On April 5, 2022, UVA Wise became the nation’s second school to adopt the most comprehensive policy on serious misconduct policy in college sports, the Tracy Rule.
Brenda Tracy, creator of the Tracy Rule, has shared her personal story of surviving a gang rape by football players and the fight for tougher reforms, eventually developing her own higher standards. The Tracy Rule is a comprehensive “zero tolerance” policy on serious misconduct involving student athletes. It requires thorough background checks for athletes banning those found responsible for sexual or violent offenses in a Title IX hearing or court from playing on varsity sports teams.
The Tracy Rule enhances the recruitment and enrollment of athletes that upholds the values of UVA Wise along with the integrity of the NCAA. The Tracy Rule goes beyond the NCAA’s Sexual Violence Policy which, starting in the 2022-23 academic year, is expanding around serious misconduct. The Tracy Rule has additional requirements that transferring students will have their former Title IX Coordinator complete a form stating whether individual athletes had been found “responsible” or “not responsible” for serious misconduct at that former institution.
It requires athletes to self-report pending and closed investigations in an annual questionnaire. It expands the list of disqualifying offenses to include sexual harassment, incest, hate crimes, manslaughter and murder.
Athletes disqualified by the Tracy Rule can appeal to a university review panel, which can request advisory opinions from a committee comprised of at least one victim’s advocate, counselor or other employee who is trauma-informed. The president and athletic director make the final decision based on the panel’s assessment.
According to UVA Wise Director of Athletics Kendall Rainey, “Implementing the Tracy Rule not only aligns with our institutional policy on interpersonal violence and the NCAA’s expanded policy on sexual violence, but also with our campus philosophy. It is a natural next step in continuing to develop a campus culture where we value the health and safety of our community and Cavs Respecting Cavs. Student athletes and coaches are leaders at UVA Wise and I am proud we are setting the expectation,”
For more information about The Tracy Rule click here.
