Many individuals considering investing in their futures are also seeking financial support, especially in the realm of esports. In a similar fashion to traditional athletics programs, many universities now provide scholarships and other forms of financial assistance specifically for esports students in competition. This was the case for OU ECCI from Spring 2021 through Fall 2023.
Universities have various strategies for implementing incentive programs, such as utilizing central funding, tuition dollars, sponsorships, and fundraising efforts. At OU ECCI, over $170,000 in scholarship awards were raised since January 2021, with a focus on infrastructure resources like physical spaces and partnerships on campus. However, due to the disruption caused by the pandemic, student leadership efforts have decreased, resulting in the suspension of scholarships until teams can fundraise their own needs.
Director Moog worked on creating jobs by leveraging different budget allocations to enable student leadership development in preparation for the Spring 2024 semester. These changes aim to incentivize student recruitment, retention, and development, providing opportunities for students to enter hourly rate positions across various areas.
The intercollegiate esports program at OU ECCI now empowers competitors with the ability to fundraise effectively, with teams setting goals and retaining a percentage of earnings. The program is shifting towards revenue generation goals and venue expansion, aiming to become self-sustaining by leveraging resources.
Moving forward, OU ECCI will continue to fundraise for student incentive programs, such as scholarships, travel abroad opportunities, and more. Roster size caps will be enforced to maintain scalability and efficiency within the program.
