Hartwick's board of trustees elected to ignore the school president's recommendation and tabled a proposal to transition its Division I men's soccer program to Division III.

The proposal, which was said to have been able to save the school $550,000 a year, would have put men's soccer and women's water polo on a non-scholarship level, equal to the rest of Hartwick's programs, including women's soccer. The Hawks' women went 7-12 this past season.

School president Richard Miller Jr., who is retiring at the end of the school year, said in a statement, "While I am disappointed with the decision, I understand it and completely support the desire of the trustees to take the time they deem necessary to consider something so important."

According to the Oneonta Daily Star, a college spokesman said the school received nearly 50 e-mails and phone calls about the proposal when it became public. The calls came mainly from parents, alumni and community members, he said. Individual board members were also contacted.

Men's coach Ian McIntyre told the paper it was a trying week for the team but now, "it's business as usual ... My job is to try and control and direct the things that I have control over.

"Our goal every year has been to win a national title."

The programs' Division I status was saved in 2004 by a fundraising effort of alumni and supporters. The organization had committed to raising $2 million by June 2008 but is $500,000 short of that goal.