Go-Fund-Me Site Set Up To Boost UHart Division III Legal Fight

WEST HARTFORD, CT — An aggressive fundraising campaign has appeared on the Internet site Go-Fund-Me to raise money to subsidize the legal fight over the University of Hartford's move to Division III athletics from Division I.

As of early Tuesday afternoon, a total of $56,582 had been raised through 91 donors. The goal is to raise $300,000.

"This is a matter of survival for both the University of Hartford and the Hartford Hawks Division I Athletic program. Please donate generously to help us save the #Neighborhood," The introductory message from the group Support D1 Hartford Athletics said.

In May, the University of Hartford Board of Regents voted to make the move. The decision came about two months after the UHart men’s basketball team this season won its first America East Conference championship to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, its first appearance in the big dance.

The Hawks lost to eventual national champion Baylor in the first round.

University officials have said the decision to go DIII comes after about a year of studies and a report filed by an on-campus task force made up of coaches, faculty and staff, alumni and a member of the regents. The move has sparked protests and a petition from alumni to remain in Division I.

The transition to Division III would become effective no later than Sept. 1, 2025. All student-athlete scholarships and coaching contracts are being will be honored, but, starting in the 2022-23 school year, UHart will not be offering new athletic scholarships to student-athletes.

The Go-Fund-Me appeal continued, "We honor both the legacy of athletics alumni and embrace the gifts and the strength of the Division I student-athletes of our present and of our future. All of these people have been wronged, and we emphatically support the collective efforts to remain Division I and to bring the University of Hartford to immeasurable heights of greatness. We are using this money to assist the legal action to remain Division I. Any excess funds will be donated to the University Athletic Department, pending the University maintaining its Division I status.

See the fundraising page here.