Heeke says $19.4 million allocation is 'appropriate'


logo

More than $19 million was allocated to the Athletics Department during the 2015-16 fiscal year, according to the department's Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act report submitted to the NCAA.

The $19.4 million is money directly allocated to the department by the president's division and the general fund to cover its costs of operation. Athletics does not receive indirect institutional support, expenses that benefit athletics facilities but are paid for by other departments within the university — such as differed maintenance.

Director of Athletics Dave Heeke called the allocation "appropriate," saying the amount the department receives, which makes up 6 percent of the university's total budget, allows the athletics department to operate comfortably.

"We are able to manage our program and run it very efficiently and effectively and provide great exposure for the university, but also meet the needs of students in our program," he said "This is a student-first program and a student-first university. That’s what we do and we are able to do that with the allocation we have.”

CMU allocates its athletics department the third most direct institutional support in the Mid-American Conference. Akron, which has no indirect institutional support, receives $22.1 million. Western Michigan — which gets about $5.4 million in indirect support — also receives almost $20.5 million of direct support.

Athletics Director of Communications Rob Wyman said despite the large allocation, roughly $6.7 million is used to fund student-athlete scholarship, which is one of the department's largest expenses. 

"That’s cash in, cash out," Heeke said. "One day, (the money) comes over on July 1 and on July 2, we send it right back to the university. There’s no ability for us to utilize those dollars for debt service and overhead. It goes to the academic departments. It doesn’t go back to the accounting office. It goes to the college."

Heeke added a large contingent of the department's 475 student-athletes are not on scholarship. Those athletes generate an additional $5.5 million in tuition dollars. That totals $11 to $12 million for the university.

With cuts in statewide higher education funding, Heeke addressed the importance of supporting a Division I athletic department.

"We have 475 students, who are students at this university, who participate in athletics — much like students in this university who have other pursuits and do their academic work and want to participate in the student newspaper," he said. "It’s our role and responsibility to provide a program to those young people to be successful, represent the university and ultimately graduate. It is a commitment to our students, who participate in the athletics program."

He said a Division I athletic program also benefits the overall profile of the university, helping recruiting, fundraising and engagement.

"I’d say there’s tremendous benefits from a Division I athletic program for engagement, admissions, recruiting of potential students, the vitality and excitement of campus life," Heeke said. "How do you stay connected to your alumni and friends and engaged them? How do you develop contributors to your university? You are, in a sense, a front porch or front door for people to become connected to the university, a large majority of people get connected through athletics program as we see around the country."

Share: 

About Andrew Surma

Central Michigan Life Sports Editor

Central Michigan Life Editor in Chief (Summer 2016)

Central ...

View Posts by Andrew Surma →