Title IX Proportionality Prong: Compliance of Division I FBS Universities

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title IX), enacted to protect individuals from discrimination based on gender in educational programs, is enforced by the Office for Civil Rights, In regard to collegiate sport, the enactment of Title IX has resulted in increased opportunities; however, sport organizations frequently fail to meet compliance with proportionality. The purpose of this study is to examine the compliance of Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conference schools with the proportionality prong of the Title IX test. Results suggest that data from 2011-2012 for total athletes in all FBS conferences reflects no significant change in the proportionality gap since 2005. A positive correlation was found between female undergraduate percentage and the proportionality gap with total athletes (r= 0.760, p=0.007, α≤.05) and an even stronger positive correlation between female undergraduate percentage and the proportionality gap with unduplicated athletes (r=.0858, p=.001, α≤.05). Although changes are being made to improve gender equity within Division I, ongoing consideration is needed of additional opportunities to improve gender equity in collegiate sports. 186 Introduction The success of collegiate athletic teams often unites the student body, faculty, and alumni through a sense of camaraderie. Furthermore, the feeling of belonging is shared between and among teammates and supporters, which creates a sense of belonging is influential in ensuring success during the collegiate experience and beyond. For example, participation in organized sports provides opportunities to succeed in the workforce (e.g., networking, understanding personal and interpersonal relationships, and exposure to job opportunities) (Boxill, 1993). However, recent figures suggest that fewer females participate in Division I sports when compared to their male peers (Irick, 2011). To help ensure equality between males and females, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was enacted to protect individuals from discrimination based on gender in educational programs that receive federal funding (including interscholastic sports).