Developing a Gender Equity Action Plan Judith M. Sweet

Former Senior Vice President for Championships and Education Services and Senior Woman Administrator

Updated in 2007 by Karen Morrison

Director of Education Services, Gender Initiatives

What is Gender Equity?

NCAA Task Force:Definition of Gender Equity

• An athletics program can be considered gender equitable when the participants in both the men's and women's sports programs would accept as fair and equitable the overall program of the other gender. No individual should be discriminated against on the basis of gender, institutionally or nationally, in intercollegiate athletics. 

What is Title IX?

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

How is Title IX compliance assessed? 

• No. However, male and female student-athletes must receive equitable "treatment" and "benefits." In addition, scholarships should be proportional to participation rates.

Does Title IX require that equal dollars be spent on men and women's sports? 

• Title IX compliance is assessed through a total program comparison.

Who is responsible for enforcingTitle IX? 

• Institutions are responsible for complying with federal laws. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education enforces Title IX. OCR has the authority to develop policy on the regulations it enforces.

How does an institution complywith Title IX? 

a) Any one part of the Three Prong Test.

b) Female and male student-athletes must receive athletics scholarship dollars proportional to their participation.

c) Equal treatment of female and male student-athletes in the areas known as the “laundry” list.

The Three Part Test• Prong One:

“Provide participation opportunities for women and men that are substantially proportionate to their respective rates of enrollment as full-time undergraduate students.”

• Prong Two:“Demonstrate a history and continuing practice of program expansion for the underrepresented sex.”

• Prong Three:“Fully and effectively accommodate the interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex.”

Financial Aid:

Female and male student-athletes must receive athletics scholarship dollars proportional to their participation.

Benefits for Student-athletes:

Equal treatment of female and male student-athletes in the areas known as the “laundry list”.

The Laundry List:

• Equipment and supplies• Scheduling of games and practice time• Travel and per diem allowances• Tutoring• Coaching• Locker rooms, practice and competitive facilities

The Laundry List continued:

• Medical and training facilities and services• Housing and dining facilities and services• Publicity• Support services• Recruitment of student athletes

How to develop a gender equity plan on campus

Establish a campus wide committee to work with the athletics department in addressing gender equity.

Potential members could include: personnel from student affairs and central administration, faculty athletics representative or senate member, budget officer, admissions personnel, athletics advisory committee representatives, athletics department administrators, coaches, student-athletes, financial aid officer, affirmative action officer, legal counsel.

Action Steps

1. Evaluate existing situation.

2. Invite Title IX consultant to visit campus and assist with evaluation and development of strategies.

3. Identify other community resources that may be of assistance.

Action Steps continued

4. Inform staff of Title IX regulations and existing circumstances.

5. Establish training sessions to educate staff and increase understanding and awareness.

Action Steps continued

6. Identify those individuals who will help champion the cause for equity.

7. Attend seminars or conferences to develop better understanding of the law and its implementation.

8. Work with local and state high schools to identify common solutions.

Action Steps continued

9. Review goals and priorities.

10. Review the way you’re doing business.

11. Identify ways of meeting goals.

Action Steps continued

12. Develop change strategies.

13. Be creative in seeking solutions.

14. Keep appropriate campus groups (trustees, budget committees, athletics advisory committee) informed of progress. Submit reports regularly.

Action Steps continued

15. Develop consensus based on facts, logic, and the spirit of fairness.

16. Help people understand consequences of lack of compliance.

17. Help people feel comfortable with change.

Action Steps continued

18. Develop public relations strategies, especially if consideration is being given to elimination of teams or other major programmatic changes.

19. Establish a timeline for changes.

20. Do the right thing for student-athletes of both genders.

Action Plan Development

• Write an action plan, for both short and long term.

• The action plan could include the following:– Increase participation opportunities for

underrepresented gender.– Add sports for underrepresented gender.– Develop a process for recognizing interest levels

to initiate new programs and upgrade club sports.

Action Plan Considerations

– Explore funding options (internal, external, student fees, state funds where possible).

– Consider zero-based budgeting.– Generate new revenue.– Reallocate existing resources.– Determine ways to reduce expenses. Do more

with less.– Enhance marketing efforts.

Action Plan Considerations continued

• Work with conference members in identifying common strategies.

• If consistent with your philosophy, consider varying levels of support for different sports, while ensuring equitable distribution in this approach for men and women.

• Keep evaluation process active and responsive.

NCAA Information

• Key Contact: Karen Morrison kmorrison@ncaa.org

NCAA Director of Gender Initiatives

• NCAA Gender Equity Homepage: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?key=/ncaa/NCAA/About%20The%20NCAA/Diversity%20and%20Inclusion/Gender%20Equity%20and%20Title%20IX/homepage.html

• NCAA Gender Equity Manual: http://www.ncaapublications.com/ProductsDetailView.aspx?sku=GE2008

• NCAA Certification: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=310