By implementing these recommendations, athletic departments, conferences, and institutions can address the gender disparities highlighted in The Pipeline Project 2024 and work toward building a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment in intercollegiate athletics. These strategies will not only improve opportunities for women and underrepresented groups but also enhance the overall functioning and culture of athletic organizations.
Promote Industry-Wide Change
Action Steps
- Conference-Wide Initiatives: Power 4 and Group of 5 conferences should collaborate to develop conference-wide initiatives to address gender inequality. This could include joint professional development programs, diversity hiring campaigns, and collective accountability measures.
- Public Accountability: Publish gender and diversity metrics publicly across conferences and institutions. This transparency can create healthy competition among schools to improve their diversity standing while also setting industry-wide standards for inclusion.
Encourage and Embrace Research and Education
Action Steps
- Further Research: Support ongoing academic research into gender, race, and other diversity issues in sports management. This research should investigate the systemic barriers women face and develop actionable solutions.
- Educational Programs: Universities should offer more coursework, seminars, and workshops focused on diversity and inclusion within sports administration, ensuring that future leaders are educated on these issues from the start.
The Pipeline Project 