APR 22, 202
CLEMSON TO CONTINUE SPONSORSHIP OF MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
AND CROSS COUNTRY
Following months of discussion with student-athletes, their representatives,
families, supporters and others, Clemson University and the Department of
Athletics announced today it will continue men's outdoor and indoor track &
field and cross country programs as varsity sports. In addition, Clemson
Athletics will add one or more women's varsity sports in its continuing
commitment to gender equity and to supporting our female students"
championship aspirations. A decision on which sport(s) to be added will be
made in the near future
The decision comes after revised financial projections show the impacts of
COVID-19, while significant, did not harm the University in as drastic a way
as anticipated. Last fall, facing significant financial challenges due to
COVID-19, the difficult decision to end men’s track & field and cross country
was deemed the most prudent path forward. Today, significant
contributions from philanthropic fundraising, along with state and federal
financial support and appropriations, have positioned the University and the
Athletics Department to reconsider its decision. Their generosity allows
Clemson to reinvest in supporting the men's track programs and to expand
its women's snarts offerinas“This is the right decision for our University, our Department of Athletics
and, most importantly, for the young men and women who proudly weer the
Clemson uniform,” said Clemson President Jim Clements. ‘I am thrilled
that we are able to continue these men's programs and | am excited for the
new varsity opportunities we will soon be adding for our female student-
athletes.”
While in recent years the Department of Athletics has added women's golf
and softball, the University has also seen rapid growth in its female student
population. In 2011, Clemson's student population was 54.3 percent male
In the Fall 2021 semester, female students are expected to outnumber
males for the first time.
“| am appreciative of the support of the University and our collaboration
that will allow us to not only maintain our current sports portfolio but add
to it in the very near future,” said Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich. “As
we communicated previously, the original decision was difficult, and we did
what was necessary at the time to maintain compliance with gender equity
while addressing our financial situation. | am excited about the future of
Clemson Athletics and for our student-athletes.”
Clemson agreed with attorneys to conduct a gender equity review of its
intercollegiate athletics program to develop, adopt and implement
anew Gender Equity Plan to strengthen Clemson's support for its
championship women’s sports programs. The Plan will be completed no later
than July 1, 2022 and will be designed to ensure that Clemson maintains,
improves, and achieves Title IX compliance across all aspects
ofits intercollegiate athletics program. The Plan will be implemented as
quickly as possible, with all aspects of Clemson's intercollegiate athletics
program in compliance with Title IX by the 2023-24 academic year and in
future years. As the world of intercollegiate athletics continue to
evolve, Clemson will maintain flexibility with how to achieve gender equity
and Title IX compliance.Today, we celebrate the Clemson's men’s and women's outdoor track & field
student-athletes as they work toward team and individual championships
this spring and into the future
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