Dear colleagues,
Over the past few months, we have worked closely with the MASCAC, affiliate conferences, the NCAA, and campus leadership including student life to determine the viability of a fall sports season. While every few weeks the data and information has shifted a bit, our focus on providing a safe and meaningful student-athlete experience has remained our top priority. Unfortunately, it has become clear that it would be too difficult to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes and Viking community while engaging in competition.
As the MASCAC announced today, we as a conference have made the difficult decision to suspend the fall athletics season, like all of our state sister institutions. We will continue to review the feasibility of moving these sports to the spring. We have shared this disappointing news with our students, which is particularly difficult for those entering their final season. Over the next few weeks, the athletics staff and coaches will continue to engage these students and provide in-person training opportunities as the state, NCAA and institutional guidelines allow. In addition to recruiting students for AY21 this fall, this team will also begin preparing for future seasons. No decision has been made about winter sports, which normally begin in October.
We are proud of the resilience, dedication and leadership our student-athlete community has shown during this unusual time.
Carla Panzella, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
John D. Keenan, President