Franklin College to launch esports program
FRANKLIN, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – Franklin College is launching an esports program that will kickoff in the 2020-2021 academic year. The school says the program with take up to 24 players in its first year and plans to grow the player count in successive years as the program grows.
Franklin College has partnered with Franklin-based Harena Data and GYO Score to help establish and maintain the program.
Larry Stoffel, chief information officer at Franklin College, says the organized gaming competitions like esports differs greatly from traditional athletic teams, many of the same characteristics carry over.
Similar to the college’s student-athletes, Franklin College esport athletes will meet as a team, have a coach, exercise and have study hours.
“Franklin College has often been forward-thinking and much of what we do is driven by the needs and wants of our students. This esports program has the potential to add significant value to our campus and to a student’s overall college experience. We are very anxious to see the program develop and thrilled to be able to offer our students something that is sure to be engaging and exciting,” said Andy Hendricks, acting vice president of admissions and financial aid at Franklin College.
Currently, Franklin says more than 425 colleges have an esports club program and more than 108 colleges play at the tournament level. Trine University and Butler University are among other Indiana higher education institutions that offer esports programs on campus.