Higher Ed Advisor: UCI’s esports program as a university differentiator

Welcome to Higher Ed Advisor, the Baker Tilly podcast series where we speak with higher education industry leaders about practical and proactive guidance to help colleges and universities protect and enhance their value.

The University of California, Irvine (UCI or UC Irvine) was the first public university to create an official esports program, with Mark Deppe, Director of UCI Esports and Commissioner of the North American Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF), helping build the case for esports with continuous communication with UCI leadership and develop the four pillars of UCI’s varsity esports program as a key differentiator for the institution. Mark joins Higher Ed Advisor to share UC Irvine’s esports story, including:

• What motivated UCI to start an esports program
• Steps taken to launch
• Recruiting and scholarship opportunities
• How the university leveraged existing resources to create a successful program
• Importance of student engagement and enhancing the student experience for non-traditional athletes, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and career development
• Collaboration with UCI’s research department

Listen to the podcast to gain insight into UC Irvine’s esports roadmap!

Interested in more podcasts on collegiate athletics and esports?

Meet this episode’s guest speaker:

• Mark Deppe, UCI Esports Director and NASEF Commissioner

Baker Tilly’s esports evaluation guide helps colleges and universities establish or enhance an esports program.