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?
• Title IX compliance is assessed through a total
program comparison.
Does Title IX require that equal
dollars be spent on men and
women's sports?
• No. However, male and female studentathletes must receive equitable "treatment"
and "benefits." In addition, scholarships
should be proportional to participation rates.
Who is responsible for enforcing
Title 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 comply
with 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 studentathletes 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 Studentathletes:
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, studentathletes, 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%2
0The%20NCAA/Diversity%20and%20Inclusion/Gender%20
Equity%20and%20Title%20IX/homepage.html
• NCAA Gender Equity Manual:
http://www.ncaapublications.com/ProductsDetailV
iew.aspx?sku=GE2008
• NCAA Certification:
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=310