The number of  women in intercollegiate sports increased by 81 percent (from 90,000 to  163,000 participants) and the number of men increased by 5 percent (from  220,000 to 232,000 participants) between 1981–82 and 1998–99. Gender equity  considerations also often influenced decisions to add women’s teams and  discontinue men’s teams, particularly at schools with large athletic  programs. Most Schools Added Women’s Teams Without Discontinuing Teams

Overall, among the 1,191 college and universities responding to the  questionnaire, 963 added at least one team and 307 discontinued at least  one (see fig. Among the 272 responding schools that discontinued a men’s team, 91 (33  percent) cited lack of student interest as a great or very great influence, 83  (31 percent) cited the need to meet gender equity goals or requirements,  and 82 (30 percent) cited the need to reallocate budget resources to other  sports. Schools Typically Discontinued Teams Quickly and Assisted Athletes in the Transition

The 307 responding schools that discontinued a team during the 1992–93 to  1999–2000 period typically spent 3 months or less between making the  proposal to discontinue a team and making a final decision. Affected athletes usually continued to receive athletic financial aid  after the sport was discontinued. Members of Campus Community Were Usually Involved Before the Final Decision Was Made

Most colleges and universities (186 of the 307 schools discontinuing a  team) informed the campus community of the possibility of discontinuing  the team before the decision was final. Schools with smaller programs, particularly those in NCAA  Division III and NAIA, most often used additional funds from the  institution’s general fund. Rental fees. Another revenue-generating strategy was to rent out athletic  facilities for other purposes and use the fees to expand the athletic  program. Some schools were members of both  associations.
What GAO Found

The number of women participating in intercollegiate athletics at four-year colleges and universities increased substantially between school years 1981-82 and 1998-99, while the number of men participating increased more modestly. The total number of women's teams increased by 3,784 teams, compared to an increase of 36 men's teams. In all, 963 schools added teams and 307 discontinued teams since 1992-93. The two factors cited most often as greatly influencing the decision to add or discontinue teams were the need to address student interest in particular sports and the need to meet gender equity goals and requirements. Schools that discontinued men's teams also found the need to reallocate the athletic budget to other sports. Colleges and universities that discontinued a team typically took three months or less between originating the proposal and making the final decision. Most schools informed members of the campus community of the possibility that the team would be discontinued, and most held meetings with campus groups before making the final decision. Most schools offered to help affected athletes transfer to other schools, and students receiving athletics-related financial aid continued to receive financial aid for at least some period after the team was disbanded. Schools that were able to add one or more teams without discontinuing others used various strategies to increase athletic program revenue and contain costs. Some schools relied on the institution's general fund, while others used private sources and athletic facility rental fees.