Gender Equity in Intercollegiate Athletics

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Item #II-2
June 7, 2005
GENDER EQUITY IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
Submitted for: Information.
Summary: The attached report is presented in accordance with
state statute, which authorizes institutions of higher education in
Illinois to grant tuition waivers for the purpose of attaining gender
equity in intercollegiate athletics and requires the Board of Higher
Education to report to the Governor and the General Assembly on
the use of gender equity tuition waivers and the progress made in
achieving gender equity in intercollegiate athletics.
Currently, seven universities -- Chicago State University, Eastern
Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois
University Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville,
the University of Illinois at Springfield, and Western Illinois
University -- utilize gender equity waivers. These institutions
awarded 615 gender equity tuition waivers in fiscal year 2004 wit h a
total value of $2.1 million.
The use of gender equity tuition waivers has helped Illinois public
universities address federal Title IX requirements by providing
opportunities for male and female athletes, and by assisting with the
equitable distribution of resources among genders. Comparisons to
fiscal year 1995, the year prior to the authorization of gender equity
waivers, show that significant progress has been made in both the
number of females participating in athletic programs (an increase of
56.9 percent) and the resources dedicated to female athletic programs
(an increase of 121.6 percent in intercollegiate athletic expenditures).
While progress has been made in addressing issues related to gender
equity, there is room for continued improvement. For fiscal year
2004, female students comprised 51.9 percent of full-time
undergraduate enrollments, while expenditures for female athletic
programs comprised 37.2 percent of total athletic expenditures and
44.7 percent of total athletic financial aid awarded.
Action Requested: None.