Transgender Inclusion Policy
Introduction
Curry College prohibits discrimination on the basis of, among other classifications, sex and gender identity or expression. In order to uphold the principles of equity and inclusion, Curry College Athletics maintains this Policy to facilitate and encourage the participation of transgender student-athletes in championship play at the intercollegiate level.
This Policy complies with the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Policy on Transgender Student-Athlete Participation, as stated in the 2011 report: NCAA Inclusion of Transgender Student-Athletes.
Policy
A transgender student-athlete should be allowed to participate in any intercollegiate sports activity, so long as the athlete’s use of hormone therapy (if any) is consistent with NCAA policies on banned drugs, as follows:
• Female-to-male (FTM) transitioning student-athletes
o who are not taking testosterone are able to participate on a men’s or a women’s team
o once the FTM student-athlete begins testosterone treatment (with a medical exception from the NCAA), the FTM student-athlete may only play on the men’s team.
• Male-to-female (MTF) transitioning student-athletes
o Who are taking hormones may only play on the men’s team during the first year of hormone therapy; and may play on the women’s team after one year of hormone therapy
o who are not taking hormones may only compete on men’s teams.
Implementation
If possible, transgender student-athletes at the College should provide notification to the coach and the Athletic Director in advance of a championship play season.
Such notification should indicate whether the student-athlete has completed, plans to initiate, or is in the process of taking hormones as part of a gender transition. Such notification shall include a letter to the Athletic Director from the student’s health care provider documenting the student athlete’s intention to transition or the student’s transition status if the process has already been initiated. This letter shall identify the prescribed hormonal treatment for the student’s gender transition and documentation of the student’s testosterone levels, if relevant.
If the student-athlete is undergoing hormone therapy, the Athletic Director will manage the process for requesting a medical exception from the NCAA policy on banned drugs (as provided by NCAA Bylaw 31.2.3; see ncaa.org/drugtesting for additional information).
The student-athlete is also encouraged to meet with College staff members that are trained to provide and can offer support and advice, if desired. The following individuals can offer support: sport specific coach, Athletic Director, Senior Woman Administrator, Title IX Coordinator, Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Contacts:
Athletic Director: Vinnie Eruzione
Head Athletic Trainer: Kelly Melville
Senior Woman Administrator: Brigida Palatino
Title IX Coordinator: Rachel King
Office of Diversity and Inclusion: Jeannette Buntin
Counseling Center: Alison Markson
Additional Resources
The College’s Athletics Department will maintain procedures for implementing this Policy.
Additional resources are available to student-athletes, families, staff, and faculty, online through:
• the College’s Diversity and Inclusion resources for LGBTQ+ students, at
https://www.curry.edu/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion/lgbtq-resources
• and the NCAA, as follows:
LGBTQ Nondiscriminatory Policy Guide for Division III institutions
Champions of Respect: Inclusion of LGBTQ Student-Athletes and Staff in NCAA Programs
