This is part of our Cardinal Way project on promoting civil discussions.
Our columns on the mandatory fees that Virginia’s public colleges charge students to support intercollegiate athletics, and our invitation to respond about those, drew readers from across the country. Some of the out-of-state readers who responded listed their Virginia connection, some didn’t.
Many were graduates of James Madison University, whose appearance in the 12-team College Football Playoffs prompted the columns — along with references to how 73% of JMU’s athletics budget is funded through mandatory student fees, according to the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database. JMU generates more revenue through those fees than any other college in the country. Some out-of-state schools may “hide” those fees through other charges but even when general “institutional support” is factored in, JMU has the second most subsidized athletic program of any Division I football-playing school. That prompted these questions — and these answers.
How important (or not important) are intercollegiate sports in maintaining your connection to a college?
The answers here fell into three categories: A lot, some or none at all. Here’s a representative sample of answers.
Extremely important.
Chuck Martin, Martinsville
Most important.
Hugh Lantz (JMU grad), Prosper, Texas
Intercollegiate sports are essentially the only remaining connection me and most alumni have towards the school. I’ve moved to GA where college football is life, and I’ve been able to make a surprising amount of work connections simply via notoriety of the athletics program
Harry Richards, Atlanta
7 on a 10 point scale
Julian Moore, Stephens City
Important enough that I follow SUNY Albany and VCU.
Brian King, Richmond (a graduate of both schools)
Minimally so.
Edgar Weaver, Roanoke
Sports programs have absolutely no relevance to my relationship with 3 universities I have attended.
Ernest Bentley, Blacksburg
Is it acceptable for state-supported colleges to charge a mandatory student fee for intercollegiate athletics on the grounds that such sports contribute to the overall college experience? Please explain your answer.
NO. Sports should be self supporting from ticket sales and income from advertising, media and commercial exploitation of its athletes. Students who select a school because of a successful sports program are losing sight of the purpose of secondary education which is education.
Ernest Bentley, Blackburg
Yes . … Every student who applies knows the fees. There are other options for college if they find this fee to be an issue. I wish you would stop attacking JMU. Check the amount of applicants each year who have no issue with the cost. I much prefer the JMU athletics of today to the late ’70s, early ’80s Division III opponents.
Chuck Martin, Martinsville
If schools want NCAA sports, they should be paid for outside of student fees.
Curtis Vaughn, Herndon
Fees should be for availability and access. An athletic fee that supports intramural sports or general student body access to facilities (tennis courts, gym, etc.) are fine. Fees for “mandatory” services (library) are hidden taxation. These intercollegiate fees are blatantly hidden taxation. Student fees have been ingrained in the college experience for decades. I paid a fee every year while at Vanderbilt “for the privilege of standing in line to get scarce tickets to basketball and baseball games.” The IRS has even incorporated them into the Tax Code (allowable for AOC education credits).
Julian Moore, Stephens City
I remember when JMU did the stadium expansion and the fee was $1,200. Which seemed very high at the time. The market will determine if kids and their parents can afford JMU.
Brian King, Richmond
I would also add that it’s possible and very likely, that the decision to elevate the JMU football program to a D1 level, was very calculated by those in charge. And it obviously came with a hefty bill and therefore “risk.” But, to their credit (or luck), it appears to be paying off for them, as the national attention of making it into the CFB final 12, may have some residual benefits in recruiting more athletes, more students and maybe even more qualified faculty. Everyone lives to be associated with a winner! And it does make the college experience more memorable!
James Connor, Nashville
Definitely. All students at JMU including me as an even older alum benefit from the success of sports and the reputation it brings to JMU and its students. Most students have attended a sport at JMU whether it’s tennis, field hockey, men’s and women basketball, soccer, football, or softball. There are some geeks (maybe you included) who never attended any JMU sports. How many basketball or football games have you been to in the last 10 years? I live in Texas and I go to 5-6 games a year. I give $20,000 every year to the sports programs at JMU. How about you? By every alum giving we may even be able to eliminate student fees. Dr. Carrier [former JMU president Ronald Carrier] realized early on that to get contributions to then Madison College and to build its reputation as a legitimate college it had to have competitive sports. Maybe one day JMU can get in a conference like the Big 10, SEC, or ACC and then we could eliminate student fees like their members do. But until then alums like you and me must contribute to the sports programs so we won’t have to depend on student fees so much. If we don’t do that then we will never make it to a Power 4 conference where we could get the big contract money. If you and I don’t contribute generously then student fees will be the norm.
Hugh Lantz (JMU grad), Prosper, Texas
Yes, JMU has been lowering its athletic fees since the transition to FBS football and student tickets remain free despite the jump up in competition . . . The comparison of JMU to a UVA or VT is absurd. JMU is transitioning from FCS (in which this type of funding is necessary) to FBS, and were given 8-10 years to lower their fees. Furthermore, why not talk about how JMU’s tuition is 13.5K/30K (in/out of state) in comparison to UVA’s 20K/58K. You draw the line at 3K in allocated funds towards athletics but make a comparison to a school who charges a luxury SUV per year in tuition?
Harry Richards, Atlanta
Of course it is. The fee supports male and female sports. Private schools do it as well. The option is to take tax money collected by the state and dole it out to each state school. No one forces a student to attend any college or university. The fees are publicly posted for examination. If a student does not like it, he or she are free to find another school. Or, the students can petition the school to find another way to raise money.
Charles Toney, Paris, Texas
At the University of Arkansas and I believe other SEC schools, the athletic department is a separate entity and is required to be self supporting.
Allen Fields, Fayetteville, Arkansas
It is incredible at today’s college costs, where students are taking out massive loans, that they would be forced to borrow money to pay for college athletics. To pay the student next to them, if they even go to class, to play sports at school. Colleges have lost their way and the why they exist. Educate students, not create pro athletes.
Stephen Quaile, Power Springs, Georgia
Education is already expensive enough. Athletics should be funded with TV deals, boosters, NILs, etc, and not from money that most students have to borrow and then have to repay.
Andrew Stanfill, Ridgely, Tennessee
This seems like the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard of charging students for the athletics.
Roger Gilbert, Jonestown, Texas