The Missouri State University Board of Governors voted to do away with the school’s field hockey program and restructure its athletics department in a cost-cutting measure.
Effective July 1, MSU will replace field hockey with women's beach volleyball, a move projected to save $300,600 annually and maintain the required number of female student-athletes in compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, according to a news release.
MSU President Clif Smart in February created a work group tasked with finding ways to reduce the athletics department’s spending by at least $750,000. The restructuring effort is expected to cut costs by more than $1 million.
"This was an incredibly difficult undertaking," MSU Director of Athletics Kyle Moats said in the release. "The work group looked at nearly every possible scenario to reduce expenses without cutting programs. As budgets are being cut across campus, athletics must do its part.
“Ultimately, this decision was made instead of sacrificing the competitiveness of all other sports."
MSU plans to continue honoring scholarships for all student-athletes currently in the field hockey program. NCAA transfer rules dictate student-athletes may transfer to another institution — where they can practice and immediately compete — if their school discontinues the program. Students who stay at MSU would have their scholarships honored for one year starting with the fall 2017 semester. The field hockey team currently led by Catherine Ostoich began competing in 1966. Ostoich will stay at MSU until her contract expires June 30.
MSU’s field hockey team plays at the Betty and Bobby Allison North Stadium at 710 E. Cherry St. that was dedicated in September 2014. Fronting the stadium is field hockey signage.
MSU’s website states the 250-seat field also is used for a lacrosse club and school recreational events.
Philanthropist Bobby Allison in 2013 donated an undisclosed amount for the stadium and another for soccer and track and field.
Keith Boaz, MSU senior associate director of athletics, said future uses of the stadium have not yet been discussed.
“We do envision that it will probably be used for campus recreational use and things of that nature,” he said, noting a decision likely would be made soon.
The other actions recommended by the work group and approved by the board of governors on March 31 were:
• 7-12 percent cuts for each athletic program for savings of $363,000;
• cutting scholarships in equivalency sports — for which students receive partial scholarship — by $209,900;
• restructuring of academic aid for fifth-year student-athletes, to save $108,000 annually;
• reducing apparel expenditures by $59,300 per year; and
• restructuring a retiring staff member’s position by $20,600.
MSU has scrambled to reduce spending after
Gov. Eric Greitens in January made statewide higher education cuts with further plans in his upcoming budget. Smart warned additional cuts would mean tuition increases and staff layoffs.
MSU spokeswoman Andrea Mostyn said this morning the board reviewed recommendations on tuition increases and operating budget cuts at its recent meeting but didn’t vote on either. A tuition increase vote is scheduled April 19, with a decision on budget cuts to be made once the state budget is finalized, she said.
