Abilene Christian University

10/ 100

Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a private Christian university in Abilene, Texas. It was founded in 1906 as Childers Classical Institute.

Abilene, Texas
Religiously-Affiliated Institution

Conference: Western Athletic Conference

Discriminatory Institutional Policy

Schools with Title IX exemptions and institutions that are religiously affiliated may exclude or deny protections to students based on their gender identity, gender expression, and/or sexual orientation. Institutions with a Discriminatory Institutional Policy flagged here have at least one policy that actively excludes or prohibits LGBTQ+ students from living in alignment with their gender identity, gender expression, and/or sexual orientation. (Each flag links to the institutional policy. To learn more, click here.)

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Eligible for Title IX Exemption

Title IX prohibits educational institutions that receive any form of federal funding from excluding, separating, or denying benefits to students on the basis of sex in its educational programs or activities. However, in the 1975 explanation of Title IX released by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), there is no explanation of or definition for sex . This has led to confusion in recent years over who, exactly, is protected by Title IX. Some, including institutional representatives, interpret sex as a gender assigned at birth, legally allowing them to dismiss and discriminate against students based on due to their gender identity, gender expression, and/or sexual orientation . Institutions may claim a religious exemption to Title IX regulations by submitting a written statement to the US Office of Civil Rights (OCR). As of January 15, 2020, an institution’s exempt status is “not dependent upon its submission of a written statement to OCR”; Rather, writing in to the office and proving that an institution is controlled by a religious institution and that their religious tenets conflict with Title IX, is an assurance of exemption, implying that religious institutions are already exempt. (Click here for Athlete Ally's Addendum on Religiously Affiliated Institutions.)

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Discriminatory State Policy

Due to the location of this institution, state level policies may interact with federal, institutional, and sport governing body policies affecting transgender student athlete participation. Updated 4/19/23.

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Score Breakdown

10/25

Nondiscrimination Policy

0/15

Trans Inclusion Policy

0/15

Sexual Harassment Policy

0/10

Fan Code of Conduct

0/15

Annual Partnership / Collaboration

0/10

LGBTQ Educational Resources

0/5

Pro-LGBTQ Trainings for Staff

0/5

Pro-LGBTQ Trainings for Athletes


Date of Last Audit

July, 2023

Site Last Updated

May, 2024

  • Learn how Abilene Christian University was scored on their Nondiscrimination Policy
  • Learn how Abilene Christian University was scored on their Trans Inclusion Policy
  • Learn how Abilene Christian University was scored on their Sexual Harassment Policy
  • Learn how Abilene Christian University was scored on their Fan Code of Conduct
  • Learn how Abilene Christian University was scored on their Annual Partnership / Collaboration
  • Learn how Abilene Christian University was scored on their LGBTQ Educational Resources
  • Learn how Abilene Christian University was scored on their Pro-LGBTQ Trainings for Staff
  • Learn how Abilene Christian University was scored on their Pro-LGBTQ Trainings for Athletes

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Staff Correspondent

Meet Our Team
AJ Kurtz

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