I would add if you created an exciting experience for the students through athletics, they will more likely be donors and ticket buyers as alums.
We're officially doomed
- Thread starter Eight Legger
- Start date
Spider17
Assistant coach
I think every college knows the importance of what athletics brings in terms of national spotlight on improving the University’s image and reputation. It’s certainly not a secret and why college football and basketball are billion dollar industries. Even our own university president has said as much.
The question is how much effort are we, the University of Richmond, going to put in to achieve those goals. Not just financial investment but complete a complete mindset and the kind of institutional commitment that we see form programs like VCU. And if VCU is a bad example for the admin then how about teams like Villanova, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Northwestern, etc. who put even more money and resources so they can compete in even better conferences. Those schools want to be the best in academics, athletics, and it’s no surprise the national exposure they have gotten because of that.
Richmond gets about 16,000 applications now and accepts ~3,000 students for only ~800 to matriculate. That’s about a 25% yield rate. The yield at schools like Duke or Notre Dame are so much higher. A lot of the students accepted at UR turn it down to go to schools like Duke, Northwestern, Villanova, UVA, UNC. The reason is most students that our university wants are well rounded and want a holistic college experiences. Athletics plays a big part in that.
The question is how much effort are we, the University of Richmond, going to put in to achieve those goals. Not just financial investment but complete a complete mindset and the kind of institutional commitment that we see form programs like VCU. And if VCU is a bad example for the admin then how about teams like Villanova, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Northwestern, etc. who put even more money and resources so they can compete in even better conferences. Those schools want to be the best in academics, athletics, and it’s no surprise the national exposure they have gotten because of that.
Richmond gets about 16,000 applications now and accepts ~3,000 students for only ~800 to matriculate. That’s about a 25% yield rate. The yield at schools like Duke or Notre Dame are so much higher. A lot of the students accepted at UR turn it down to go to schools like Duke, Northwestern, Villanova, UVA, UNC. The reason is most students that our university wants are well rounded and want a holistic college experiences. Athletics plays a big part in that.
Spider17
Assistant coach
Every year there is the annual giving day in April, athletics is always #1 of all the disciplines in total number of donations and total amount raised.
*23*
Assistant coach
This is more the point about HPU. The admin is allin, whereas ours is all out on hoops and trying to win
spider_hoss
Bench player
75% acceptance rate. They are #1 in US News' "Best regional colleges - South" category, so they aren't a slouchy school
Ah, yes...edging out Florida Polytechnic and Flagler in that category.
They're improving and are doing some interesting things, but that's a fairly bad acceptance rate for a private university looking to make a name for itself for academic quality. They're definitely behind similar area schools Furman, Wofford, and Elon in selectivity.
They're improving and are doing some interesting things, but that's a fairly bad acceptance rate for a private university looking to make a name for itself for academic quality. They're definitely behind similar area schools Furman, Wofford, and Elon in selectivity.
Eight Legger
Starter
Gotta make all that NIL money back somehow.
brooklyn brownstone
Starter
found out from a friend of mine (double Ivy League alum) that at his kid's HS (very well regarded academic HS), Richmond is the hot school that everyone wants to go to.
SpiderRick
Bench player
For the quiddich?
sman
All A-10 player
must be a northeast lacrosse high school. certainly not March Madness fans.
We need this to say "very well regarded basketball HS".
97spiderfan
Starter
Toured High Point last year with my daughter. That place is unique to say the least. It gave me cult vibes. I wouldn't compare UR in any way shape or form to High Point.
MDSpider8
Bench player
Couldn't agree more. I toured High Point when I was looking at schools my junior year of high school, and it felt like everyone at that place was brainwashed. Add in the steakhouse on campus where they teach you table manners, wash and fold laundry delivered to your dorm room, 5 pools, and steel drum players lining the streets, it made for quite the weird impression. The President is also idolized in a very strange way all over campus.
97spiderfan
Starter
We met the President on our tour. Major narcissist. The arena is named after him and yes he is in every video. It is a unique place, I say that kindly because I couldn't wait to leave. Weird weird place.
sman
All A-10 player
we toured it too. I didn't get a cult vibe or brainwashed thing. we didn't see steel drums, but they were playing classical music on the speakers outside, which was certainly unusual for a college campus ... or anywhere really.
they have a bunch of "tiers" to their housing. our guide mentioned the laundry service in the top tier, but she laughed about it. it didn't sound wide spread. maybe the ultra rich minority pay for it? maybe the basketball team gets that as a perk?
the president was interesting. very sales-ey ... always selling.
they have a bunch of "tiers" to their housing. our guide mentioned the laundry service in the top tier, but she laughed about it. it didn't sound wide spread. maybe the ultra rich minority pay for it? maybe the basketball team gets that as a perk?
the president was interesting. very sales-ey ... always selling.
Spider17
Assistant coach
There was concern of the college losing accreditation a few years ago. In my eyes, place lacks personality. Trying to give a manacured college experience. They have expensive restaurants, movie theaters, people who do laundry for you. In my eyes, that’s trying to compensate for the lack of character and educational experience.
I’ll take Marsh Hall and the worn down walls and stench that was embedded in the building through generations over whatever hotel dorms High Point has, any day of the week. That’s where boys became men!
I’ll take Marsh Hall and the worn down walls and stench that was embedded in the building through generations over whatever hotel dorms High Point has, any day of the week. That’s where boys became men!
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sman
All A-10 player
lol. UR has a pretty manuicured campus too!
I think anyone putting up new buildings and dorms today should do it right. not saying laudry service. but we accept 2 people to a bedroom, cinder block walls, and no air conditioning because that's how it's always been. doesn't mean it should be, when you're coughing up $80k per year.
I think anyone putting up new buildings and dorms today should do it right. not saying laudry service. but we accept 2 people to a bedroom, cinder block walls, and no air conditioning because that's how it's always been. doesn't mean it should be, when you're coughing up $80k per year.
MrTbone
All A-10 player
UR had been on a “residential experience” kick for at least a decade to try to win competitive battles for students looking at equivalent academic institutions. Living spaces and dining services are all super high priority, so it’s definitely come a long way recently, and a really long way from when I graduated in the early 90s.
Spider17
Assistant coach
Our university takes care of its beautiful campus. I think there’s a difference. Of course there are renovations on campus like anywhere in the country but I feel our campus has character. Marsh, the UFAs, the lodges. UR had some good traditions too. Pig Roast was one of those traditions that went away in recent years.
