Intercollegiate Athletic Participation for Transgender Student-Athletes

Earlham College competes in the NCAA Division III and is subject to NCAA policies. This policy applies to all practice and competition in NCAA sports in which the NCAA conducts championships separated by gender.

As an institution shaped by the perspectives of the Religious Society of Friends, Earlham is committed to being a community whose members act with regard for the intellectual, physical and emotional well-being of everyone. We seek to find mutual respect, trust and happiness in our relationships with persons of every race, ethnicity, class, religious preference, political affiliation, gender identity, physical ability, sexual orientation and age.

Earlham’s Nondiscrimination and Anti-harassment Policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or other sex characteristics. Generally, students may participate in college activities, including intramural and recreational sports, as they desire, without regard to gender identity.

For Intercollegiate sport, however, Earlham competes in Division III of the NCAA, and is subject to NCAA policies, including the Participation Policy for Transgender Student-Athletes, effective as of February 6, 2025.

The following policy, adopted from the NCAA’s Participation Policy for Transgender Student-Athletes, applies to all practice and competition in NCAA sports in which the NCAA conducts championships separated by gender.

The following policy applies to all NCAA competition (regular season, conference championships, post-season, scrimmages and exhibitions):

1. NCAA Men’s Team
   1. Regardless of sex assigned at birth or gender identity, a student-athlete may participate (practice and compete) with a men’s team, assuming they meet all other NCAA eligibility requirements.
   2. Student-athletes taking a banned substance (e.g., testosterone) must complete the NCAA’s Medical Exemptions Procedures.
2. NCAA Women’s Team
   1. Student-Athlete Assigned Male at Birth
      • Student-athlete assigned male at birth may not compete on a women’s team.
      • A student-athlete assigned male at birth may practice on the team consistent with their gender identity and receive all other benefits applicable to student-athletes who are otherwise eligible for practice.
   2. Student-Athlete Assigned Female at Birth
      • A student-athlete assigned female at birth who has begun hormone therapy (e.g., testosterone) may not compete on a women’s team. If such competition occurs, the team is subject to NCAA mixed-team legislation, and the team will no longer be eligible for NCAA women’s championships.
      • A student-athlete assigned female at birth who has begun hormone therapy (e.g., testosterone) may continue practicing with a women’s team and receive all other benefits applicable to student-athletes who are otherwise eligible for practice.

       

Earlham adopts the following definitions from the NCAA’s Participation Policy for Transgender Student-Athletes:

1. NCAA Men’s Team: A varsity intercollegiate sports team that meets the qualifications to be considered for NCAA men’s championships.
2. NCAA Women’s Team: A varsity intercollegiate sports team that meets the qualifications to be considered for NCAA women’s championships.
3. Mixed Team: A varsity intercollegiate team on which at least one individual of each sex assigned at birth competes. Per NCAA legislation, mixed teams are only eligible for NCAA men’s championships.
4. Sex Assigned at Birth: The male or female designation doctors assign to infants at birth, which is marked on their birth records.
5. Gender Identity: An individual’s own internal sense of their gender (e.g., man, woman, nonbinary).
6. Transgender: An individual whose gender identity or gender expression is different from their sex assigned at birth.
   

1. Earlham College is responsible for certifying student-athlete eligibility for practice and competition. The application of this policy may not be waived.
2. Earlham College will provide the means for student-athletes to confidentially self-report sex assigned at birth or the commencement of the gender affirming therapy (e.g., testosterone).
3. The Head Athletic Trainer will discuss any gender-related information or concerns with respect to athletic programming participation.
4. All discussions among involved parties and required documentation will be confidential unless the student-athlete makes a specific request to share information with members of the athletic staff.
5. All information about an individual student’s transgender identity and medical information shall be maintained confidentially.
6. All policies governing the participation of transgender students in athletics will comply with state and federal laws protecting students from discrimination on the basis of sex, disability, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation.
   

The following are a list of reasonable accommodations to facilitate participation and inclusion of transgender student-athletes consistent with NCAA rules and applicable laws. This list is not exhaustive:

• Facilities Use: Upon request, and when possible, Earlham College may provide private changing, showering, and toilet facilities.
• Competition at Another School: If a transgender student-athlete competing on men’s or mixed team requires a particular accommodation to ensure access to appropriate changing, showering, or toilet facilities, athletics directors and coaches, in consultation with the student-athlete, will notify their counterparts at other schools prior to competition to ensure that the student has access to comfortable and safe facilities. This notification shall be confidential. Under no circumstances should a student-athlete’s identity as a transgender person be disclosed without the student’s permission.
• Hotel Rooms: Student-athletes will be assigned to share hotel rooms based on their gender identity. Any student who needs extra privacy will be accommodated upon request and when possible.
• Pronouns: Teammates, coaches and all of those within the Department of Athletics will refer to students by their chosen name and pronouns.
• Team Uniforms: All team members will have access to uniforms that are appropriate for their sport. No student-athlete will be required to wear a gendered uniform that conflicts with the student’s gender identity; however, uniforms must be acceptable by NCAA standards for competition (if applicable).

1. Media: All Earlham representatives who are authorized to speak with the media will receive information about appropriate terminology, use of names and pronouns, and school, conference, and NCAA policies.
2. Confidentiality: All medical information shall be kept confidential in accordance with applicable state, local, and federal privacy laws. A student’s gender identity will not be shared without the student’s express permission.
3. Policy Enforcement: Any Earlham personnel or student-athlete who fails to provide equitable athletic opportunity and/or reasonable accommodation, threaten to withhold opportunity or deny reasonable accommodation, harass or intimidate, or breach medical confidentiality of any student-athlete on the basis of their sex, gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion (for students) or dismissal (for employees). See Earlham’s Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and Discrimination and Harassment Grievance Procedures.
4. Retaliation: Retaliation for the assertion of rights is prohibited conduct under Earlham College’s Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy. No administrator, faculty, staff member, student or visitor may engage in retaliatory behavior in response to a complaint of discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. While it is understood that some action may be made in error (e.g., misgendering a student-athlete in pronoun use), it is expected that patterns of discriminatory behavior will not develop. Should this expectation not be met, the employee or student could face disciplinary sanction per institutional policies and procedures.
   

Revisions to this policy must be approved by the President after review by College Council, and with advice of the Diversity Progress Advisory Committee.

Amended for compliance with the NCAA’s revised Participation Policy for Transgender Student-Athletes.