Sports sponsorship: Utah State University President Kermit L. Hall and Athletics Director Rance Pugmire announced the re-establishment of an NCAA Division I women's basketball program that will begin competing in the 2003-04 academic year. "Women's basketball is back and long overdue at Utah State," Hall said. "I am pleased we have found a way, without using state funds, to bring it back. It simply doesn't make sense not to sponsor one of the four premier sports found on every Division I-A campus in the country." The move revives a program that was first established in the early 1970s. Utah State already is a Division I-A school and competes in the Big West Conference with the exception of its football (independent), indoor track and field (Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) and gymnastics (Western Conference) programs, which the league does not sponsor. "We currently have 15 sports so this puts us in position to meet the new (Division I-A membership) criteria," Pugmire said. "But let me make this very clear, the bottom line is that it's the right thing to do. This is not an issue about equity, it's about doing what's right." Pugmire said he anticipates having a coach in place later this spring. The women's basketball program at Utah State existed from the 1972-73 season until the end of the 1986-87 season. Women's basketball, along with men's cross country, was discontinued after the 1986-87 season because of statewide budget reductions ... Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, has announced the addition of a women's bowling program that will begin competition in the 2002-03 academic year. The program will give the Knights a total of 18 intercollegiate varsity sports and will be the third women's sport added at the school since 2000. Director of Athletics Steve Hurlbut said a search for a head coach is underway. "There's a lot of outstanding youth and high-school bowling in northern New Jersey, and with the proximity of the Bowler City complex in Hackensack, bowling seemed like the perfect choice." Fairleigh Dickinson becomes the 40th NCAA institution to sponsor a varsity women's bowling program.

Facilities: Mississippi Valley State University has completed a remodeling phase that includes the opening of the school's Student-Athlete Academic Resource Center. "The facility was born out of our commitment to ensure the total well-being of our young men and women both academically and athletically," said Mississippi Valley State Athletics Director Lonza Hardy. "It reinforces our primary goal of doing all we can to help our students excel academically and graduate." The Academic Resource Center will assist student-athletes with class assignments, provide Internet access and serve as a tutorial center for students who need special assistance.

Miscellaneous: Virginia Commonwealth University will be phasing in a new athletics logo over the next few months. Some Rams spring teams, including baseball and golf, already are using the new design, and it will be in full use during the 2002-03 athletics season. The new logo incorporates a more modern looking Ram, with the school's name arching up the back. Black and gold remain the primary colors. The previous athletics logo has been in use since 1990-91.

-- Compiled by Gary T. Brown