MADISON, Wis. -- The NCAA may have provided a way to give back a final year of eligibility to those spring sport athletes who had their collegiate careers cut short due to the COVID-19 crisis, but that doesn't necessarily mean those athletes will get the opportunity to use it.

Such is the case at the University of Wisconsin, according to a report by the Wisconsin State Journal's Todd D. Milewski, which was published on Thursday afternoon.

Milewski received a statement from the University regarding this matter, in which, the UW athletic department outlined that it had "made the decision to not pursue waivers that would extend the eligibility of our senior student-athletes," and that "student-athletes in their fourth year of eligibility have concluded their careers with us."

The waiver, to which the statement from Wisconsin referred, was approved in late March, and in allowing for an extension of eligibility for spring athletes also allowed for schools to have the option to access funding to help support those scholarships, according to Milweski. But University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez has decided that Wisconsin won't be taking up the NCAA on that option.

Milewski cited in his article an interview Alvarez conducted this week with WIBA. In that interview, Milweski noted that one of Alvarez's justifications for not having those spring seniors return to competition for another year is that seniors in athletics weren't the only group impacted by coronavirus disruptions, and therefore, should not be allowed special treatment--Alvarez said, according to Milewski, that those studying abroad or those involved in theater and arts had things taken away from them, too, and aren't necessarily being provided the same make-up opportunity as student-athletes.

Later on Thursday afternoon on Twitter, Milewski shared the entire statement he was provided from the UW athletic department about Alvarez's decision. Here's a look at the full statement:

"The NCAA Division I Council's vote last month to allow institutions to provide an additional season of competition and extend the period of eligibility for spring-sport student-athletes comes at a time of unprecedented uncertainty in college athletics.

UW Athletics places tremendous emphasis on its student-athletes earning an undergraduate degree and having a great competitive experience. In the case of the UW spring student-athletes to which the NCAA's waiver would apply, a substantial percentage of the student-athletes are scheduled to earn their degrees before next spring. In spite of today's uncertainties, we will do everything possible to support our student-athletes as they work toward those degrees.

In regards to athletic competition, we will continue to follow the guidance of medical professionals. We are all in a rapidly changing environment that makes decision-making challenging. We will continue to keep the health and safety of our student-athletes, staff and fans at the forefront of our decision-making.

The athletic department has made the decision to not pursue waivers that would extend the eligibility of our senior student-athletes. Student-athletes in their fourth year of eligibility have concluded their careers with us.

This group of student-athletes has our full support up to, including and beyond graduation. They are Badgers for life and we are greatly appreciative of the way they have represented our department and the university."