Tulane Takes Steps to Implement Athletics Equity Plan
Mar 13, 2002 | Track & Field
March 13, 2002
NEW ORLEANS - As part of a continuing commitment to fulfill equity obligations in its athletics program and meet standards for certification, Tulane University will discontinue its sponsorship of men's indoor and outdoor track and field as intercollegiate sports beginning with the 2002-2003 academic year, Green Wave Athletic Director Rick Dickson announced Wednesday.
"This is obviously a difficult decision," Dickson said, "But in light of the significance of the certification process and the university's commitment to fulfilling its objective of sponsoring equitable programs, this is a necessary step."
The discontinuation of men's track and field is one part of a three-step equity plan which also includes management of squad sizes for all men's and women's teams, and the addition of a women's sport to compete in the 2003-04 season. The determination of which women's sport will be added is currently under review and will be announced this summer.
Tulane will eliminate men's indoor and outdoor track and field from its sports line-up, but will continue to sponsor men's cross country, as well as all three teams on the women's side. The revised sports line-up means the Green Wave will field the NCAA minimum of six men's sports. Tulane will field the required eight women's teams in 2002-03, but that number will grow to nine for 2003-04.
Dickson noted that all members of the men's track and field teams, no matter what class of eligibility, will retain their scholarships throughout their academic careers. Currently there are only four scholarship men's track and field student-athletes with eligibility remaining after this season.
"We will continue to honor our scholarship commitment to the returning four men on our track and field team, and we will do everything we can to assist those individuals who wish to transfer to pursue other opportunities," Dickson said. "We are fortunate that the impact of a difficult decision like this is less severe due to the make-up of our current roster, with only four scholarship underclassmen."
An equity plan was originally submitted to the NCAA certification committee in 1994 when Tulane went through the certification process for the first time. Although the Green Wave added women's soccer in 1996, other components of the plan were not implemented, leading to a significant imbalance in the make-up of Tulane student-athletes in comparison with the population of the student body today. Currently, 32.5 percent of Tulane student-athletes are female while the student body is approximately 51% female.
The three components of the Wave's equity plan - the elimination of men's track and field after this season, the addition of a women's sport with 22-25 participants for 2003-04, and effective squad management of both men's and women's teams - is expected to bring the university into conformity with equity requirements.
Tulane is currently undergoing another athletics certification review by the NCAA.
