In agreement with the principles of equity and inclusion, Hartwick Athletics maintains the following Transgender Student-Athlete Inclusion practices to facilitate and encourage the participation of transgender students, staff, faculty, and visitors.

Transgender – Narrowly defined, an individual whose identified gender does not match their assigned at birth gender. A transgender person can identify as: male, female, nonbinary, or genderqueer.

MTF (Male-to-Female) – A person who was assigned to the male gender at birth but has a female gender identity.

FTM (Female-to-Male) – A person who was assigned to the female gender at birth but has a male gender identity.

Nonbinary – A person who does not identify fully as “male” or “female”. They may identify as both or neither, or even partly with one gender. Some nonbinary individuals may hormonally transition and some may not. Non

Binary individuals may identify as transgender and some may not.

NCAA Transgender Participation Policy (2022)
During the NCAA Board of Governors meeting in January of 2022, the NCAA updated its transgender participation rules to align with the Olympic Movement. Like the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NCAA policy calls for transgender participation in each sport to be determined by the policy for the national governing body of that sport. If there is no NGB policy for that sport, it would then be determined by the policy for that sport’s international federation. If there is no international federation policy, it would be determined by policy criteria previously established by the IOC. This policy is effective immediately and will be phased in as follows:

For participation in 2022 winter and spring championships, transgender student-athletes must provide documentation to the CSMAS within four weeks before the selections date for their championship. We will provide further instructions in short order; the process will be similar to the already established Medical Exceptions Procedures.

The documentation must demonstrate compliance with the 2010 NCAA policy, which calls for one year of testosterone suppression treatment. It should also document a one-time serum testosterone level that falls below the maximum allowable level for the sport in which the student-athlete is competing within four weeks of championship selections for that sport. This means that student-athletes who have already fulfilled the 2010 NCAA policy need only provide one validated serum testosterone level in this time frame. Transgender student-athletes who are participating in non-championship events for the remainder of academic year 2022 remain subject to the 2010 NCAA policy only.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2022, participation in NCAA sports requires transgender athletes to provide documentation that meets the above criteria for the 2010 NCAA policy, plus meet the sport standard for documented testosterone levels at the beginning of their competition season and again six months later. This means that student-athletes who have already been competing do not need to demonstrate the newly adapted sport-specific testosterone levels for the entire prior year if they are not available.

For participation in NCAA championships, transgender athletes must additionally provide documentation of testosterone levels to the CSMAS with laboratory work completed within four weeks of the championship selections.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2023, participation in NCAA sports requires transgender student-athletes to provide documentation that meets the sport-specific standard submitted twice annually (once at the beginning of competition season and the second six months following) for one year. This process will continue annually for eligible student-athletes.

For participation in NCAA championships, transgender athletes must additionally provide documentation of testosterone levels to the CSMAS with laboratory work completed within four weeks of the championship selections.

The Director of Athletics should meet with the student to review eligibility requirements and procedures for approval of transgender participation.

If hormone treatment is involved in the student-athlete’s transition, the Director of Athletics should notify the NCAA of the student’s request to participate with a medical exception request.

All discussions among involved parties and required written supporting documentation will be kept confidential unless the student-athlete makes a specific request otherwise. All information about an individual student’s transgender identity and medical information, including physician’s information provided pursuant to this policy, shall be maintained confidentially.

Changing Areas, Toilets, Showers – Transgender student-athletes may use the locker room, shower, and toilet facilities in accordance with the student’s gender identity. When requested by a transgender student-athlete, the Hartwick College Athletics Department will work to provide private and separate changing, showering, and toilet facilities for the student-athletes’ use, but transgender student-athletes are not required to use separate facilities. In addition, the athletics department will also work to provide private, enclosed changing areas, showers, and toilets for use by any student-athlete who requests them.

Competition at Another Institution – If a transgender student-athlete requires a particular accommodation to ensure access to appropriate changing, showering, or bathroom facilities, the athletics department, in consultation with the transgender student-athlete, will notify their counterparts at the host institution prior to competition to ensure that the student-athlete has access to facilities that are comfortable and safe. This notification should maintain the student’s identity as a transgender person as confidential and will not be disclosed without the student’s permission.

Hotel Rooms – Transgender student-athletes generally should be assigned to share hotel rooms based on their gender identity, with a recognition that any student who needs extra privacy should be accommodated whenever possible.

Names – Teammates, coaches and institutional personnel should refer to transgender student-athletes by their preferred name.

Pronouns – Pronoun references to transgender student-athletes should reflect the student’s gender identity and indicated personal pronouns.

Other Gendered Language – Other gendered language in reference to transgender student-athletes should reflect the student’s gender identity. Ex. “woman”, “man”.

Dress Codes – Transgender student-athletes should be permitted to dress consistently with their gender identities.

Uniforms – All team members should have access to uniforms that are appropriate for their sport and that they feel comfortable wearing. No student-athlete should be required to wear a gendered uniform that conflicts with their gender identity.

Institution – All members of the college community should receive information and education about transgender identities, institutional and conference non-discrimination policies, the use of names and pronouns, and expectations for creating a respectful team and school climate for all students, including transgender and gender nonconforming students.

Opposing Teams/Universities – Without violating a transgender student’s confidentiality or privacy, school leaders, athletic directors, and coaches should communicate with their counterparts at other schools prior to competitions in which a transgender athlete is participating about expectations for treatment and accommodations for transgender student-athletes on and off the field. This does not require “outing” or otherwise identifying a particular student-athlete as transgender, but rather establishing general expectations for the treatment of all student-athletes, including those who may be transgender.

Empire 8 Conference Personnel – E8 Conference personnel will receive information and education about the institutional policies of Hartwick College, in relation to the inclusion of transgender student-athletes.

Confidentiality – All medical information shall be kept confidential in accordance with applicable state, local, and federal privacy laws.

Training – All athletics department representatives who are authorized to speak with the media will receive information about appropriate terminology, use of names and pronouns, and institutional policies regarding the participation of transgender student athletes.

Enforcement – Any member of the athletics department who has been found to have violated this policy by threatening to withhold athletic opportunity or harassing any student on the basis of their gender identity or expression, or by breaching medical confidentiality will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge or expulsion from the school. The athletics department will take appropriate remedial action to correct the situation with all athletic personnel. Any member of the athletics department who becomes aware of conduct that violates this policy should report the conduct to the appropriate official such as the Director of Athletics.

Retaliation – Retaliation is specifically forbidden against anyone who complains about discrimination based on gender identity or expression, even if the person was in error.