THE ROAD TO EXCELLENCE:                                                                                 RES232_040806 STUDENT LIFE ENHANCEMENT (ATHLETICS UPGRADE).  MOVING ATHLETICS FROM DIVISION III TO DIVISION II, SEEKING AFFILIATION WITH THE CENTRAL INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (CIAA) CONFERENCE AND IMPLEMENTING A FOOTBALL TEAM AND MARCHING BAND.

WHEREAS, Lincoln University endeavors to provide the highest quality education and campus life experience for its student body; and

WHEREAS, Lincoln University desires to be extremely competitive with its top ten competitor schools for academically gifted students; and

WHEREAS, Lincoln University desires to increase significantly its graduation and year-to-year retention rates; and

WHEREAS, Lincoln University desires to significantly increase its male student enrollment and enhance its male to female ratio of students; and

WHEREAS, Lincoln University understands, and numerous researchers have concluded, that the provision of a more varied campus life experience contributes significantly to the number of prospective applicants and the active engagement of continuing students; and

WHEREAS, School and campus pride are significantly enhanced by athletics participation with schools of similar size and composition; and

WHEREAS, Lincoln University desires to move from a regional to a more national student body representation and increase its name recognition, visibility and positioning among this generation of college students; and

WHEREAS, Lincoln University desires to increase its percentage and amount of alumni giving and alumni participation in campus life and further the Lincoln Legacy; and

WHEREAS, via a Fall 2004 survey of 40% of the student body, 96% of the students surveyed indicated their desire for Lincoln to compete in the CIAA conference, field a football team and marching band; and

WHEREAS, via a Fall 2004 survey of 40% of the student body, 83% of the students surveyed indicated their willingness to accept an athletic fee to help offset the cost of moving from Division III to Division II; and

WHEREAS, the Lincoln University administration has done the necessary due diligence to understand as best possible the operational and capital budget effects of said resolution and presented a timeline for implementation of a football team and marching band; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees supports the University moving from Division III to Division II athletic competition; and further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees supports Lincoln University’s application to affiliate with the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) Conference (first choice) or other Division II Conference; and further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees supports Lincoln University’s implementing a football team for competition in the NCAA’s Division II according to the agreed upon timeline (first full season Fall 2009 or later); and further

RESOLVED, That at no time should the Operating Budget for the Athletic Department exceed more than 5% of the University’s overall Operating Budget for any year; and further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees supports Lincoln University’s implementing a Marching Band and Pep Band for athletic and other University and community events; and further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees authorizes the University administration to phase in a student athletic fee for undergraduate students, which will provide them free admission to all regular season home games of all athletic teams; and further

RESOLVED, That as part of its Capital Campaign Fundraising Goals, Lincoln University will seek financial support from alumni, corporations and other friends of the University to assist with the implementation of said objectives.

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