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h3. Name of concept: Moving to Division I Athletics


h3. Overview of idea:

RIT has always struggled with increasing school spirit.  We are a very busy and reputable academic institution.  However, we have always lacked strong school spirit.  So, perhaps using sports as an anchor and making all of our sports teams Division I would be a tremendous boost to school spirit.

I believe that going division I in Men's Hockey was the right step in the right direction in terms of getting students excited about RIT.  A quick survey of schools around the nation easily reveals that school sports can be a very effective anchor in terms of enhancing school spirit.  This could mean a number of things.

First, it would give RIT more national exposure.  While I don't have the stats to prove it, George Mason's Men's Basketball Team made an incredible run the NCAA Final Four a few years ago.  Their application pool jumped by 30% (one report I heard on ESPN about the time the tourney was going on).  And, I don't have to be psychic to conclude that the school spirit must have been at an all-time high.

Second, we would get big name programs into town which would serve as an economic draw for the school.  Names like Syracuse, Boston College, UMass, and other prominent Division I schools could peek student's interest in attending events.

Third, with the presence of these schools (not to mention potential national television coverage we'd get), this may be the spark we need to get students more interested in all sports on campus - not just Hockey (which is a great sport).

I know there will be growing pains (many painful losses), but, the payoff in few years would be well worth it.

h3. How  this idea leverages current areas of RIT expertise:

First, we've already got a Men's Division I Hockey Team.  This is great, and we could look to that transition as a blue print for the rest of the sports.  Second, what we have is an active President who came from a very prominent Division I school in the University of Maryland.  I like his vision for RIT and believe in where he wants to take us.  This could be another added dimension of his plan.

h3. Identify  the main RIT on-campus champion(s) for this idea:

The Athletic Department would take the lead on this.  But, it needs the support and leadership of Dr. Destler.

h3. Identify  additional on-campus champions willing to collaborate with this  individual and take a lead role in driving the idea:

Haven't identified any.

h3. Identify  the potential off-campus individual, organization, company or  government entity advocate(s):

Alumni


h3.

h3. Are  you aware of another university that is working on a similar idea?

No

h3. Explain  how you envision this idea advancing RIT's national or global stature  in an important or emerging field:

As previously stated, we would gain a lot of national exposure.  This would not only increase our enrollment numbers, but the sports should be a generator for school spirit.  And if people leave RIT with strong school spirit, they are much more likely to give back to the school once they graduate.

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