Delta State University

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS & TITLE IX
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act provides that “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 educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
 
While Title IX prohibits sex discrimination campus-wide at all elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities – public or private that receive federal assistance, it specifically applies to intercollegiate athletics in three specific areas: participation, scholarships, and benefits.  Delta State University is committed to Title IX in Athletics compliance through fair and equitable opportunities for and treatment of all student-athletes and employees.  The University continually seeks to provide these opportunities free of discrimination, including sexual harassment and retaliation.
 
Members of the University community are strongly encouraged to promptly report any incident of sex discrimination or sexual misconduct of which they are aware.  Responsible employees as defined by Delta State University are required to report any incident.  Reports related to Athletics should be made directly to the University Title IX Coordinator or Senior Woman Administrator.
 
Participation: Title IX provides the following avenues to demonstrate equitable participation:

• The institution provides opportunities for males and females that are substantially proportionate to their respective enrollment, or
• The institution has a history and continuing practice of program expansion demonstrably responsive to developing interests and abilities, or
• The institution is fully and effectively accommodating its students’ interests and abilities.

Scholarships: Title IX expects that athletic financial assistance be awarded in substantial proportion to the number of male and female student-athletes.
 
Benefits:  Title IX indicates the following areas, commonly referred to as “the laundry list” in which equitable treatment is expected:

• Provision of equipment and supplies
• Scheduling of games and practice time
• Travel and per diem allowances
• Opportunity for coaching and academic tutoring
• Assignment and compensation of coaches and tutors
• Provision of locker rooms, and practice and competition facilities
• Provision of medical and training facilities and services
• Housing and dining services
• Publicity
• Recruitment
• Support services

 
Gender Equity in Athletics Committee
Delta State University actively monitors Title IX in Athletics compliance through the Gender Equity in Athletics Committee.  Membership includes:

• University Title IX Coordinator
• Senior Woman Administrator
• Faculty Athletic Representative
• One Male Sport Coach
• One Female Sport Coach

 
Assessment of Title IX Compliance
The Gender Equity in Athletics Committee meets annually to review compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 as it pertains to Athletics.  The committee examines each of the three athletic gender equity components as well as additional factors and submits to the University President and Athletic Director by July 1 of each year a report of its findings and recommendations, if any, to ensure the University’s compliance with the Athletic aspect of Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972.
 
Participation: The Gender Equity in Athletics Committee assesses equitable participation through the third prong of the three-part test by considering:

• Whether there is unmet significant interest in a particular sport by utilizing multiple indicators, including but not limited to:
• Survey of all undergraduate students
• Survey of varsity coaches, athletic administrators, and varsity student-athletes
• Open forums
• Informal input
• Statistics about participation in intramural and club sports
• Statistics about participation in local high school sports, amateur athletic associations, and community sports league
• Whether there is sufficient ability to sustain a competitive team in a particular sport by utilizing multiple indicators, including but not limited to:
• Experience and accomplishments of the interested parties
• Opinions of varsity coaches, athletic administrators, and varsity student-athletes
• Experience and accomplishments of intramural and club sport level teams in the sport
• Participation in other sports that may demonstrate skills or abilities fundamental to the sport
• Evaluation through tryouts or observation of participation in the sport
• Whether there is reasonable expectation of competition in a particular sport by utilizing multiple indicators, including but not limited to:
• Availability of sufficient competition opportunities offered by other institutions against which Delta State competes at the varsity level
• Availability of sufficient competition opportunities offered by other institutions in the geographic area
• Availability of sufficient competition opportunities offered by other institutions to meet NCAA and other applicable association requirements

 
Scholarships: The Gender Equity in Athletics Committee assesses equitable scholarships by considering:

• Whether scholarship processes are accessible for varsity coaches and varsity student-athletes by utilizing multiple indicators, including but not limited to:
• Survey of varsity coaches, athletic administrators, and varsity student-athletes
• Review of Financial Aid process as it pertains to Athletics
• Informal input
• Whether scholarships are equitably allocated by utilizing multiple indicators, including but not limited to:
• Statistics about scholarship budget allocations
• Statistics about scholarship awards

 
Benefits: The Gender Equity in Athletics Committee assesses equitable benefits by considering:

• Whether each of the aspects are provided fairly in an aggregate model considering the unique nature of each sport by utilizing multiple indicators, including but not limited to:
• Survey of varsity coaches, athletic administrators, and varsity student-athletes
• Physical review of equipment, supplies, and facilities
• Review of University and department websites and social media
• Review of printed promotional materials
• Review of department policies and procedures
• Review of Sports Medicine policies and procedures
• Review of Student-Athlete Support Services program
• Review of department organizational chart, employment information, and policies/procedures for professional development
• Informal input

 
Additional: The Gender Equity in Athletics Committee assesses additional related factors by considering:

• Whether relevant information and resources are readily available and widely distributed by utilizing multiple indicators, including but not limited to:
• Review of educational materials (e.g., flyers, posters, brochures)
• Review of University and department websites

DELTA STATE ATHLETICS TITLE IX CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information, to make an inquiry regarding Title IX or to report a suspected violation of Title IX, please contact Dana George, Senior Executive Associate AD for Internal Operations/SWA at (662) 846-4300 or email her at DGeorge@DeltaState.edu today.