In an effort to grow enrollment and attract new talent, Cleary University is investing in competitive esports by establishing an official team and offering scholarships.
Cleary University recently invested in esports on campus by hiring a coach to develop the new team and program and by creating a scholarship program for esports. Construction will also begin soon on a gaming arena to be located in the Cleary Commons building which will include a competition room with a broadcast booth, office space, and 30 gaming stations. Administrators hope that the addition of esports will help attract more students and lead to increased revenue for the university.
With the announcement of the hiring of Jarod Ericksen to develop a competitive esports team at Cleary University, administrators solidified their commitment to making esports a regular part of the university's athletic program. Ericksen comes to Cleary from Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois where he was an integral part of that college's entrance into competitive esports. Ericksen said that he is eager to build the program at Cleary, "I am excited for the opportunity to once again grow a program from the ground up. Not only in building a roster but also seeing the development of the on-campus arena."
An initial investment of $300,000 was made by Cleary University to hire Ericksen, build the esports arena, and recruit 15 students into the program for the 2021-2022 academic year. The university intends on investing another $1.4 million over the next four years, according to an article published by Crain's Detroit Business in February. Ericksen is confident that investment will see significant returns, saying he expects a return of $2.2 million from the investment. The program is expected to be a boon to the university and students. As Ericksen said, "So not only will our enrollment go up because of it, but we will see kids getting to be involved to grow skills related to their professional fields."
The world of competitive esports is growing, according to a recent article from Detroit Business Daily. Over the last five years, the National Association of Collegiate Esports has added over 175 member schools. With the growing popularity and restrictions on gatherings in Michigan, now seemed like a good time to begin the esports program at Cleary University, as explained by Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs, Heather Bateman, "This is the perfect year to start an esports program, since students can practice and compete remotely. We know students have been feeling isolated since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a virtual sporting option will really benefit the students on our campus as well as expand our dynamic athletic program into a whole new and exciting realm."
Students on the team will compete in games such as Hearthstone, League of Legends, Overwatch, and Rocket League. The esports team will be the twentieth program added to the list of varsity teams at Cleary University and esports team members will qualify for the same scholarship opportunities that other athletes enjoy.