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The Hill

Education Department launches Title IX investigation into all-women’s college

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The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into Smith College on May 4, 2026, examining whether the Massachusetts women's college violated Title IX by admitting transgender women and granting them access to facilities including dormitories, bathrooms and locker rooms.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into Smith College on May 4, 2026, examining whether the Massachusetts women's college violated Title IX by admitting transgender women and granting them access to facilities including dormitories, bathrooms and locker rooms.

The investigation stems from a complaint filed in June 2025 by Defending Education, a conservative legal group. Title IX contains a single-sex exception, but the Department of Education says it applies on the basis of biological sex, not gender identity.

The investigation stems from a complaint filed in June 2025 by Defending Education, a conservative legal group. Title IX contains a single-sex exception, but the Department of Education says it applies on the basis of biological sex, not gender identity.

Smith College's admissions policy states that "cis, trans, and nonbinary women" are eligible to apply, based on self-identification. The college adopted this policy in May 2015, when its Board of Trustees voted to include self-identified transgender women.

Smith College's admissions policy states that "cis, trans, and nonbinary women" are eligible to apply, based on self-identification. The college adopted this policy in May 2015, when its Board of Trustees voted to include self-identified transgender women.

The OCR's formal investigation letter, addressed to Defending Education's Sarah Parshall Perry, notes that opening an investigation does not imply a determination on the merits and that OCR acts as a neutral factfinder during the process.

The OCR's formal investigation letter, addressed to Defending Education's Sarah Parshall Perry, notes that opening an investigation does not imply a determination on the merits and that OCR acts as a neutral factfinder during the process.

Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said, "An all-women's college loses all meaning if it is admitting biological males." The number of women's colleges in the U.S. has declined from more than 200 to just 30 as of fall 2023, per the Women's College Coalition.

Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said, "An all-women's college loses all meaning if it is admitting biological males." The number of women's colleges in the U.S. has declined from more than 200 to just 30 as of fall 2023, per the Women's College Coalition.

Smith College, a private liberal arts institution chartered in 1871 and located in Northampton, Mass., is one of the Seven Sister Colleges. During the Biden administration, Title IX regulations were expanded to cover gender identity, but a federal judge struck them down in January 2025.

Smith College, a private liberal arts institution chartered in 1871 and located in Northampton, Mass., is one of the Seven Sister Colleges. During the Biden administration, Title IX regulations were expanded to cover gender identity, but a federal judge struck them down in January 2025.

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Transgender Issues in the US

Department of Education opens investigation into Smith College for admitting trans women

Department of Education opens investigation into Smith College for admitting trans women

Feds Probe Smith College Over Trans Admissions Policy

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Feds Probe Smith College Over Trans Admissions Policy

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