United States: Education

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has launched a Title IX investigation into Smith College's policy of admitting transgender women and providing them access to campus facilities designated for women. This investigation represents a significant shift in federal civil rights enforcement under the Trump Administration's interpretation that Title IX protections are based on biological sex rather than gender identity.

A new Department of Homeland Security rule will replace the longstanding "Duration of Status" system with fixed admission periods for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors beginning September 15, 2026. This change creates unique immigration planning considerations for international student-athletes whose collegiate careers may extend beyond four academic years, requiring careful coordination between athletic eligibility and immigration status timelines.

The Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of state laws requiring biological sex-based distinctions in school athletics, addressing challenges brought by transgender female student-athletes in Idaho and West Virginia. This landmark decision examines the intersection of Title IX, the Equal Protection Clause, and transgender rights in competitive sports, while leaving open questions about how these principles apply beyond athletics.

The NCAA Division I Cabinet has fundamentally restructured college athletics eligibility by replacing decades-old season-of-competition rules with a streamlined age-based model. This sweeping change eliminates sport-specific restrictions and the waiver process while granting student-athletes five years of competition based on enrollment timing. However, the new framework faces immediate legal challenges from athletes who claim the transition rules create arbitrary distinctions among members of the same high

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court held in West Virgina v. B.P.J. that transgender female athletes do not have the right under Title IX or the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution to participate...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued guidance warning colleges and universities about potential Fair Housing Act violations related to student housing practices. What constitutes unlawful segregation or discrimination in campus residential programs, and how might seemingly inclusive identity-focused housing initiatives face heightened federal scrutiny?

Throughout the summer, they’ll build invaluable skills, from drafting documents to supporting active litigation and transactional matters, that will serve them well for years to come.

Educational institutions face significant cybersecurity risks when using Software as a Service platforms, with recent breaches exposing millions of students' personal data and disrupting operations during critical periods like final examinations.

The governor of Alabama recently signed House Bill 351, which establishes a consumer data privacy law for the state. The law takes effect May 1, 2027.