Sonoma State has decided to disconintue three sports at the end of the school year: Men’s and Women’s Tennis, and Women’s waterpolo. The decision comes as a shock to many, but with the looming threat of more changes having to be made due to the Coronavirus, this looks like a big first change that the university has made.
Joyce Lopes, the Vice President of Administration and Finance/CFO at Sonoma State said this in an email sent to faculty.
“We are wholly committed to working with every impacted athlete to ensure they are aware of their options as they decide whether to remain at Sonoma State or to transfer to another institution. This is an incredibly difficult decision that impacts students, faculty, staff, and alumni. As explained in a news release that will be issued shortly, it will allow the university to address current budget challenges facing the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, the university and the CSU system as a whole. It also enables us to maintain our commitment to our Division II program and our membership in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). These are indeed unprecedented times, and I know that we are working together as a campus community to navigate our decision-making to the best of our ability.”
The student-athletes in these sports who currently receive athletic aid and choose to remain at Sonoma State will continue to receive their financial support during the 2020-2021 academic year. As required under NCAA rules, the student-athletes in these sports will be granted immediate athletic eligibility if they choose to transfer.
The university has not made any decisions on the fall semester regarding schooling or athletics.
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