Smith College, a historically women-only institution, is under federal scrutiny after a civil rights complaint alleged its transgender admissions policy violates Title IX. The complaint centers on the school’s decision to admit men who identify as women while rejecting women who identify as men, raising questions about the future of sex-based protections in education.
A conservative nonprofit, Parents Defending Education, filed the complaint with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights on June 20, 2025. The filing argues that Smith College discriminates based on sex by allowing biological males who identify as female to enroll, while denying access to biological females who identify as male. The policy, the group contends, undermines the legal and cultural foundation of single-sex education.
Smith College’s current admissions policy, adopted in 2015, allows applicants who “consistently identify as women” to apply. This includes transgender women and nonbinary individuals who identify as female. However, the college does not accept applicants who were born female but now identify as male. The complaint states this double standard contradicts Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.
In addition to admissions, the complaint cites the use of gender-neutral facilities as a further violation of women’s rights. It argues that allowing biological males into all-gender restrooms and locker rooms compromises the privacy and safety of female students. These changes, implemented under the guise of inclusivity, have sparked backlash from advocates of sex-based rights.
The group’s legal challenge reflects growing national resistance to gender ideology in education. While many institutions have embraced gender identity policies in recent years, critics argue these shifts erode protections specifically meant for biological women. The complaint asks the Department of Education to investigate and require Smith College to return to a biologically based admissions policy.
Smith College has not yet responded publicly to the complaint. However, the case is expected to intensify debates over the role of women’s colleges in the transgender movement, particularly under a federal administration critical of DEI and gender-based mandates.
