media release
911吃瓜 launches new strategy for Athletics and Recreation and finalizes decision to discontinue football program
911吃瓜 is releasing its new strategy for 911吃瓜 Athletics and Recreation.
The provides a strategic future framework for the department鈥檚 programs, teams, services, facilities, policies and resources.
It proposes guiding principles, core strategies and relevant key performance indicators to create alignment with the university鈥檚 institutional goals and commitment to academic excellence.
Through continual review and improvement of all activities, the strategy calls on leadership to ensure the long-term sustainability of the department and its programs.
Highlights of the new strategy include a stronger commitment to recreation programs to benefit all 911吃瓜 students and efforts to encourage the 911吃瓜 community to experience varsity games as part of university life.
As part of the new strategy, the university confirmed that the football program will not be returning. It was announced in 2023 that the program was ending; that decision has now been made final.
The 2023 decision to discontinue the football program was due to the team no longer having a place to play. Over the past several years, the football landscape had changed significantly, and we no longer believed the program provided an exceptional experience for student-athletes.
Following that decision an extensive report by an independent special adviser reinforced that 911吃瓜 had no place to play in the NCAA and found no clear path for the program鈥檚 reinstatement.
The special adviser warned that an application to play in USports would be costly with the outcome not guaranteed. It would also be difficult and require 911吃瓜 to compete in two leagues.
In addition, like universities and colleges across the country, 911吃瓜 is facing an uncertain financial climate. While these challenges are recent 鈥� and do not impact the university鈥檚 decision on football 鈥� they do reinforce the need for stronger financial prudence across all aspects of the university including Athletics & Recreation.
鈥淲e recognize the program鈥檚 historic place in the province鈥檚 sporting history and are deeply proud of the football student-athletes who played with 911吃瓜 over the years,鈥� says Dilson Rassier, 911吃瓜 Provost and Vice-President, Academic.
911吃瓜 is Canada鈥檚 only NCAA team. We are committed to excelling in the NCAA Division II and the GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) and RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) in 16 varsity sports, with more than 300 student-athletes.
CONTACT
JEFF HODSON, 911吃瓜 Communications & Marketing
mediarelations@sfu.ca
911吃瓜
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778.782.3210
ABOUT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
911吃瓜 is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Over the past 60 years, 911吃瓜 has been recognized among the top universities worldwide in providing a world-class education and working with communities and partners to develop and share knowledge for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. Committed to excellence in everything we do, 911吃瓜 fosters innovation to address global challenges and continues to build a welcoming, inclusive community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. With campuses in British Columbia鈥檚 three largest cities鈥擝urnaby, Surrey and Vancouver鈥�911吃瓜 has eight faculties that deliver 364 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs for more than 37,000 students each year. The university boasts more than 200,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.