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Statements from NCAA Officials Regarding Department of Education Title IX Announcement

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Contact(s)

Jennifer Royer
Associate Director of Public and Media Relations
317/917-6117



INDIANAPOLIS---The following are statements from NCAA Interim President Jim Isch; NCAA Senior Vice President for Championships and Senior Woman Administrator Joni Comstock; and NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics Chair Faith Shearer regarding the Department of Education’s rescission of the 2005 clarification of Title IX with respect to the use of an e-mail survey to enrolled undergraduate students as a measure of interest in athletics: 

 

“The NCAA applauds the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights in rescinding the 2005 clarification and once again giving NCAA colleges and universities the opportunity to more accurately determine the interest in women’s athletics on their campuses. Much progress has been made over the past 38 years in women’s athletics participation. Returning to the 1996 standard of measuring interest in women’s sports will help ensure that continued progress is made and future generations of young women and men will have equal opportunities.”

Jim Isch, NCAA Interim President

 

“The decision by the Office of Civil Rights is a positive step for women who want to participate in college athletics. Title IX has provided opportunities for women students to participate and receive scholarship funding, resources and coaching in intercollegiate athletics. Nearly 200,000 female student-athletes currently compete at NCAA institutions across all three divisions, and while progress toward equity has been made, it has not been fully realized. Using the 1996 standard will help our member institutions thoroughly evaluate the interests of women on their campuses.”

Joni Comstock, NCAA Senior Vice President for Championships and Senior Woman Administrator

 

“The Committee on Women’s Athletics is glad to see that institutions will be instructed once again to follow the 1979 and 1996 Title IX clarification, which helps schools to fully explore interests and abilities. The decision is important to our member institutions’ compliance efforts.”

Faith Shearer, Chair of the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics

 

Related NCAA News Stories:

 

OCR Decision Generates Reaction

Participation in NCAA Sports Continues to Climb

OCR Rescinds 2005 Title IX Clarification