Title IX “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Before the passage of Title IX, many young women were not admitted into colleges/universities and athletic scholarships were virtually nonexistent. By prohibiting schools from treating students differently on the basis of sex, Title IX allowed both men and women to equally take advantage of any course of study and to participate in all extracurricular activities, including sports. Title IX is not intended to provide protection on behalf of females, but rather, it is a statute that protects all persons from sex-based discrimination, including gender identity and sexual orientation.

Title IX has been a major contributor to increasing participation in sports by all – not just women. Over 3.5 million women and girls participate in interscholastic sports, in addition to the more than 219,000 women competing in NCAA sponsored sports. The MIAC celebrated individuals who have assisted and led in the development of women’s athletics.

MIAC Title IX 50th Anniversary Trailblazers Recap: Over the month of November, the MIAC recognized women from each institution, who have played a role in continuing the progression of women's athletics. These pioneering individuals range from athletic administrators to coaches who have paved the way for women’s programs at their institution, conference, national level and throughout Minnesota.

MIAC Title IX Trailblazers

“Title IX means opportunity. Opportunities for women to compete and opportunities for women to lead. It is important to celebrate the work done by those before us so we can continue to inspire women to lead through sport.”

-Rachel D. Bergeson, Concordia College Director of Athletics

Appreciate