LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

I know this topic has been hashed to death, I just had a question as to the basis. Is title IX enforceable only to scholarship programs? Or is it based solely on opportunities. Meaning, if a school were to add a men's varsity program (non-scholarship), would they be required to add a comparable women's program?

Its the number of athletes, not the number of scholarships. Michigan State had very few scholarships for Men's Lacrosse when it was cut, and Women's crew, which I believe has zero was added.

Title IX applies to all educational opportunities (not just sports) at institutions that receive federal funds (which includes private schools because of grants and other income sources). Technically, Title IX even applies to a school's club sports program. If your school does not meet one of the three prongs of compliance in club sports, it could be challenged in court. (Most schools ignore this because it is not often, if ever, challenged in court.)

Number of opportunities (proportionality test) is only one of the prongs, but to answer your question directly - a non-scholarship varsity sport would still count toward Title IX compliance.

LaxTchr wrote:I know this topic has been hashed to death, I just had a question as to the basis. Is title IX enforceable only to scholarship programs? Or is it based solely on opportunities. Meaning, if a school were to add a men's varsity program (non-scholarship), would they be required to add a comparable women's program?

All you need to ask to answer this question is whether Title IX applies to DIII schools, and, of course, it does.

Thanks for the feedback!

Number of opportunities (proportionality test) is only one of the prongs

The other two are history of expansion and full and effective accomodation.