Study of possible merger between college and university sports groups expected April 2010

MICHAEL PRESTIA
SPORTS REPORTER

Canadian Interuniversity Sport and Canadian College Athletic Association say the time is now to make a formal investigation into how the two organizations can best work together.

Humber athletics director Doug Fox was contacted because Humber has a fairly high profile. He said he sees a merger between college and university sports organization as invitable.

“We’ve been kind of going in that direction where we have some combined championships,” said Fox.  “The RCGA runs a combined golf college and university championship, badminton is starting to do that. So you’re starting to see some of those things.”

After soliciting a request for proposals in early September, the CCAA and CIS considered seven applications to develop a feasibility study and business plan for the strategic alignment of the two governing bodies with Sport Canada funding the study.

The Montreal-based LBB Consultants was awarded the contract and have begun the study, which is scheduled to be finished by April 2010.

CIS Director of Operations Tom Huisman said there is no limit to what the feasibility study might conclude.

“As part of this there could be an outcome where there is a full on migration ofboth those jurisdictions into one,” said Huisman. “The possibilities are somewhat endless.”

CCAA Executive Director Sandra Murray-MacDonell said there are a variety of ways a closer relationship with the CIS can help both organizations.

“We’re not just looking at competition, that is only one aspect. There is also the ability to market post-secondary sport in Canada,” said Murray-MacDonell. There is “the ability to attract sponsorships and corporate partners with the overall numbers that each organization has. Administratively, we can look at streamlining office and job descriptions and look at more developmental type things with regards to long term athlete development and working with national sport organizations.”

Both Huisman and Murray-MacDonell said the timing is right because the nature of education is changing in Canada.

“We are losing a lot of our member schools that are looking for access to the CIS,” said Murray-MacDonell.

Similarly the CIS has faced the possibility of some of its institutions moving into the NCAA with Simon Fraser University applying for NCAA Division II status.

“In Western Canada so many of the colleges have degree granting status and their academic program offerings are changing,” said Huisman. “The time is right to take a good long look at what the opportunities might be.”

LBB Consultants will be using surveys and interviews with key informants that both organizations have put forth to provide a well-rounded perspective on potential relationships between the two organizations.

“We’re trying to get a broad perspective with large and small institutions represented,” said Murray-MacDonell. We want “our Anglophone and Francophone institutions represented, and a variety of geographical locations represented.”

For CCAA schools, Murray-MacDonell said that interest in a partnership would differ depending where you look.

“If you talk to some institutions there is a real desire to be connected with the CIS whereas if you talk to other institutions they really don’t want to push that agenda, they’re willing to partner to a certain degree but not willing to push the full merger,” said Murray-MacDonell.

Fox said while Humber enjoys playing the universities at any chance they get, Humber’s support for a full merger of the two sports governing bodies would depend on the structure of the new league.

“I love the CCAA, I love competing against colleges, we all have the same kind of programs. It’s going to be very difficult competing with large institutions that have full kinesiology programs, huge resources, five years of eligibility,” said Fox.

“If they just designate you as division three because you’re college, I’m not interested, I’d rather have our own identity at that point.”

While all appears to be progressing well early on, that may not last forever.

“I think the university presidents at some point are going to get involved saying they’re not academically the same and they shouldn’t be put together,” said Fox. “That’s been their argument for years. It’s a very traditional organization.”