CBS News

Education Department investigating all-women's Smith College for admitting trans women

National Review

All-Women’s Smith College Hit with Title IX Investigation for Admitting Male Students

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education Opens Title IX Investigation into All-Women's Smith College for Admitting Men

Defending Education

UNDER INVESTIGATION OCR Complaint: Smith College

Office-for-Civil-Rights-Case-Number-01-25-2398-Smith-College-Parshall-Perry-5-4-26.pdf

Smith College

Admission Policy Announcement

First-Year Applicants

Smith College: Department of Education opens investigation into all-womens college for admitting trans women

The White House

Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness

DEFENDING WOMEN FROM GENDER IDEOLOGY EXTREMISM AND RESTORING BIOLOGICAL TRUTH TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Keeping Men Out of Womens Sports

The Hill

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

RapidResponse47

EdKrassen

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened an investigation into Smith College on Monday, examining whether the women's college violated Title IX through its transgender admission policies.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened an investigation into Smith College on Monday, examining whether the women's college violated Title IX through its transgender admission policies.

Smith's stance is that "cis, trans and nonbinary women" are eligible to apply for enrolment, based on self-identification. The college adopted the position in May 2015, when its Board of Trustees voted to include self-identified transgender women.

Smith's stance is that "cis, trans and nonbinary women" are eligible to apply for enrolment, based on self-identification. The college adopted the position in May 2015, when its Board of Trustees voted to include self-identified transgender women.

The OCR, however, claimed that by "admitting biological men and granting them access to women-only spaces," such as dormitories and bathrooms, Smith had broken Title IX's single-sex exception, under which colleges can enroll all-male or all-female student bodies.

The OCR, however, claimed that by "admitting biological men and granting them access to women-only spaces," such as dormitories and bathrooms, Smith had broken Title IX's single-sex exception, under which colleges can enroll all-male or all-female student bodies.

The probe stems from a complaint filed in June 2025 by the conservative legal group Defending Education, which argued that the admissions policy violated Title IX, several presidential executive orders and the Education Department's own guidance.

The probe stems from a complaint filed in June 2025 by the conservative legal group Defending Education, which argued that the admissions policy violated Title IX, several presidential executive orders and the Education Department's own guidance.

In a letter to the group's vice president, Sarah Parshall Perry, the OCR specified that opening an investigation did not imply a determination on the merits of the complaint and that the body would act as a "neutral factfinder" during the process.

In a letter to the group's vice president, Sarah Parshall Perry, the OCR specified that opening an investigation did not imply a determination on the merits of the complaint and that the body would act as a "neutral factfinder" during the process.

The inquiry comes as the Trump administration has implemented a series of policies related to transgender persons, including directives banning transgender individuals from the military, affirming the existence of only two sexes and aimed at "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports."

Donald Trump

The inquiry comes as the Trump administration has implemented a series of policies related to transgender persons, including directives banning transgender individuals from the military, affirming the existence of only two sexes and aimed at "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports."

CBS News #

National Review #

U.S. Department of Education #

Defending Education #

Smith College #

CNN #

The White House #

The Hill #

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.

Smith College is violating Title IX by admitting biological males and giving them access to women-only dorms, bathrooms and locker rooms — spaces the law explicitly protects for female students. A single-sex institution loses its legal standing the moment it substitutes gender identity for biological sex in admissions. The federal investigation is a necessary step to restore the protections Title IX was designed to provide.

Smith College is violating Title IX by admitting biological males and giving them access to women-only dorms, bathrooms and locker rooms — spaces the law explicitly protects for female students. A single-sex institution loses its legal standing the moment it substitutes gender identity for biological sex in admissions. The federal investigation is a necessary step to restore the protections Title IX was designed to provide.

Smith's inclusive admissions policy reflects a decade of deliberate study, faculty input and legal consultation — hardly a reckless departure from its mission as a women's college. Admitting trans women is a natural extension of the college's founding purpose of educating those marginalized on the basis of gender. Launching a federal investigation based on a complaint from outside the Smith community is government overreach targeting a private institution that serves its students well.

Smith's inclusive admissions policy reflects a decade of deliberate study, faculty input and legal consultation — hardly a reckless departure from its mission as a women's college. Admitting trans women is a natural extension of the college's founding purpose of educating those marginalized on the basis of gender. Launching a federal investigation based on a complaint from outside the Smith community is government overreach targeting a private institution that serves its students well.

Transgender Issues in the US

Feds Probe Smith College Over Trans Admissions Policy

United States of America

Lawsuits

Politics

The OCR's investigation was necessary following legitimate concerns that Smith College may have violated Title IX by admitting biological males and giving them access to women-only dorms, bathrooms and locker rooms, spaces the law explicitly protects for female students. By upholding these practices, Smith may have broken the single-sex exception, losing all legal standing.

The OCR's investigation was necessary following legitimate concerns that Smith College may have violated Title IX by admitting biological males and giving them access to women-only dorms, bathrooms and locker rooms, spaces the law explicitly protects for female students. By upholding these practices, Smith may have broken the single-sex exception, losing all legal standing.

Smith's inclusive admissions policy is no crime; rather, it reflects a decade of deliberate study, faculty input and legal consultation, which rightly judged that the admission of trans women was a natural extension of the college's founding purpose. The investigation, therefore, is nothing but another attempt by this administration to target a vulnerable community.

Smith's inclusive admissions policy is no crime; rather, it reflects a decade of deliberate study, faculty input and legal consultation, which rightly judged that the admission of trans women was a natural extension of the college's founding purpose. The investigation, therefore, is nothing but another attempt by this administration to target a vulnerable community.

Feds Probe Smith College Over Trans Admissions Policy

Feds Probe Smith College Over Trans Admissions Policy

The Spin

Go Deeper

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Feds Probe Smith College Over Trans Admissions Policy

Feds Probe Smith College Over Trans Admissions Policy

The Spin

Go Deeper

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters