The PEAR department is supporting our students and maintaining inclusive environments. Coaches are working with PEAR Administrators to advocate for and stay up to date on potential policy changes. For reasons of student confidentiality, we are unable to share specific details regarding which sports and activities are involved.


PEAR is working with the Provost’s office, the Gender and Sexuality Center and the Office of Inclusion, Equity and Community to provide resources and support. Policies for varsity, sport club and recreation are impacted differently.

Policy Updates

NCAA Varsity Athletes

Following the Trump Administration’s executive order on February 6th, the NCAA announced updates to its policy on transgender athletes, which also instructs members to follow individual state laws. The State of Minnesota’s Human Rights Act protects individuals against discrimination. As a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), Carleton College is also governed by NCAA regulations. The MIAC is currently reviewing these policy changes in consultation with the state of Minnesota to assess the path forward. Further details from the NCAA and MIAC are expected in April.

Sport Club Athletes

Carleton’s campus policy remains unchanged. Transgender student-athletes interested in competing in Sport Clubs may participate based on their gender identity. The Sport Clubs Director and individual sports coach will coordinate with the club sports’ National Governing Body (NGB) to confirm eligibility, if required. If the NGB lacks a specific policy on transgender athletes, students may participate per their gender identity. Participation in practices, unsanctioned events, sanctioned events, qualifying tournaments and national governing body tournaments can look different for each sport.

Intramural & Recreation Programs

Carleton College’s Campus Recreation aligns with the National Intramural Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA) “General, Value, and Action Statements for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,” allowing transgender student-athletes to compete in accordance with their gender identity. Campus Recreation encompasses intramurals, open recreation, recreation programs, and wellness and fitness Initiatives, all of which are committed to providing inclusive opportunities.

Additional Resources

  • Transathlete
    • A resource for students, athletes, coaches, and administrators to find information about trans inclusion at various levels of play.
  • Athlete Ally
    • Athlete Ally provides public awareness campaigns, educational programming and tools and resources to foster inclusive sports communities. Carleton alum Laura Clise ’01 is a board member.
  • Campus Pride
    • Campus Pride maintains an index and scorecard of the LGBTQ-inclusiveness of intercollegiate athletics and recreation at campuses around the country, as well as a database of schools that have trans-inclusive intramural policies.