UConn, rowers agree in gender-equity case

The University of Connecticut has settled a federal genderequity lawsuit, reaching an agreement to keep its women’s rowing program for at least the next five years.

The lawsuit was filed by 12 rowers after the school announced in June 2020 that the sport would be among several eliminated in budget cuts. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order in May that prevented the school from dissolving the team.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Underhill ruled rowers were likely to prevail in their lawsuit, which alleged that eliminating the team would violate Title IX, the federal law that guarantees equal access to women in education, including athletics.

Following that ruling, the school announced in July that it was reversing its decision to eliminate the team.

In addition to keeping rowing through at least the spring of 2026, the school agreed in the settlement Wednesday to a number of improvements for the program, including renovating the team’s boathouse and increasing the number of scholarships in the program from 14 to 20. The school also agreed to hire three full-time assistant coaches and increase the recruiting budget from $7,000 to $35,000 a year.

“The university is pleased we were able to resolve this litigation and arrive at a settlement,” UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said Thursday. “Our focus is on supporting this program and moving it forward.”

Felice Duffy, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said perhaps most important, UConn also has agreed to hire two independent monitors to annually audit the school’s Title IX compliance. Those monitors also would approve any school plan to come into full compliance with the law.

“That’s bigger than just the rowing team,” she said. “That’s going to help all the athletic teams at UConn.”