You asked several questions regarding the UConn men's basketball program. You wanted to know (1) how much revenue it generates; (2) what it costs to operate, including ancillary costs; (3) the value and funding source for players' scholarships; and (4) the program's graduation rate.

During FY 08, UConn's men's basketball program generated $ 14. 07 million in direct and indirect revenue and spent $ 7. 8 million in direct and indirect expenses. This included $ 388,528 in scholarships for men's basketball players paid by the Division of Athletics.

The graduation rate for men's basketball players who entered during the 2001-02 school year is 33%. This compares to 74% for all UConn Storrs freshman and 73% for all UConn student-athletes receiving athletics aid in this cohort. The 2001 freshman cohort graduation rate among all Division I men's basketball programs was 49%.

Table 1 shows FY 08 revenue and expenses for UConn's men's basketball program, provided by UConn's Office of Government Relations. During this period, the program earned $ 7. 3 million in direct revenue and $ 6. 7 million in indirect revenue, for a total of $ 14. 07 million. The men's basketball program spent $ 7. 8 million in FY 08. Total expenses include $ 6 million in direct expenses (including $ 388,528 in scholarships), $ 0. 3 million for support staff, and $ 1. 5 million in other Division of Athletics' indirect expenses attributable to program. The $ 0. 3 million support staff expense total includes $ 177,247 for the men's basketball program's academic advisor, assistant academic advisor, and academic tutors, paid for by UConn's Office of the Provost.

Tables 2 and 3 show the Division of Athletics' sources of indirect revenue and expenses. According to UConn, 30% of the division's total indirect revenue and 27% of indirect expenses are attributable to the men's basketball program.

* Expenses paid by the Office of the Provost

Source: UConn Government Relations Office

Source: UConn Government Relations Office

Source: UConn Government Relations Office

A college or university's graduation rate is based on a comparison of the number of students who entered the college or university and the number who graduated within six years. Among Fall 2001 Storrs freshman, 74% graduated in six years (Higher Education Counts 2008 Report, Department of Higher Education). The graduation rate for UConn men's basketball players in this cohort is 33%. This compares to a 74% graduation rate for all UConn student-athletes in this cohort receiving athletics aid. Alternatively, the 2001 freshman cohort graduation rate among all Division I men's basketball programs was 49% (National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA] Graduation Success Rates Reports).

The NCAA member colleges have adopted an academic measurement for sports teams, known as the Academic Progress Rate (APR). The APR is a measure of achievement that awards each student-athlete one retention point for staying in school and one eligibility point for being academically eligible. A team's APR score consists of its total points divided by points possible, multiplied by 1,000. Teams that fall below the minimum APR score of 925 face possible sanctions. Table 4 lists the multiyear APR average (2003 through 2006 academic years) for the top 25 men's basketball programs, as of March 2, 2009.

Table 4: Academic Progress Rates for Top 25 Men's Basketball Teams (as of 3/2/2009)

Source: UConn Government Relations Office

RP: ts