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By Sharron Hannon
shannon@uga.edu
The latest report on gender equity in athletics prepared by the Chronicle of Higher Education shows the University of Georgia ranking well on several measures when compared to other Southeastern Conference and Division I-A sports programs.
UGA ranked first among SEC schools and fourth among 114 Division I-A schools in the proportion of the total coaching salary budget devoted to women’s sports. The university also ranked second in the SEC (behind Alabama) and third among Division I-A schools in the proportion of the total athletic scholarship budget devoted to women.
The Chronicle used 1998–99 data from reports published by Division I institutions under the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act of 1994. The law requires all colleges that receive federal funds to disclose statistics on the numbers of male and female athletes on varsity teams, plus budgets for scholarships, recruiting, coaching salaries and operating expenses, all broken down by gender.
In the proportion of overall operating expenses devoted to women’s teams, UGA ranked second in the SEC (behind Florida) and 16th nationally.
In the proportion of the recruiting budget devoted to women’s teams, UGA ranked fifth in the SEC, but only somewhat above the average for all Division I-A schools. The university fared least well in athletic participation, as measured by comparing the difference in the proportion of female athletes to the proportion of female undergraduates.
At UGA in 1998–99, women made up just over 55 percent of the total undergraduate population (higher than any other SEC school), but were just under 40 percent of all athletes.
“We are certainly proud of the strides we have made over the years in supporting our women’s athletic program and believe those strides are evident in the success our women’s teams have experienced,” says Athletic Director Vince Dooley. “However, we also recognize areas where we can do better and are committed to addressing those on a continuing basis.”
UGA fields 11 women’s varsity teams and nine men’s in NCAA Division I-A.
In the fall of 1999, Sports Illustrated for Women ranked UGA sixth on their list of top 20 schools “for women who play sports.”
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