The Gender-Equity Q&A is intended to help athletics administrators understand institutional gender-equity and Title IX-related issues. Answers for the Q&A are provided by Christine Grant, associate professor at the University of Iowa, and Janet Judge, attorney with Verrill & Dana LLP.

Q Do all schools have to be compliant by a certain date? What are the consequences of not meeting Title IX, and are they different across divisions?

A Title IX regulations were finalized in 1975. At that time, K through 12 educational institutions were to be in compliance by June 1976; colleges and universities by June 1978. The penalty for non-compliance for any institution was removal of all federal funds. That action has never been taken.

Consequences include the possibility of a complaint being filed with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) or a lawsuit being filed against the institution. The latter action became more prevalent after 1992 when the Franklin v. Gwinnett lawsuit ruled that monetary damages could be awarded in Title IX cases.

It also should be noted that equity is a cornerstone in the NCAA certification program for all Division I schools. It is important to note that "the (athletics certification) committee will not be evaluating ... whether an institution is in legal compliance with Title IX; rather it and peer reviewers will be evaluating the institution in terms of whether the school has thoroughly addressed its standing in each Title IX area."

Failure to become certified can mean severe penalties, including ineligibility for NCAA championships or removal from active membership. Equity also must be evaluated in the Divisions II and III self-studies that must be completed every five years. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics has attempted to make the questions on equity similar across all divisions.

For additional gender-equity resources, including newly created video segments featuring Christine Grant and Janet Judge, visit www.ncaa.org/gender_equity.