ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Concordia University will discontinue its athletic programs on its Ann Arbor campus after the 2024-2025 school year.
The university will become the only NAIA member school in Michigan without athletics.
“After the 2024-25 academic year, all intercollegiate athletic programs on the Ann Arbor campus will be discontinued,” Erik Ankerberg, president of Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, wrote in a statement posted to the Concordia website.
This announcement comes after previous announcements of financial struggles at CUAA. The university said it carried a $9 million financial deficit in the last fiscal year.
“Initially, our leadership team hoped to preserve as many athletic programs as possible beyond the 2024-25 academic year. However, upon further analysis of our financial model, it became evident that continuing these programs in Ann Arbor beyond the upcoming year is not feasible,” Ankerberg wrote.
Sports for the 2024-2025 academic year will continue as long as the roster size of athletic programs meets requirements determined by the university.
“From current reports, roster sizes for most sports appear to meet these requirements,” Ankerberg wrote.
The Ann Arbor campus explored the idea of becoming an autonomous campus within the Concordia University system. This would mean becoming their own operating body. However, in a message released on June 6, 2024, the board found the Ann Arbor campus does not have the financial resources to become autonomous.
“The Board concluded that the Ann Arbor campus does not possess the resources or ability to pursue autonomy as an independent university within the Concordia University System,” wrote Concordia University Wisconsin Ann Arbor Board Chair, chairperson Pastor John Berg.
CUAA will remain open, and it will not become independent. CUAA will also continue all majors and programs through spring of 2025. After June 2025, CUAA will operate with a cost reduction plan in place limiting majors and programs.
On June 19, 2024, the university will have an academic council meeting to determine which majors and programs will remain and to create graduation plans for current students.
The university has created a web page where people can ask questions of university leaders and view the findings from the task force. More information can be found at cuaa.edu/future.