Study Puts Ewu Under The Microscope Board Of Trustees Seeks Opinions On Financial Impact Of Athletics

Eastern Washington University wants to know how much bang it’s getting for the 3.2 million bucks it spends on intercollegiate athletics each year.

The school’s Board of Trustees has commissioned a study on the impact that athletics and Big Sky membership have on EWU’s public image, not to mention its coffers. The business consulting firm of McFarland & Alton PS is conducting the study at a cost of nearly $10,000.

Various segments of the population - locally and in several cities where other Big Sky Conference schools are located - have been surveyed for their opinions.

And while some of the survey questions may suggest otherwise, school officials insist the study does not indicate board members are considering a change in Eastern’s athletic status as a Division I school. One question asks if a drop to Division II status would impact the university.

The study does not stem from the university’s recent and well-publicized budget and enrollment shortfalls.

According to Ken Dolan, the school’s assistant to the president, the study is part of a review of athletics that was planned by the Board of Trustees nearly 10 years ago, shortly after EWU joined the Big Sky Conference. It is being conducted now to coincide with the university’s regular Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation and NCAA compliance reviews.

“There’s a danger, I suppose, when you do something like (the survey) that people will wonder if there is something afoot,” Dolan admitted. “But it was agreed to about 10 years ago that we would do this.

“Sure, any time there are financial problems, some people are going to suggest that you need to take another look at athletics, but that’s not what’s behind this review. It was planned long before we had our budget problems.”

Eastern athletic director Dick Zornes also warned against reading too much into the study.

“My first question was, ‘If we do this, are we going to alarm people?”’ Zornes said. “I felt like that probably would happen, and maybe it has. But I don’t think there’s any reason for alarm. This is simply a task the board is doing to gather information.”

Zornes admitted, however, that “there is always reason to be concerned here at Eastern, because I don’t think we’re on totally solid ground. And again, if (the survey) is very negative, that might open some doors.”

The board will receive an update on the study Tuesday at its monthly meeting, Dolan said. Results of the survey should be compiled by September and the board hopes to reach a conclusion on the future direction of EWU athletics in October, Dolan added.

, DataTimes