonehill, and Merrimack. The MAAC includes such institutions as Marist,
Siena, Canisius, Niagara, Iona and Manhattan. In addition, if Le Moyne reclassifies, it could compete in
non-conference games with schools such as Colgate, Cornell, St. Bonaventure, Binghamton, Albany,
Buffalo and Army West Point. All Division I members of the AJCU network, such as Holy Cross, Xavier,
Gonzaga, Georgetown, Creighton, St. Peter’s, Fordham, Fairfield, Boston College, Marquette, St. Louis,
Loyola (MD) and Loyola (Chicago) would also be potential opponents for Le Moyne’s intercollegiate
athletic teams. In either the NEC or MAAC, Le Moyne’s teams would compete regularly in the New
York metropolitan area, greatly increasing exposure and presence in a location that features a large
number of Le Moyne alumni and prospective students. Division I schools also have the opportunity to
compete in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (“March Madness”), which can increase financial
and marketing dividends and enhance our capacity to recruit top students nationally and internationally.

Next Steps

The ad hoc committee welcomes feedback from the campus community. Feedback can be submitted
using this form through Wednesday, Oct. 12. Shortly after that date, the ad hoc committee will present
President LeMura with its recommendations regarding possible reclassification to Division I. Should an
invitation from a Division I conference be extended at any point to the College, at that time, the Board of
Trustees will vote on whether to change classification.
Ad Hoc Committee on Athletics Reclassification
Linda LeMura, Ph.D., president
Jim Hannan, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs
Joe Grasso, vice president for finance, administration and treasurer
Bill Brower, vice president for advancement
Tim Lee, Ph.D., vice president for enrollment management
Patrick Rogers, S.J., Ph.D., vice president for mission integration
Bob Beretta, director of athletics and recreation
Martha Grabowski, Ph.D., professor of information systems
Wayne Grove, Ph.D., professor of economics
Margie Ierlan, Ph.D., associate professor of marketing
Shawn Ward, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology
Pete DiLaura ’78, chair, board of trustees
Bob Reklaitis ’75, past chair, board of trustees
Kathy Forbush ’90, trustee
Denise Quinn ’78, trustee
Marcus Washington, trustee

Conference Maps
The following maps are provided to help illustrate the location of athletic conference member institutions.

NE10 Map
Current Non-Conference Map

NEC Map
MAAC Map

Future Non-Conference Map

All Non-Conference Map