ONEONTA, NY (March 3, 2018) – On February 28, Hartwick College announced that after 35 years, its nationally regarded men’s soccer program would drop from Division I to Division III. In addition, Hartwick announced that its other Division I program, women’s water polo, would be discontinued after the 2018 season.
Eight years earlier, in the Spring 2010, Collegiate Consulting was retained by Hartwick to conduct a Division I analysis for the College, as well as examine the financial support needed for its two Division I programs. The recommendations from the 2010 study including moving men’s soccer to Division III and dropping women’s water polo, which was anticipated to save Hartwick nearly $600,000. Additionally, the report encouraged Hartwick to reinvest half of the savings into meeting the needs of its remaining 16 programs so they could be more competitive within the Empire 8.
At the time of the original study, Hartwick’s Vice President for Student Affairs Meg Nowak said, “Our goal is to ensure that all our sports are supported appropriately, as well as make certain that intercollegiate athletics fits within the overall mission of the College.”
Hartwick has a storied soccer history, capturing the 1977 NCAA Division I National Championship, with five top-four seasons and 25 NCAA Tournament appearances. The women’s water polo program has made three NCAA appearances and caputured three CWPA titles.