In 2013, Dr. Jacqueline McDowell of George Mason University was the recipient of the NIRSA Research Grant—generously funded by NIRSA Foundation donors—for her project “Toward the Development of National Intramural and Club Sport Gender Equity Guidelines.” The purpose of this project was to develop gender equity guidelines congruent with Title IX legislation that are specific to club and intramural sports.

Title IX refers to the section of the Education Amendments of 1972 which stipulates that educational institutions receiving federal funding cannot discriminate based on sex. This applies to all educational opportunities including academic programs, athletics, and recreation. Historically, guidance on Title IX compliance has been focused on academic programs and intercollegiate athletics with little to none being offered for club and intramural sport programs. Ultimately, through this project, 20 compliance guidelines were developed. Details regarding the methodology, the results, and the specific guidelines can be found in the Recreational Sports Journal, (40)2.

Recreation directors, club and IM sport coordinators, and other professionals in the field of collegiate recreation can use these guidelines to make informed decisions regarding the allocation of funds or other supporting mechanisms for their recreational programs. Dr. McDowell notes that “it is imperative that all students are provided with equal opportunities to enhance their college experience with recreational activities.”

The development of these guidelines represents a substantive step forward in achieving this aim and reflects NIRSA’s commitment to supporting equitable access to recreation. This commitment is rooted in our history as an association and equity, diversity, and inclusion remains a NIRSA strategic value.

See related: “Resources to promote social justice on campus”

Dr. McDowell and her co-authors were also the recipients of the 2017 President’s Award for the Article of Distinction and were acknowledged during the NIRSA Annual Conference. This award recognizes authors who have written articles for the Recreational Sports Journal (RSJ) that are of exceptional quality and contribute significantly to the collegiate recreation field. More information on this award and how to access the RSJ can be found on the NIRSA website. To learn more about this research project, please contact Dr. Jacqueline McDowell.

  • For more information, please contact NIRSA Research Coordinator Ruben Guzman.
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Ruben Guzman is currently the Research Coordinator at NIRSA