College

[Gobulls]

Jurisdiction

New York

UB has cut their women's rowing team in which my daughter was recruited into. She was recruited as a Division 1 coxswain siged letter of intent for the NCAA back in November 2016. 2 weeks ago they decided to cut the program. Now that it's April there is not much time or athletic aid left at other colleges for her to obtain. We are expected now to take on $144,000 or more of parent loans as we are forced to go out of state for her major and women's rowing. This doesn't set well and now my daughter is emotionally stressed over the grief this has caused. Thoughts?

 

[army judge]

UB has cut their women's rowing team in which my daughter was recruited into. She was recruited as a Division 1 coxswain siged letter of intent for the NCAA back in November 2016. 2 weeks ago they decided to cut the program. Now that it's April there is not much time or athletic aid left at other colleges for her to obtain. We are expected now to take on $144,000 or more of parent loans as we are forced to go out of state for her major and women's rowing. This doesn't set well and now my daughter is emotionally stressed over the grief this has caused. Thoughts?

I suggest you read all of the documentation she signed, and/or was given to her explaining DIV I NCAA scholarships.

Your daughter isn't the only female this seems to have happened to, lately.
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Title IX And Its Effect On College Athletic Programs.
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I am not up with all of the NCAA scams, schemes, and ploys used these days.
I represented three young men over the years as they transitioned from the NCAA world into the NFL and MLB.

You might want to start by having a chat with the Title IX program coordinator or director at her current university. I may be recalling incorrectly, but if the school cut the program, SOMETHING was to be offered to athletes impacted by the decision.

I am NOT saying that will be your daughter's result, but there used to be some assistance offered to impacted students.

One school even offered to continue the academic scholarships, as long as the student kept a 3.0 GPA, and a 3.5 GPA in their major area.

Anyway, see what information the school can offer you, and then contact the NCAA directly.

I just found this article, and it might have information on point.
Apparently colleges can summarily terminate the "guaranteed" scholarships after the first year without pain or penalty.

Have look see:
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College Athletes Should Be Guaranteed Four-Year Scholarships. Anything Less Is Morally Indefensible.
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It hets worse.
"There are NO full ride scholarships", says this CT sports lawyer:
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When Can a School Take Away Your Scholarship?
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It just keeps getting more enlightening, pitiful.
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The Truth about Athletic Scholarships | Informed Athlete
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[hrforme]

I think you need to take the letter of intent to a local attorney to review if it rises to the level of an enforceable contract. Was an agreement ever finalized between her and the institution?

As a mom who is just finishing paying for two kids college educations, that stinks. Is there any way for her to go to a local community college for a gap year and still make a rowing team the next year? Or are there universities that will pick her up as a scholarship after her freshman year?