NC State community:

Fifty years ago, Congress passed Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. Many associate this as being the most significant step forward toward equity in athletics, but the passage of Title IX did much more than that. It reads:

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.

For us at NC State, Title IX means that every student, faculty and staff member has protections against discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment on the basis of sex in the classroom, in the laboratory, in the office, and on and off the court or field. It also means that as a university, we have the responsibility to combat interpersonal violence and harassment and the power to better support survivors and those who experience these behaviors. In addition, Title IX calls on the institution to ensure equity and support for pregnant and parenting individuals. We strive to do all of these by providing a robust Title IX educational, investigative and response program. You can learn more about the breadth and scope of Title IX on our Title IX website.

The Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED) implements and monitors our university’s Title IX compliance program and houses the official University Title IX Coordinator. OIED, including the Equal Opportunity and Equity unit, the Women’s Center and GLBT Center, as well as several other offices across campus, including Prevention Services, University Human Resources, and provides support and resources to students, faculty and staff who need it.

As we celebrate this milestone, I encourage you to explore how Title IX has impacted our university over the years. This collection from NC State Libraries details the history of the Women’s Center, which was established in 1991 with a mission to celebrate and support women on campus and to work toward greater inclusivity and gender equity. And, this story describes the progression of women’s varsity athletics at NC State – a prominent element of Title IX.

At its core, Title IX helps ensure that NC State is as equitable and inclusive as possible, and that all have access to opportunities to succeed, regardless of gender or gender identity. We’ve come a long way toward increasing equity and opportunity at NC State, and we continue to strive for improvements. I’m confident that we’ll continue this legacy of gender equality in the near term, and long into the future. As we mark the 50th anniversary of this landmark legislation, I invite you to consider how we can all work towards greater equality for all.

Sheri L. Schwab, J.D., M.Ed.
Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity