Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

[Azsod73]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

We appreciate the concerns about USD athletic funding

Not speaking on behalf of USD, but as an alum who has closely followed the programs for 45 years (I know Nidaros, still a pup), I can comfortably share what I know is going on with athletic funding. As far as COA, it was anticipated and budgeted for as soon as it became apparent that it would be necessary to compete in our conferences. Abbott and Herbster have made it clear that funding athletic facilities, and operations, is a high priority and they are following through with the necessary actions to make it happen.

I can't give you current budgetary particulars but I know they have expanded the staff necessary to raise money and they are successfully tapping funding sources. The results show we are fast approaching the 70% level on the overall $250 million capital campaign, and the commitments for the $81 million athletic facility projects portion is well in reach. (The bricks and mortar costs are about $70 million and the $81 million number includes bonding costs associated with the collection of multi year pledges). The goal was to not have to use any current operating revenues for bond payments.

Fund raising has been successful enough to allow inclusion of original design features and if you read Jeremy Hoeck's recent article about the T&F facility you will see what that is about.

Finally, plans are being drawn for a major revamp and remodel of the Dakota Dome and there will be news forthcoming on additional funding for athletic operations. And, I have never felt better about the future for USD athletics!

[jack power]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

Unless one knows how much money is dedicated to athletics,endowment numbers are pretty meaningless. Northwestern has an endowment of around $10 billion and they have crappy athletic facilities.

[WestSideRabbit]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

These numbers include everything academic and althletic scholarships?

No clue. It just says endowment. I think you can pay for a full report but I'm not interested in doing that.

[goon]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

How much state support do each program get?

[Nidaros]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

Unfortunately this isn't true. Here are the #'s from the 2014 US news college rankings
USD's endowment:$210,205,498
SDSU's endowment: $102,875,539

These numbers include everything academic and althletic scholarships?

[WestSideRabbit]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

USD also has a lot less money than SDSU to start with. If the plan is to raise the funds (post announcement) from their boosters they better start winning and getting some butts in the seats. And those new found passionate fans better start sending in some checks.

At least NDSU has half in hand when they announced. I also have a lot more faith in NDSU boosters, or for that matter SDSU boosters stepping up.

Unfortunately this isn't true. Here are the #'s from the 2014 US news college rankings
USD's endowment:$210,205,498
SDSU's endowment: $102,875,539

[jacksfan29]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

I've wondered the same thing. USD doesn't offer baseball, men's tennis, wrestling, or equestrian. They have to save a TON of money compared to SDSU.

It is somewhat funny to me that the SDSU and USD building projects had to be OK'd by the Board of Regents and legislature, and NDSU had to have cash in hand to renovate the BSA by state law, but all that's required for FCOA is making an announcement.

USD also has a lot less money than SDSU to start with. If the plan is to raise the funds (post announcement) from their boosters they better start winning and getting some butts in the seats. And those new found passionate fans better start sending in some checks.

At least NDSU has half in hand when they announced. I also have a lot more faith in NDSU boosters, or for that matter SDSU boosters stepping up.

[joeboo22]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

They are not cutting sports, except MAYBE equestrian, and that is for totally different reasons.

Cutting sports is generally really dumb, the only way some schools get around it is when they move up to D-I at the same time (generally cutting football). If SDSU cut baseball, they'd save some money off the top, but tick off a ton of donors, former players and fans of the program.

As for USD not really having a plan, this scares me, and its not just USD, its any school that announces this and doesn't have a plan. You can hide things on the books, move accounts around for a year or two, but sooner or later you need that extra money year in and year out.

I think the big worry, is announcing it without a plan, and then either having to cut it once its implemented or 2-3 years down the road having to cut the program.

[filbert]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

I've wondered the same thing. USD doesn't offer baseball, men's tennis, wrestling, or equestrian. They have to save a TON of money compared to SDSU.

It is somewhat funny to me that the SDSU and USD building projects had to be OK'd by the Board of Regents and legislature, and NDSU had to have cash in hand to renovate the BSA by state law, but all that's required for FCOA is making an announcement.

The smoke is easy to make from whatever you have on hand, but the mirrors represent actual capital cost.

[RochJack69]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

Sounds like the old arms race escalation. Now maybe the underhanded donors can step up and help the whole team not just one or two players.
I'm sort of in favor of this idea, because it is the players doing the entertaining, not the universities.What is next? cap space, grievance committees, tax attorneys, agents for hs recruits, player unions, incentive bonuses.
I'm guessing that it will create a lot of turnover in rosters, maybe to D2 advantage. Will always be open roster spots for potential blue chippers, just dump the low man on the roster.

[yotefan90]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

I recall Herbster saying they have 175 scholarships at $4,145 for a max hit of $775,000 a year. The math doesn't work out but he's just an AD.

Per the below link to a Plain Talk article from 9/11/15, the number is 187 scholarships for a max cost of $775,115.


http://www.plaintalk.net/sports/arti...78d453587.html

[JackJD]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

I was hoping for the U's sake that there was more than just "we'll get it from the boosters". I suppose we could have made that same announcement. The risk of damage is pretty significant if the boosters don't step up immediately and meet that challenge.

[jack power]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

From an article from Jeremy Hoeck on Sept.5th :



How will USD go about raising that money? Donations, Abbott said.
“I have every reason to believe our athletic boosters; the Howling Pack, will step up like they always have to make sure we remain competitive,” he said.

I recall Herbster saying they have 175 scholarships at $4,145 for a max hit of $775,000 a year. The math doesn't work out but he's just an AD.

http://www.yankton.net/sports/article_1c101aa8-538b-11e5-9806-b339c15e8116.html#.VesMN3ePYuM.twitter

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

I'm going to ask a serious question and will not appreciate smack responses which may cause this thread to end up in smack. This is a significant subject worthy of serious discussion, speculation, guesswork etc. -- but not smack. Here's the question, followed by some comments.

Do any of the readers of this board know how USD is funding and applying its FCOA? I believe I read, or concluded from what I read, there will be full COA for every full scholarship. Presumably for a partial scholarship, there will be a commensurate reduction in the COA but in the end, the COA amount, in the aggregate, won't change: If they have the equivalent of150 full scholarships, there will be 150 full COA’s added.

I'm interested in the facts -- citations to documents,administrator statements, letters written to Howling Pack supporters –anything. I have not been able to find (haven't spent alot of time looking yet) information on exactly what USD is going to do in its application of FCOA. It is possible the formal plan is not in the public domain at this point (e.g. they may have a couple of big donors who just want to keep it quiet for now). I thought I’d throw the question out there in case some of you may have seen the information and can point me in the right direction.

Sometimes it is beneficial to know what other schools are doing -- may give us an idea or, in some case, may point out something we don't want to do.

[I know there are some who speculate USD may have made the announcement to pre-empt the local news for a day or two, without having a plan firmly in place. I cannot believe that to be the case – the risk of the consequences of not being able to follow through after making the announcement would be severe and long lasting. Simply put, they'd never hear the end of it and their credibility would be dashed. Realistically, I have to believe they have it worked out -- I'm just curious how they did it.]

It is possible that no one other than some administrators at USD know the plan right now. At some point it becomes public information.

I've wondered the same thing. USD doesn't offer baseball, men's tennis, wrestling, or equestrian. They have to save a TON of money compared to SDSU.

It is somewhat funny to me that the SDSU and USD building projects had to be OK'd by the Board of Regents and legislature, and NDSU had to have cash in hand to renovate the BSA by state law, but all that's required for FCOA is making an announcement.

[JackJD]

Re: Cost Of Attendance: The Thread

I'm going to ask a serious question and will not appreciate smack responses which may cause this thread to end up in smack. This is a significant subject worthy of serious discussion, speculation, guesswork etc. -- but not smack. Here's the question, followed by some comments.

Do any of the readers of this board know how USD is funding and applying its FCOA? I believe I read, or concluded from what I read, there will be full COA for every full scholarship. Presumably for a partial scholarship, there will be a commensurate reduction in the COA but in the end, the COA amount, in the aggregate, won't change: If they have the equivalent of150 full scholarships, there will be 150 full COA’s added.

I'm interested in the facts -- citations to documents,administrator statements, letters written to Howling Pack supporters –anything. I have not been able to find (haven't spent alot of time looking yet) information on exactly what USD is going to do in its application of FCOA. It is possible the formal plan is not in the public domain at this point (e.g. they may have a couple of big donors who just want to keep it quiet for now). I thought I’d throw the question out there in case some of you may have seen the information and can point me in the right direction.

Sometimes it is beneficial to know what other schools are doing -- may give us an idea or, in some case, may point out something we don't want to do.

[I know there are some who speculate USD may have made the announcement to pre-empt the local news for a day or two, without having a plan firmly in place. I cannot believe that to be the case – the risk of the consequences of not being able to follow through after making the announcement would be severe and long lasting. Simply put, they'd never hear the end of it and their credibility would be dashed. Realistically, I have to believe they have it worked out -- I'm just curious how they did it.]

It is possible that no one other than some administrators at USD know the plan right now. At some point it becomes public information.