University of Charleston Athletic Network – UCAN
To help bolster our athletic department and serve our student-athletes better, the university has created the University of Charleston Athletic Network (UCAN). UCAN has three main objectives:
- Provide a network of support for our student-athletes: UC was built on community partnerships. It is important to us that our students see first-hand the community members who are supporting them and their future success. It is also just as important for those who support UC to see who they are actually benefiting. Through various community events and season ticket incentives UCAN will facilitate this network.
- Boost communication and outreach efforts to UC’s supporters and fans: We want you to know how our students are doing, what events are coming up, and interesting stories about our student-athletes so you can continue to help us promote UC. As a supporter, we want you to know how much we appreciate your donations.
- Raise money for scholarships: In order to stay competitive and grow we need your help in providing financial aid to our student-athletes. All money raised by UCAN will fund athletic scholarships.
Increased Competition
Competition for good student athletes intensifies every year. UC, as a private institution, receives no direct government support, and must find other ways to fund a significant amount of financial aid to remain competitive. Because of the difference in tuition costs between private universities and public institutions, UC grants some $6 million in total aid to student athletes each year, compared to about $1 million needed by a similarly sized state institution. With your help, UC can continue to recruit quality athletes who excel in the classroom and on the field or court.
UCAN Membership Levels
Importance of Athletics to UC’s Success
UC’s 15 athletic teams participate in Division II of the NCAA and the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). Our student-athletes make up one-third of the total undergraduate population at UC. As a whole UC’s student-athletes have higher GPAs and retention rates than the rest of the student body population. Athletics is one of the primary methods of recruiting the best and brightest students to the university. Without it UC could not be successful.