Statement from Hector Batista, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer

As we near the end of the Fall semester, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all intercollegiate sports competitions for the 2020-2021 winter season. We came to this conclusion after much deliberation with and in consideration of stakeholders, comparable institutions, and regulatory associations. 

At our direction, the CUNY Athletic Conference executive director and the athletic directors for conference member campuses deliberated on this matter and voted unanimously to bring forward a recommendation to cancel the winter season. To further inform our decision, we also spoke to several of you about your perspectives and, while everyone agreed that they didn't want to take away this important part of students' college experience, protecting the health and safety of student-athletes and staff was of utmost priority. 

In addition, throughout this semester, we have consulted with SUNY leadership about the status of sports on their campuses. In October, the SUNY Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), also a NCAA Division III conference, cancelled their winter sports for the 2020-21 season.

We have also monitored the status of winter sports at other conferences. As you may be aware, last week, the Ivy League announced their unanimous decision to cancel all winter sports. Earlier this month, the Liberty League, the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference and the Great Northeast Athletic Conference announced the suspension of their winter sports seasons.

Likewise, we are closely monitoring the East Coast Conference's (ECC) final determination for their winter season, which as you know affects Queens College and the College of Staten Island. 

The NCAA and the NJCAA have not announced the cancellation of winter sports, however, in recognition of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, they approved a blanket waiver for Division III student-athletes to be "able to participate in athletics during this academic year without being charged a season of participation or semesters of eligibility". We will continue to align with the guidance provided by our regulatory bodies.

Although there continues to be uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and how it may affect intercollegiate sports, please encourage your athletic directors to work with CUNYAC to plan for the prospect of a return to sports for Spring and Fall 2021 and to engage with and support our student-athletes. On a related note, we are evaluating the issue of sports practices and training and additional guidance will be forthcoming. 

As we continue to safeguard the well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and community, we are also hopeful about the coming year. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sports impacted include men's and women's basketball, men's and women's wheelchair basketball, cheerleading, fencing, men's and women's swimming and diving, and men's and women's indoor track and field, rifle, wrestling. CUNYAC sponsored championships for these sports will not take place.

"Our commitment to the health and safety of our Cardinals' student-athletes, staff & coaches remains our highest priority. While the decision to cancel 2020-21 CUNYAC winter sports competition is extremely disappointing, we remain steadfast in our commitment to our student-athletes, and look forward to the day when intercollegiate athletics can safely return to campus," said York College Interim Director of Athletics & Recreation Carl Christian.

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