Title IX Audit for Athletics: Findings and Action Steps
January 27, 2023
Dear Members of the Trinity Community,
As we welcome the new semester, I enthusiastically look forward to watching and supporting our student-athletes as they strive for their next winning season. Through athletics, we learn and hone valuable life skills, such as teamwork, resilience, and perseverance. At their best, our teams provide fulfilling, inclusive, and supportive experiences. Gender equity continues to be a priority for the College, ensuring an optimal environment for student-athletes at Trinity.
I write to share with you a summary of findings and action steps from the recent comprehensive Title IX audit of the athletic program conducted by the Education & Sports Law Group (ESLG). We hired ESLG to examine our program for gender equity and help us identify any shortcomings we must address. A summary of findings regarding areas of improvement and action steps can be found here. This includes an assessment of the Softball Field and Robin L. Sheppard Field facilities.
The report serves as a roadmap for Trinity to improve and build upon areas of compliance that already exist – within the 12 applicable areas of compliance, there are numerous components, and ESLG found Trinity to be in compliance with many of them. Since sharing the findings with me, members of the Title IX Steering Committee have held multiple meetings with a number of athletic teams, coaches, and trustee committees to discuss this information. I wish to thank the committee and our women athletes and coaches in particular, who worked with us patiently throughout the process.
Equity is a crucial component of Trinity’s athletic program, not simply because Title IX requires it but also because it is a core tenet of our institutional values. I am confident that the steps outlined will help Trinity make significant and lasting progress. They are bolstered further by alumni support, the impact of which we have already seen through contributions that have enabled us to take immediate action.
While the phases of implementation will take time, the continued effort and support of this community—from alumni to every student—are vital to our commitment to creating the best possible student experience, now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Joanne Berger-Sweeney
President and Trinity College Professor of Neuroscience
