Dartmouth Drops Five Programs Over Enrollment, Budget

Brock Fritz Headshot

The hits keep coming for Dartmouth College student-athletes. About 110 of them are without a team, as the Ivy League school in Hanover, N.H., announced Thursday that it “reluctantly concluded that the best path forward” was to immediately cutting the varsity programs for men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and men’s lightweight rowing.

“I can assure you that these decisions were made with great care and with the long-term interests of the learning experience provided by Dartmouth Athletics front and center,” university president Philip J. Hanlon said, noting he consulted with athletic director Harry Sheehy, the Athletic Advisory Board and the Board of Trustees. “Harry and I realize that on top of what has already been a uniquely challenging year, this is deeply disappointing news. I remain fully committed to Dartmouth Athletics and am confident that the steps outlined here will make it a leaner but stronger program.”

Dartmouth’s release said the changes were made “to better balance the makeup of incoming undergraduate classes and help ease a budget deficit made worse by the pandemic” and “will give Dartmouth more flexibility in admissions, reducing the number of recruited athletes in incoming classes by 10%. The move also contributes to the steps Dartmouth is taking to address budget challenges, including a projected $150 million financial deficit brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Log in to view the full article
AB Show 2023 in Baltimore
AB Show is a solution-focused event for athletics, fitness, recreation and military professionals.
Nov 1-4, 2023
Learn More
AB Show 2023
Buyer's Guide
Information on more than 3,000 companies, sorted by category. Listings are updated daily.
Learn More
Buyer's Guide