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Why is Cal Poly seeking $25 million to keep swim and dive team?

March 27, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

By KAREN VELIE

Earlier this month, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo announced it had cut its swimming and diving programs effective immediately. Now, the campus administration wants $25 million to keep the program open.

A legal settlement addressing past and future compensation for student-athletes related to name, image and likeness rights, is slated to have a significant financial impact on Cal Poly—resulting in a loss of at least $450,000 per year for the swim and dive programs. Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong then cut the programs, noting the settlement.

On March 13, Armstrong offered the teams a lifeboat, raise $25 million and they will let the teams continue competing. The team has until April 15 to raise the first $10 million. If the goal is accomplished, the team will have another 60 days to raise the remaining $15 million.

Campus administrators plan to use the $25 million as an endowment for the swim team.

The team has already raised more than $2 million. As part of their plan to raise the money, the student athletes set up a GoFundMe page seeking donations, which does not include most of the larger contributions.

 


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Wtf can the program just declare bankruptcy? 25m seems a bit of a lot even in today’s times.CA needs some doge


0

Curious, what happens to the full water sports scholarship students?


Normally, if a student cannot fulfill the obligations of the scholarship, they lose that funding.


-1

You’ve got the pool and the diving boards, what more do you need? Limos?


4

This situation is beyond irrational. There are no words to adequately describe it. We are talking about 60 athletes who are suffering due to the dishonesty of the inept state government. The $25M equates to nearly half a million dollars for each athlete. The state lured these athletes to Cal Poly by lying about their athletic program. When they finally admitted the lie, they asked each of those wronged athletes to come up with half a million dollars, promising that they would then be allowed to continue doing what was initially promised. This sounds like another promise that the state will fail to keep, given their track record with promises.


5

How does a loss of $450k turn into a need of $25m?


9

What is Armstrong’s cut? What is he and his administration going to take?The CP Swim and Dive Team better watch the fine print on paperwork,I wouldn’t trust him.


22

President Armstrong and the bloated administration could take a 1% pay cut and likely fund the entire $25 million immediately.


24

$25 Mil seems a lot. Maybe it will be a windfall for Cal Poly.


Were are not talking about hosting the Olympics! $25 million…wow.


22

Armstrong should be the first one to personally donate!


37