MIAMI (June 23, 2017) – On June 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed into law Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX states that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal assistance." Three months later FIU opened its doors as 5,667 students entered the state's newest university.
The FIU Athletic Department has grown over the last 45 years, making great strides in women's athletics. When FIU first started, there were only five male intercollegiate athletic teams (wrestling, men's tennis, men's golf, baseball and men's soccer) and no women's squads.