NKU is dismissing a story in another news outlet that said big cuts were ahead for Athletics.

The report said  “35% of Athletics budget would be cut for all sports” and “coaches are not permitted to use scholarships for Athletics until further notice.” 

Corey Best, NKU’s Executive Director and Chief Communications Officer, clarified in an email that the rumors are false

“The only accurate detail in the recent article is that an athletics meeting took place yesterday,” she said.

The Athletics budget for this year reflects a change of less than 3% from last year’s approved budget, Best said, not a 35% reduction that has been stated elsewhere.

She also cleared up the rumors about athletic scholarships.

“No NKU student athletes are losing scholarships. Once a student-athlete signs with NKU that offer does not change throughout their four years at NKU” Best said. 

Despite financial challenges  NKU faces, Best said, Athletics will continue to grow.

“We all know that higher education is facing tremendous headwinds right now, in spite of those challenges NKU is continuing to thrive. Our campus worked extremely hard to reduce a $24m deficit and that is now behind us.

Like many mid-major universities, NKU is considering ways to adjust future scholarship offerings given the NCAA House settlement case regarding the end of amateur sports.”

The NCAA House settlement case allows schools, for the first time ever (legally), to pay student athletes directly.