"Webster spokesperson Patrick Giblin stated that the university was unable to raise a single dollar in endowments to support the program, despite investing more than a million dollars per year from its operating budget."
"The university has faced significant financial losses and declining enrollments, which contributed to the decision to cut the chess program, even after the team won its seventh national championship."
"Former coach Susan Polgar challenged the university's rationale, questioning the claim of high operational costs and stating that only two team members are international students with no visa issues."
Webster University is eliminating its chess program, which has produced multiple grandmasters, due to funding challenges and difficulties in obtaining student visas. The university has invested over a million dollars annually to support the program, but enrollment has declined significantly. The chess team recently won its seventh national championship and was consistently top-ranked. Former coach Susan Polgar disputes the university's claims about funding and visa issues, highlighting that only two team members are international students and questioning the lack of fundraising efforts.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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