COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Cheerleading is now a varsity sport at Maryland, a move critics contend is designed to sidestep Title IX.

Four cheerleaders and eight members of the women's water polo team receive partial scholarships. School officials say that will keep the university in compliance with Title IX, the 1972 law barring discrimination based on sex by any school receiving federal money.

"At Maryland, we always try to be on the cutting edge with what we're doing, and this is just another example of that," Michael Lipitz, Maryland's associate athletic director for administration, told The Washington Post.

Critics say these steps evade the intent of the law and increase funding for men's programs by creating the new women's scholarships. By creating 12 cheerleading scholarships -- which will be phased in over three years -- and eight water polo scholarships, the men's programs will be given 20 as well.

Cheerleading is not recognized as a sport by the NCAA, and the Education Department says drill teams, cheerleaders and the like can't be considered athletic programs for the purpose of complying with Title IX.

Some colleges offer partial financial aid to cheerleaders. But Maryland and the federal Office for Civil Rights say this is the first instance of a school seeking to use cheerleading scholarships toward Title IX compliance.

Donna Lopiano, chief executive of the Women's Sports Foundation, questioned why the university chose cheerleading.

"It seems like they're looking for the easiest way out, that their intent is to conform to the letter of the law, but not necessarily the spirit," Lopiano said.

"If they had club teams that wanted varsity status, why go and manufacture one out of cheerleaders?"

Lipitz said water polo and cheerleading were the only teams seeking the status this year. Women's ice hockey, crew and equestrian clubs have all sought that in the past.