DU was a founder member of a consortium of big city schools (started by DU grad Richard Lapchick at Northeastern) whose purpose it is to make it easier for athletes to complete their degrees when their playing days are over. Low or no cost tuition in return for spreading the word about the value of staying in school. I assume we're still members.
Quoting from Wiki: One year after the Center’s inception, Lapchick wanted to take its mission national and established the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS). For 25 years, the NCAS has been “creating a better society by focusing on educational attainment and using the power and appeal of sport to positively affect social change.” It is a group of over 230 colleges and universities that created the first of its kind degree completion and community service programs. To date, 29,856 athletes have returned to NCAS member schools. Over 13,700 have graduated. Nationally, the NCAS athletes have worked with more than 18 million students in the school outreach and community service program, which focuses on teaching youth how to improve race relations, develop conflict resolution skills, prevent gender violence and avoid drug and alcohol abuse. They have collectively donated more than 19 million hours of service while member colleges have donated more than $320 million in tuition assistance.
As I say, DU was among a handful of schools which were among the founders of
the consortium.
