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8 Hartford Business Journal • October 22, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com By Joe Cooper jcooper@hartfordbusiness.com T he University of St. Joseph is taking on a new look as it implements strategies to battle shrinking under- graduate enrollment. The private Catholic college last month enrolled male students for the first time in its 86-year history, and it's investing millions of dollars to build up its athletics program, which it hopes will attract more male and female students alike. That investment includes a new $16 million athletics venue for men's and women's basketball and student use, slated to break ground next year and open in early 2020. It will attach to the school's existing athletic center. The school is also forming five Divi- sion III men's teams, and it made a high-profile hire last month — former UConn Head Coach Jim Calhoun — to lead its newly formed men's basket- ball team. The roster already includes student athletes from Puerto Rico, Nebraska, Texas and Florida. The West Hartford-based university enrolled 96 male undergraduates this fall, increasing its total undergradu- ate enrollment to 910. That's a five- year high for USJ, which plans to add another 250 or more male students in the coming years when enrollment peaks at 1,100 pupils. Approximately 60 percent of the new male enrollees are involved in school sports, USJ said. "Just like a business that wants to expand its geographic reach, athletics was a way for us to do that," said USJ President Rhona Free, who is in her third year leading the school. The coed transition introduces gender diversity in the classroom, but school officials also say adding men's sports provides new marketing, rev- enue and recruiting opportunities for USJ to lure a wider range of applicants. The athletics expansion also meets the needs of a growing number of students either looking to continue their sports careers or others pursu- ing degrees in athletic training, sports management or physical education and sports studies, school officials said. "There is no doubt that it was very strategic when we looked at the chang- ing interests of students, we realized that just like the university has changed since 1932, we have to change in ways that accommodates students interested in sports," Free said. "Many athletes will come here who wouldn't otherwise." University officials said they were careful about adding new teams while considering cost and popularity. The enrollment uptick expected to result from adding four NCAA Division III men's teams this year will likely pay for new coaching and athletic-training hires, in addition to smaller expenses such as uniforms, field equipment and transportation costs. "Because of the sports we have added, there hasn't been any huge big- ticket items," Free said, adding that men's and women's teams are sharing facilities, which cuts down on costs. USJ's men's cross country, swimming and diving teams share facilities, coaches and practice schedules with the wom- en's squads. Meantime, the men's and women's soccer teams share practice and game fields, which will also house a new men's lacrosse team in 2019. While revenue from ticket sales, stu- dent gym memberships, and sports-re- lated fundraising through the school's Blue and Gold Club are all expected to rise, the new teams and facility are an investment that likely won't pay for themselves immediately. Several new men's teams, however, have been hopeful indicators for ticket revenue and fan interest. The soccer team (7-3-2), has drawn large crowds during a strong season, and the bas- ketball team sold more than 200 tick- ets for its Nov. 9 debut on the first day tickets went on sale. As a result, the men's basketball team's opener vs. William Pater- son University will be played at Hartford's Trinity College to accom- modate a larger capacity crowd. "Not only are Creating a Buzz University of St. Joseph builds men's athletics program to diversify, boost enrollment USJ in-state, full-time undergraduate tuition, enrollment 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 In-state tuition $28,960 $30,408 $31,928 $33,205 $34,530 $35,220 $36,273 $37,361 Fall undergrad enroll. 1,039 1,066 1,049 987 960 894 810 901 Source: Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics University of St. Joseph President Rhona Free and Glen Miller, assistant men's basketball coach, standing in the soon- to-be expanded O'Connell Athletic Center. HBJ PHOTO | JOE COOPER