A basketball survey that was administered by EPCC last month to measure students’ support for the idea of adding men’s and women’s basketball teams is still being reviewed.
“I don’t want to give any results of the survey, because we are still tabulating results. Right now, there are about 9,000 responses, but we don’t have them all in yet, and that’s about all I can tell you,” said Dr. Carol Kay, director of Institutional Research.
The money derived from student fees, which would increase $1 per credit hour, will go toward all expenses, except for the facilities, such as the building and basketball court.
According to Kay, the El Paso community needs to help raise money to build the facilities, but not for continuing costs.
“All the on-going paying for the coaches and such that’s ongoing from semester to semester, will be paid out by the athletic fees,” she said.
She did say that there are community sponsors that are interested in the new athletic program.
“We can’t say for sure, but there’s at least a reasonable chance that they [sponsors] will be willing to pay for the building, and it wouldn’t cost the students a thing.”
She was asked how much clout the students’ feedback really carried.
“A hundred percent - I think it won’t go through at all if the students aren’t in favor of it,” said Kay.
If the new basketball programs are approved, Kay said it would take at least two years before the teams could begin play.
EPCC is the only school in its conference that does not field a basketball team.
