July 1 - Moving Day 2023

[SW_Mustang]

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Waukesha Campus will be closing.

UWM Waukesha campus closure; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee responds to enrollment challenges (wisn.com)

They were members of the WCC, but it looks like they had already dropped sports. University of Wisconsin-Plattevile, Richland Campus closed in 2023 and was also a former WCC school.

The WCC is down to four full-time members and one associate member, when they had 13 until 2020.

[zimmy21]

I'm not sure if this was covered or not - but Northland (WI) is on closure watch. They were informed that they need to raise $12 million by April 3rd in order to avoid closure.

Expert explains risk if Northland College closes (northernnewsnow.com)

The staff don't sound too optimistic. Sorry to hear that.

[SW_Mustang]

I'm not sure if this was covered or not - but Northland (WI) is on closure watch. They were informed that they need to raise $12 million by April 3rd in order to avoid closure.

Expert explains risk if Northland College closes (northernnewsnow.com)

[SW_Mustang]

The three PASSHE/PSAC schools which merged into Pennsylvania Western University (California, Clarion and Edinboro) still have separate athletic programs despite being (in theory) under one administration. Same with the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania campuses (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield). Depending on the financial situation at both schools, it's possible both programs can be sustainable, but as we're seeing with the Bloomfield/Montclair State merger, it's not necessarily the case as D2 Bloomfield appears to be cutting programs, unlike D3 Montclair State.

It's possible, but if the financial situation is bad enough at one or both institutions so they need to merge, I can't imagine the status quo will maintain after the merger.

Only time will tell in situations like these.

[ctrabs74]

I think the net effect of the merger process is a consolidation of administrations (and finances) into one entity. So instead of having two independent institutions with two independent administrations, they will have one administration overseeing two campuses.

In theory, Bluffton and Findlay would retain their athletic departments and facilities and act as two separate teams. In practice, I don't see that being sustainable long term - so who knows.

But I also don't know the specifics of this particular case. On the JUCO side, there was a big merger in Minnesota of 6 campuses - and the campuses with sports retained their athletic departments and operate in that fashion.

The three PASSHE/PSAC schools which merged into Pennsylvania Western University (California, Clarion and Edinboro) still have separate athletic programs despite being (in theory) under one administration. Same with the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania campuses (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield). Depending on the financial situation at both schools, it's possible both programs can be sustainable, but as we're seeing with the Bloomfield/Montclair State merger, it's not necessarily the case as D2 Bloomfield appears to be cutting programs, unlike D3 Montclair State.

[SW_Mustang]

Would all the teams share athletic facilities? Would Bluffton play all its games at Findlay? Or are both schools and buildings entirely staying open as is, but just going to merge finances, essentially?

I think the net effect of the merger process is a consolidation of administrations (and finances) into one entity. So instead of having two independent institutions with two independent administrations, they will have one administration overseeing two campuses.

In theory, Bluffton and Findlay would retain their athletic departments and facilities and act as two separate teams. In practice, I don't see that being sustainable long term - so who knows.

But I also don't know the specifics of this particular case. On the JUCO side, there was a big merger in Minnesota of 6 campuses - and the campuses with sports retained their athletic departments and operate in that fashion.

[SW_Mustang]

Arkansas State-Queretaro is part of ASU and sponsors several varsity (by Mexican NCAA-equivalent standards) teams, including football.

ASU-Queretaro played Texas Wesleyan (NAIA) in an exhibition in Fort Worth a couple of years ago.

I think it's more complicated than that. I think ASU-Q is a privately funded institution that's overseen by ASU. It's kinda tough to get information on how it works - I'm always a little leery of public colleges operating campuses internationally, so I've always been curious.

[ctrabs74]

The weird one is Arkansas State which maintains two football teams in two different countries, though I think ASU in Mexico isn't actually ASU and just uses the name.

Arkansas State-Queretaro is part of ASU and sponsors several varsity (by Mexican NCAA-equivalent standards) teams, including football.

ASU-Queretaro played Texas Wesleyan (NAIA) in an exhibition in Fort Worth a couple of years ago.

[KleShreen]

Would all the teams share athletic facilities? Would Bluffton play all its games at Findlay? Or are both schools and buildings entirely staying open as is, but just going to merge finances, essentially?

[sportsvine]

Well that seems odd.....and strange.

And conflicting?

[Finchwidget]

Bloomfield was good in men's basketball this year, but baseball... they canceled all their non-conference games and finally opened the season yesterday, losing a doubleheader to Jefferson 0-22 and 0-35.

Wow! And that's one of the few sports they're keeping next year too, if I remember right... Future seems pretty bleak for them over there, yikes

[SW_Mustang]

Happened recently with another D2 school just last year too-- Bloomfield merged with D3 Montclair State, and both schools were allowed to keep their respective athletics programs. Bloomfield just cut half their sports though, so maybe not a ringing endorsement of the procedure.

Without knowing the particulars, I think one or both will have to be forced to cut back. I just don't see how they can maintain two athletic departments if they're having enough trouble to where they need to merge.

[Inkblot]

Happened recently with another D2 school just last year too-- Bloomfield merged with D3 Montclair State, and both schools were allowed to keep their respective athletics programs. Bloomfield just cut half their sports though, so maybe not a ringing endorsement of the procedure.

Bloomfield was good in men's basketball this year, but baseball... they canceled all their non-conference games and finally opened the season yesterday, losing a doubleheader to Jefferson 0-22 and 0-35.

[Finchwidget]

Northern Vermont - that was the big one I was thinking of. They retained both Lydon and Johnson's athletic departments.

I also believe Minnesota North tried to retain athletics at their campuses but I'm not sure how that ended up.

The weird one is Arkansas State which maintains two football teams in two different countries, though I think ASU in Mexico isn't actually ASU and just uses the name.

Anyway, I think campus mergers are going to become a bigger deal as the landscape of higher education shifts around. Campuses can maintain identities while admin costs are cut. I don't know how well that's going to work without overhauling each branch campus, but that seems to be a direction we're going.

Happened recently with another D2 school just last year too-- Bloomfield merged with D3 Montclair State, and both schools were allowed to keep their respective athletics programs. Bloomfield just cut half their sports though, so maybe not a ringing endorsement of the procedure.

[SW_Mustang]

Northern Vermont - that was the big one I was thinking of. They retained both Lydon and Johnson's athletic departments.

I also believe Minnesota North tried to retain athletics at their campuses but I'm not sure how that ended up.

The weird one is Arkansas State which maintains two football teams in two different countries, though I think ASU in Mexico isn't actually ASU and just uses the name.

Anyway, I think campus mergers are going to become a bigger deal as the landscape of higher education shifts around. Campuses can maintain identities while admin costs are cut. I don't know how well that's going to work without overhauling each branch campus, but that seems to be a direction we're going.