JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Lincoln University’s athletic programs will be reduced by two in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2016. After a 10-month study of the university’s current intercollegiate athletic offerings, the decision has been made to eliminate baseball and tennis. The move brings the number of team sports offered to 12, which is the minimum required by the NCAA for Division II institutions.

The elimination affects 29 student-athletes for the 2016-2017 academic year. The university will provide a release for those athletes to be contacted by other schools as potential transfer students. Student-athletes who choose to complete their education at Lincoln University will retain their athletic scholarships for the next academic year, given they remain academically eligible and meet the NCAA requirements for progress toward a degree.

The decision was based upon several factors, including the overall Blue Tiger Athletics budget; expectations for success; the student-athletes’ experiences; facility needs; and the viability of successful programs. University leaders say the move to eliminate the programs was a difficult decision to reach, but is in the best interest of the student-athletes given the increasing needs and limited funding.

Courtesy: lubluetigers.com