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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Gender-equity forum provides educational stage
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By Greg Johnson
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
Despite the approaching 35th anniversary of Title IX, educating people about the law that prohibits gender discrimination in education remains an ongoing process.
The NCAA Gender Equity and Issues Forum in New Orleans April 29 through May 1 is part of that process, as institutional personnel will be able to have their questions about Title IX compliance answered at the 17th event.
Presenters include former NCAA Senior Vice President Judy Sweet and attorney Janet Judge.
Judge, who works for a law firm in Portland, Maine, will be joined by David Black, the director of enforcement at the Office for Civil Rights.
The forum presents an opportunity for institutions to understand how they can comply with Title IX. It also is a chance to help change perceptions about the law.
“That’s exactly what the gender-equity forum is all about,” Sweet said. “It’s why I’m so pleased the NCAA takes the leadership role in hosting it. It is an opportunity to try to increase understanding that can ultimately result in strong compliance with Title IX.”
Most of the menu sessions emphasize identifying Title IX coordinators and making sure institutional policies comply with the law.
Judge said one way to understand the parameters of Title IX is to realize that it mirrors Title VII, which relates to employment discrimination. There also is a sexual-harassment component to Title IX as it pertains to employees and students, Judge said.
“That is the part of Title IX institutions are typically not well versed in,” Judge said. “The forum is an opportunity for Title IX officers to receive training that otherwise isn’t offered.”
Title IX officers are responsible for overseeing and enforcing Title IX compliance on campus. They frequently are members of the campus affirmative action or equal employment opportunity offices. Judge said that can be a positive because of the expertise it takes to comply with affirmative action or EEO issues. It’s also a good way to integrate the athletics department with the rest of the institution, she said.
“It is good to have someone outside of the athletics department overseeing compliance,” Judge said. “It fits nicely with institutional control. While it is appropriate for the Title IX officer to come from one of those offices, there still needs to be additional training.”
Judge said it’s imperative that athletics administrators know who the Title IX officer is on their campuses. A recent NCAA inquiry showed that even though most athletics administrators know who that person is, they aren’t sure what their duties are.
“The most important thing is for the membership to regard Title IX as a priority,” Sweet said. “Hopefully, schools will take advantage of the opportunity the NCAA is providing through the gender-equity forum to better understand the law.”
Life/work balance
Jean Conway, a former athletics administrator at the State University of New York at Oswego, also will participate in the forum. She specializes in life/work balance issues.
She said the topic is difficult to address because finding a balance is such a personal decision.
“We all have different challenges we deal with outside and inside our jobs,” Conway said. “The session at the forum examines the executive summary from the NCAA task force on life/work balance and going from there.”
Conway said she’ll focus on how all professionals — but specifically women who are new to the field — can grow in intercollegiate athletics administration.
She believes young professionals need to have mentors. That way they can grow in their careers and develop as stronger workers and eventual leaders.
“One of the things I can do in an overt way is help women feel empowered and see the possibilities of making changes,” Conway said. “That is where my personal strengths are. I want to be a resource for them.”
Another aspect of athletics administration that makes life/work balance hard to achieve is the competitive nature of the employees. Everyone is striving to gain as many victories as possible.
“The culture really subscribes to a win-lose situation,” Conway said. “What we want is a win-win. How can I still be what I desire — a competent, energetic employee — and still have time to devote energy to a life outside the institution? They are not mutually exclusive. They work together.”
Interactive Web sites
Judge will also host a menu session on interactive social networking Web sites.
Facebook.com and Myspace.com are popular places for student-athletes and the general student body to interact.
Athletics departments are facing the challenge of how to develop policies concerning whether their student-athletes should involved.
“Unfortunately, some student-athletes make poor choices on the items they choose to post,” Judge said. “We are going to talk about these Web sites and how schools are reacting. We’ll discuss the kinds of preventative policies and training they are using to address the issue.”
Legal ramifications must be considered, Judge said, if an institution prohibits student-athletes from participating in these Web sites.
“These Web sites have great potential if they are used correctly,” she said. “Student-athletes in particular need to be given the information so they can make intelligent choices.”
The NCAA Gender Equity and Issues Forum in New Orleans April 29 through May 1 is part of that process, as institutional personnel will be able to have their questions about Title IX compliance answered at the 17th event.
Presenters include former NCAA Senior Vice President Judy Sweet and attorney Janet Judge.
Judge, who works for a law firm in Portland, Maine, will be joined by David Black, the director of enforcement at the Office for Civil Rights.
The forum presents an opportunity for institutions to understand how they can comply with Title IX. It also is a chance to help change perceptions about the law.
“That’s exactly what the gender-equity forum is all about,” Sweet said. “It’s why I’m so pleased the NCAA takes the leadership role in hosting it. It is an opportunity to try to increase understanding that can ultimately result in strong compliance with Title IX.”
Most of the menu sessions emphasize identifying Title IX coordinators and making sure institutional policies comply with the law.
Judge said one way to understand the parameters of Title IX is to realize that it mirrors Title VII, which relates to employment discrimination. There also is a sexual-harassment component to Title IX as it pertains to employees and students, Judge said.
“That is the part of Title IX institutions are typically not well versed in,” Judge said. “The forum is an opportunity for Title IX officers to receive training that otherwise isn’t offered.”
Title IX officers are responsible for overseeing and enforcing Title IX compliance on campus. They frequently are members of the campus affirmative action or equal employment opportunity offices. Judge said that can be a positive because of the expertise it takes to comply with affirmative action or EEO issues. It’s also a good way to integrate the athletics department with the rest of the institution, she said.
“It is good to have someone outside of the athletics department overseeing compliance,” Judge said. “It fits nicely with institutional control. While it is appropriate for the Title IX officer to come from one of those offices, there still needs to be additional training.”
Judge said it’s imperative that athletics administrators know who the Title IX officer is on their campuses. A recent NCAA inquiry showed that even though most athletics administrators know who that person is, they aren’t sure what their duties are.
“The most important thing is for the membership to regard Title IX as a priority,” Sweet said. “Hopefully, schools will take advantage of the opportunity the NCAA is providing through the gender-equity forum to better understand the law.”
Life/work balance
Jean Conway, a former athletics administrator at the State University of New York at Oswego, also will participate in the forum. She specializes in life/work balance issues.
She said the topic is difficult to address because finding a balance is such a personal decision.
“We all have different challenges we deal with outside and inside our jobs,” Conway said. “The session at the forum examines the executive summary from the NCAA task force on life/work balance and going from there.”
Conway said she’ll focus on how all professionals — but specifically women who are new to the field — can grow in intercollegiate athletics administration.
She believes young professionals need to have mentors. That way they can grow in their careers and develop as stronger workers and eventual leaders.
“One of the things I can do in an overt way is help women feel empowered and see the possibilities of making changes,” Conway said. “That is where my personal strengths are. I want to be a resource for them.”
Another aspect of athletics administration that makes life/work balance hard to achieve is the competitive nature of the employees. Everyone is striving to gain as many victories as possible.
“The culture really subscribes to a win-lose situation,” Conway said. “What we want is a win-win. How can I still be what I desire — a competent, energetic employee — and still have time to devote energy to a life outside the institution? They are not mutually exclusive. They work together.”
Interactive Web sites
Judge will also host a menu session on interactive social networking Web sites.
Facebook.com and Myspace.com are popular places for student-athletes and the general student body to interact.
Athletics departments are facing the challenge of how to develop policies concerning whether their student-athletes should involved.
“Unfortunately, some student-athletes make poor choices on the items they choose to post,” Judge said. “We are going to talk about these Web sites and how schools are reacting. We’ll discuss the kinds of preventative policies and training they are using to address the issue.”
Legal ramifications must be considered, Judge said, if an institution prohibits student-athletes from participating in these Web sites.
“These Web sites have great potential if they are used correctly,” she said. “Student-athletes in particular need to be given the information so they can make intelligent choices.”
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