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VIU exploring jump to elite level of university athletics

Mar 27, 2017 | 6:17 PM

NANAIMO — The evolution of Vancouver Island University (VIU) could include a big step up for the school’s athletic programs.

VIU’s athletic director Stephanie White is embarking on an internal review to see if being a part of U Sports, Canada’s highest caliber of post-secondary athletics, is feasible.

“We have to assess where our gaps are in terms of what requirements U Sports have,” White told NanaimoNewsNOW “There’s the operating requirements, we’ll investigate if it’s feasible for us.”

U Sports, also known as University Sports, is the newly rebranded entity formally known as Canadian Interuniversity Sport. Canada’s largest and most prolific universities compete under the banner.

White said numerous factors need to be identified to determine if VIU is a good fit for U Sports and vice-versa. She compared determining if university level athletics is right for VIU to opening a vehicle’s engine and seeing if it has what it takes be a race car.

“Having been an administrator in U Sports, I have some understanding of the demands. Travel can be challenging as well because of our geographic location, that’s a huge piece.”

White was hired as VIU’s athletic director in November, following six years as the associate athletic director at Toronto’s Ryerson University, a U Sports member.

She expects a feasibility report will take at least six months, which she said will help define VIU’s chances of transitioning from collegiate to university athletics.

“That will assess all areas and say ‘okay, we’re good here, check mark, we’re missing some things here, and here’s what we’re missing’ and then really it’s how do we find the support mechanisms for those missing pieces.”

White said VIU will compete in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association for at least the following seasons.

VIU has benefited from millions of dollars over the last several months from senior government sources for improved infrastructure as part of the school’s Campus Master Plan.

That plan also calls for a new gym, which White noted may have to be improved in order to make the leap to U Sports.

The Mariners have been at the pinnacle of their conference for nearly a decade, winning the PACWEST’s aggregrate trophy nine straight seasons. The award is given to the school with the most points combined from four major sports.

 

Ian.holmes@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @reporterholmes