GENDER EQUITY IN ATHLE TICS REPORT

SELF STUDY

LOS ANGELES MISSION COLLEGE

Fall, 2014

Introduction

In 1972, Title IX of the Educational Amendments, the Sex Equity in Education Act, and Government Section Code 11135 became Federal Law. The adoption of Title IX facilitated tremendous growth in women’s athletics participation during the 1970’s. By 1978 the number of female high school student-athletes had grown from 300,000 to more than two million. Similarly, women’s collegiate sports participation doubled from 33,000 participants in 1971 to more than 64,000 in 1977. In the landmark 1992 Supreme Court decision Franklin vs Gwinnet, plaintiffs were allowed to recover monetary damages and attorney fees in Title IX cases.

In January of 1994, California Community College Chancellor’s and Presidents received a memo from the Chancellor’s Office concerning gender equity in intercollegiate athletics. The purpose of the memorandum was to inform all community colleges of actions taken by the Office of Civil Rights to ensure compliance with Title IX and to inform them of recent developments in the law relating to gender equity. The Chancellor’s Office recommended that colleges review their programs for compliance with applicable law and take steps to correct any inequities.

At Los Angeles Mission College we have just entered our fourth year of intercollegiate competition after a five-year absence. The Director of Athletics has reviewed the practices and procedures within the athletic framework and will work with coaches and staff to make recommendations should inequities exist. A committee will be produced to assist in compliance.

The self-study includes the program areas delineated in the Office of Civil Rights Policy Interpretations Section 106.41 (c).

Los Angeles Mission College Equity in Athletics Committee Goals

1. Create and have in place a Gender Equity Action Plan at L.A. Mission College. 2. Produce a gender Equity self-study every two years for the Western State Conference. 3. Recommend the necessary strategies for continued progress toward equity in athletics at L.A. Mission College. 4. Conduct in-service clinics for athletic coaches of underrepresented sports, with the goal of attracting a larger number of participants. 5. Conduct an annual review of the L.A. Mission College Gender Equity Plan.

Guiding Principles in Recommendations

These principles are based on the conviction that L.A. Mission College is committed through policy, procedure and action to gender equity in the intercollegiate athletic program.

The implementation of the Gender Equity Plan will be based on the principles set forth by the California Commission on Athletics.

1. Gender Equity in intercollegiate athletics describes an environment in which equitable athletic opportunities, benefits, and resources are available to all students. 2. The athletic environment shall be one where student athletes and athletic personnel experience equitable treatment and fairness.

Review of Los Angeles Mission College Intercollegiate Athletics

Accommodation of Interests and Abilities

The Office of Civil Rights recommended a three-part test for reviewing Title IX compliance with regard to competitive opportunities and expects an institution to meet at least one of the three:

1. Is the rate of athletic participation proportional to the student body population?

In the Fall 2013, and Spring 2014, 24 Full time female athletes represented 41% of the athletic population while 55 full time men athletes represented 59%. Full time female credit enrollment for 2013-2014 school year was 65%. L.A. Mission College has not achieved substantial proportionality.

FALL 2013 AND SPRING 2014 PARTICIPATION LEVELS:

MALE FEMALE BASEBALL - 28 SOFTBALL – 13 SOCCER – 27 VOLLEYBALL- 11 TOTAL - 55 TOTAL - 24

2. Is there a history and continuing practice of the expansion of athletic opportunities for women?

Yes: Due to the budget constraints in the past two years Los Angeles Mission College has not expanded the Athletic program offerings for either men or women.

Los Angeles Mission College resurrected the athletic program in the Fall 2002 after a five- year absence. Two men’s teams (baseball and soccer) and two women’s teams (softball and soccer) competed in the school year 2004-2005. Plans for the future are to reinstate men’s and women’s Cross Country teams, and in the future men’s and women’s Basketball, and men’s and women’s Volleyball. This would create an equal number of intercollegiate teams for men and women, while accommodating the interests and abilities of the population within the community. Due to the current budget problems, plans to expand are on hold as of this time.

3. Is there a practice of accommodating the interests and abilities of the underrepresented gender?

YES:

L.A. Mission College has plans to accommodate the interest and abilities of the underrepresented gender by increasing women sport offerings on an equal basis with the men. If the need arises as expansion occurs it would be feasible to bring one team at a time instead of both a men and women’s team. If women are underrepresented we could bring in a women’s Cross Country team, followed at a later time for a men’s team. This could occur for both Basketball and Volleyball if necessary. All projected teams have equal access and interest within the local high school athletic programs. Both men and women teams will have equal opportunity to recruit student-athletes.

To ensure interest is high for the projected sports we plan to conduct an athletic team interest survey no later than the Spring of 2005. We will conduct this survey by handing out questionnaires at Senior Days held at the College. We plan also to distribute the surveys at new student orientations.

Provisions of Equipment and Supplies

In determining compliance with the Title IX in the area of Provisions and Supplies, five factors of evaluation must be considered; quality, suitability, amount, maintenance and replacement, and availability of equipment and supplies.

Los Angeles Mission College is in full compliance with all factors of evaluation.

For all sports, the budgets for supplies are equitable. Fixed costs – student travel (including meals), contracts, entry fees and conference membership are separate and equitable.

With the resurrection of our Athletic Program all four teams purchased two new sets of uniforms of equitable quality. Both men and women’s soccer purchased from the same vendor, while baseball and softball went different directions. Suitability was equal as Head coaches under the direction of the Director of Athletics were allowed to order the uniforms and equipment best suited for their sport. Uniforms have been replaced on an equal basis for all teams. The amount of equipment and supplies obtained was equitable as teams were allowed to purchase new merchandise to meet their needs. The baseball program ordered more uniforms (30) than the softball team (20) due to a higher number of participants. More balls also were purchased by the baseball team as the need and longevity differs from softball. The men and women soccer teams ordered identical numbers of uniforms and supplies. L.A. Mission College has no equipment manager for any of our athletic teams. Therefore the responsibility of equipment and supply maintenance is taken on by the Head Coach. All four teams have equitable storage space for supplies and equipment. The replacement and availability of equipment and supplies is handled on an equitable basis.

Travel and Daily Allowance

The meal money provided to each athlete is equal for men and women. Allotment is contractual. The Los Angeles Community College District allows the following:

Regular Season and Post Season:

 Breakfast: $3.50  Lunch: $4.50  Dinner: $7.00  Post Game $4.00 ** Meals not to exceed $15.00 per person per day

Meal Expenditures 2004-2005:

Men Soccer $900 Baseball $1,505 Totals $2,405

Women Soccer $700 Softball $2,100 Totals $ 2,800

All Fall sport teams use leased vans for travel. As of January 2005 Class B drivers became required and we leased busses for our Spring teams. The numbers on our softball team became low enough to allow us to rent two seven- passenger vans to transport the team. All vans are new, fifteen or seven passenger, except for the softball team which traveled in two seven- passenger vans due to a lower number of participants. Two vans are leased for each team based on the number of participants. All sport teams travel by leased buses for trips to Hancock, and Cuesta College.

Softball was the only team to utilize lodging expenditures for the 2004 – 2005 school year.

Lodging for 2004 – 2005:

Men $0

Women $800

Academic Tutoring

Academic tutoring is available to all student-athletes as it is for all general students. Tutoring is available in the Learning Center. The student-athlete academic advisor is available to men and women student-athletes equally. The students can sign up for appointments in the Counseling Office or can come in on a walk-in basis if time allows.

Opportunities to Receive Coaching

Head Coaches and the number of paid assistant coaching positions for each sport is contractual. The rate of pay and placement on the salary schedule for the Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches is also contractual. Coaching assignments are based on the length of the season. All Coaches receive preparation salary schedule pay for sports sanctioned to begin practice prior to the beginning of the academic year. Assistant coaching positions as established by the agreement between the Los Angeles Community College District and American Federation of Teachers College Guild – Local 1521 CFT/AFT, AFL/CIO, are as follows:

Men Women

Baseball 1 Softball 1 Soccer 1 Soccer 1

All teams are allowed by contract one Head Coach.

Locker Rooms, Practice and Competitive Facilities

Los Angeles Mission College has no athletic facilities of its own and has not in the history of the school. With the passage of Propositions A and AA, and the college effort to acquire land at adjacent El Cariso Park, there are plans for the near future. The plans include the building of a Gymnasium/Fitness Center to be used both for athletics and Physical Education. Upon completion our plans would be to utilize these facilities equally for men and women’s athletic teams. Plans are in place to provide exactly the same number, size and availability of lockers to be used by men and women. Pending the budget status our plan would be to bring in men and women’s basketball, and volleyball with competitive facilities to be shared on an equal basis. Practice availability would also be scheduled on an equitable basis with both men and women’s teams provided adequate time and availability.

The past year our teams competed and practiced in off-site locations. Baseball and softball utilized El Cariso Park Both were provided storage, and access on a regular basis. This was determined through a contractual basis between the College and L.A County Parks. The College paid $14,000 for the use of the softball and baseball facilities for the year 2004-2005.

Men and women’s soccer teams both competed at an off-campus high school. The men and women at Birmingham High (15 miles from LAMC). Mission College paid the high school $3,000 for the use of their facilities. For the 2005 soccer season both the men and women will continue to compete at Birmingham High.

At the present time the only locker room facilities are located two miles off campus in a converted warehouse used as our Physical Education Facility. Men and women are provided 2 showers, and approximately 15 lockers to be shared amongst all students. These facilities are almost never used buy our student-athletes due to the inconvenience. Both locker rooms are identical.

Medicine and Training Facilities and Services

Los Angeles Mission has one half-time Athletic Trainer to serve the needs of four athletic teams, two each semester. The Athletic trainer is available to all athletes. The Athletic Trainer attends all home athletic contests for Mission College.

The training room is a makeshift area put together by our Trainer. It is located in the Physical Education facility located off campus which makes it difficult for our students to receive treatment. Included in the future plans is an athletic training facility to be shared on an equitable basis by men and women’s teams.

The men’s and women’s athletic teams have equal access to student athlete insurance, medical services, and training services.

Provisions of Housing and Dining Facilities and Services

This does not apply at Los Angeles Mission College.

Publicity

Los Angeles Mission College has no Sports Information Director for either men’s or women’s teams. The College Public Relations Specialist assists all teams on an equal basis with the production of a media guide, contacts with local newspapers, and assistance with a campus athletic web page. All teams’ schedules and scores are kept up on a regular basis through the web page.

Provision of Support Services

Administrative and clerical support for men and women’s athletic teams is equal. There is currently no clerical assistance for the Director of Athletics or any of the teams. Office space is equitable as the baseball and softball coaches share an office in the Physical Education building, and the men and women’s soccer coaches having equal access to another office in the same area.

The Athletic Director’s office is located on campus in the Collaborative Studies Building. The Athletic Academic Advisor is located on campus in the counseling office, and the Eligibility Clerk is located in the admissions office. Equal access is available to both men and women athletes.

There is no equipment room or equipment manager for either the men or women athletes.

All supplies purchased by Los Angeles Mission College must go through the receiving department. From the receiving department, the athletic director checks off against the purchase requisitions and then individual coaches/trainer can pick up their supplies. This procedure applies to both the men and women’s teams on an equitable basis.