POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Throughout the course of the fall semester, the Vassar College Department of Athletics and Physical Education has been committed to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and all members of the Vassar community.  Both the department and the College have taken several steps to mitigate the possible spread of COVID-19 on campus, including prohibiting intercollegiate competition, working closely with state and county health experts, implementing a robust testing plan, and following strict safety protocols for all athletic practices and training activities.

In developing plans for the spring semester and in acknowledgement of the continued prevalence of the virus at the regional and national levels, Vassar College has made the difficult decision that Vassar athletic teams will not participate in intercollegiate competition for winter sports.

The programs included in this decision include men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming & diving, men's and women's squash and men's and women's fencing.

Additionally, the Liberty League has announced it is canceling conference competition and championships for the same time period.  A decision was announced by the league's Presidents Council this afternoon (LINK).

 "The pandemic continues to necessitate many difficult decisions.  The loss of the winter season is incredibly hard news for our student-athletes, students, coaches, and staff who have worked tirelessly to prepare for the possibility of competition," said Director of Athletics and Physical Education Michelle Walsh.  "Yet, with the number of COVID cases in the United States at record-breaking levels, this decision is the right one to continue safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our student-athletes and the entire college community."

Winter sport student-athletes will have the opportunity to participate in training and development activities upon return to campus in February, including in-person practices and instruction, strength and conditioning training, student-athlete development programming, and leadership training. 

The decision to participate in intercollegiate athletic competitions for Vassar's spring teams, as well as the possibility of playing a modified fall sports schedule during the spring season, will be made at a later date, and will be informed by an evaluation of the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. The College will continue to confer with the NCAA, and the Liberty League regarding subsequent decisions.