#UMassGives 2019

Unrestricted giving to the Maroon Excellence Fund provides the essential elements needed to recruit and retain student-athletes who can be competitive in the classroom and in competition.

Gifts made to the Maroon Excellence Fund have an immediate impact on all 650 student-athletes at UMass as these vital resources are spent on:

• Enhancement to Academic Support

• Behavioral Health & Wellness

• Sports Performance 

• Sports Medicine

• Student-Athlete Development

• Facilities

Academic Support

Unrestricted funds raised have already increased the number of full-time academic support staff and allow for the purchase of state of the art technology to aid student-athletes in the pursuit of academic excellence such as interactive multi-touch flat panel displays to project educational platforms, touchscreen all in one computer stations, and moveable smartboard. These new educational tools will be used in the redesigned and expanded Bob and Marianne Foote Academic Enhancement Center which will provide private study and tutorial suites as well as private meeting areas for students and counselors.

Behavioral Health & Wellness

Unrestricted funds raised will go toward developing and implementing a state of the art Mental and Behavioral Health and Wellness Program to improve student-athlete performance with learned specific psychological mechanisms to overcome mental hurdles. Funding a new position, a Sports Psychologist, will be a priority for this programming.

Sports Performance

Strength & Conditioning

Unrestricted funds have already aided in the support of additional staff in this area which have been instrumental in our strength development and injury prevention for our student-athletes. Other areas of focus will be the enhancement of the Boyden Weight Room and the purchase of new strength and cardio training equipment and the installation of a new sprint and agility area.

Sports Medicine

Unrestricted funds have already aided in the support of additional staff in this area who are providing better and more individualize health care for our student-athletes. Future funding will go toward self-contained cold and warm plunge pools for the Boyden Athletic Training Room. These pools will allow our approximately 400 student-athletes who utilize Boyden as their primary athletic training room to enhance their recovery process from training and workouts. This in turn will increase performance in competition.

Student-Athlete Development

Unrestricted funds raised help provide guidance to our student-athletes’ personal and professional growth for life after UMass. The customized programming focuses on individual growth and career development through career fairs, etiquette dinners, an online mentoring platform, e-learning, career internships/job placement and professional speaker series.

Facility Enhancements

Unrestricted funds raised have already provided for a central gathering place for student-athletes in the Varsity M Lounge. Future funds will help with the renovation of the Boyden Academic Space, the Boyden Weight Room, locker room upgrades, and enhancements to indoor and outdoor training and competition spaces.