Athletic Directors' Perceptions of Title IX

Title IX is an educational amendment that was passed in 1972 that forbids discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational activity that receives federal financial.assistance. According to the amendment, since university athletic departments receive federal assistance, they must comply with Title IX. It is essential to better understand how athletic directors interpret Title IX and comply with the law to ensure women have similar athletic opportunities as men and that men's minor sports are not being cut to comply with Title IX. The purpose of this project is to understand athletic directors' perceptions of Title IX including their knowledge and interpretation of the law and ways to improve compliance with the law. We conducted semi-structured interviews with nine university athletic directors from various size departments (National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I, II, and III) within the Midwest area. At the conclusion of each interview, the interviews were transcribed word for word and analyzed for reoccurring statements or ideas. The reoccurring statements were then developed into themes. In general, the results highlight that Title IX is understood differently by athletic directors, and that athletic departments are complying with Title IX in various ways. A full description of the themes will be presented at the conference using powerful statements provided by the athletic directors.