Miami Hurricanes Women's Basketball - Gender Equity

Gender Equity

The University of Miami, as articulated by its president Donna Shalala, has been very supportive of achieving gender equity and complying with Title IX. Shalala wrote of her support in a Miami Herald column on the 30th anniversary of that law. However, historically, female athletes filed complaints with the federal government in the 1970s and 1980s alleging unequal funding and facilities for UM women's sports.

Of the $46.8 million in annual athletic expenditures, $23.9 million were spent on men's team, $9.8 million were spent on women's teams, and $13 million can not be allocated based on gender.

Miami has notable differences between the graduation rates of male and female student athletes. As of 2002, UM graduation rates had 64.1% graduating within 4 years, 75.1% graduating within 5 years, and 76.8% graduating within 6 years. Male student athletes have a 52% 4 year graduation rate, and 72% of female student athletes graduate within 4 years.

Some critics of Miami's allocation of fiscal resources within the Athletics Department have blamed the decision to drop certain men's teams on Title IX compliance.