Full Centennial Conference Release
LANCASTER, Pa. – The Centennial Conference is proud to announce the adoption of the conference's first Student-Athlete Inclusion Policy. This comprehensive policy focuses on establishing inclusive practices for transgender and non-binary student-athletes within the conference and ensuring full support and participation for all athletes.
The Student-Athlete Inclusion Policy is one of the latest steps in the conference's commitment to creating, sustaining, and supporting a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Transgender and non-binary student-athletes should have equal opportunities to participate fully and safely in athletics activities within the Centennial.
The Student-Athlete Inclusion Policy received unanimous support from the Centennial Conference Presidents' Council, Administrative Delegates, and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
"I want to thank the many representatives from throughout the Conference who spent countless hours working together to create a comprehensive and inclusive policy that will support all of our student-athletes. Engaging in sports and competition is a joyous part of many students' lives and an opportunity that must be available to all students," says Conference President Kim Cassidy, president of Bryn Mawr College.
An extensive process was implemented with input solicited through a series of professional education sessions and forums with the conference's coaches, SAAC, and Athletic Diversity and Inclusion Designees (ADIDs).
The Centennial Conference membership is committed to numerous actions including enhanced education, policy development, and Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee engagement. Institutions will continue to develop their policies and best practices for transgender student-athlete participation and inclusion. The ADIDs will meet at least once every academic year for policy review, best practices, and mission, vision and value alignment.
The Centennial Conference has partnered with Athlete Ally to create programming for conference administrators and coaches. Athlete Ally educates athletic communities at all levels — sport governing bodies, teams, and individual athletes — to understand obstacles to inclusion for LGBTQ people in sports and how they can build inclusive communities on their teams or within their organizations.
The conference will offer a series of training sessions for their membership. The goals of this training are to understand the language around transgender identity and experience, deconstruct myths around trans athletes, and gain tools to communicate why trans inclusion is important to make sure sport remains safe and inclusive for all.
The full Centennial Conference Student-Athlete Inclusion Policy may be found here.