Story perspectives

OCR Launches Title IX Probe into Smith College Trans Admissions

5/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Office for Civil Rights opened a Title IX investigation into Smith College over its admission of transgender women.
The probe examines whether biological males can use women-only dorms, bathrooms, locker rooms and athletic teams after Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey raised privacy and fairness concerns.
Title IX’s single-sex exemption applies only to biological sex, so enrolling self-identified women could strip Smith College of its single-sex status.

History

Historical Context

Title IX, signed by President Nixon on June 23 1972, barred sex discrimination in federally funded education. The 1988 Civil Rights Restoration Act expanded its scope, and the Office for Civil Rights reported a 13-point rise in women’s college enrollment to 56% by 1982. Under the 2021 interpretation that includes gender identity, OCR now probes Smith College’s single-sex status over transgender admissions.

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Story summary

The Office for Civil Rights opened a Title IX investigation into Smith College over its admission of transgender women.
The probe examines whether biological males can use women-only dorms, bathrooms, locker rooms and athletic teams after Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey raised privacy and fairness concerns.
Title IX’s single-sex exemption applies only to biological sex, so enrolling self-identified women could strip Smith College of its single-sex status.

1 / 2