Black Ivy League
Each of these institutions are co-educational with the exception of Morehouse College, which is an all-male institution and Spelman College, an all-female institution. All institutions are currently accredited by such organizations as the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The founding of two historic members, Lincoln and Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, predates the Civil War. The remaining members were founded in the late 19th century except for Xavier University of Louisiana, founded in 1915 by the Catholic Church.
Transgender admissions policies at women's colleges
In 2013, high school senior, Calliope Wong, was denied acceptance to Smith College, one of the largest women’s colleges in the United States, because she identified as a transgender woman. Wong marked her biological gender identity as male on her FAFSA, despite her self-identification as a woman. Subsequently, Smith deemed Wong inadmissible to the women's college and denied her application. Smith students, led by a trans-activist organization, Q&A, protested against the decision and began a Change.org petition encouraging Smith to revise their admissions policy to include trans-women. Although Smith was not the first women's college to amend their admissions policy, Wong’s story catalyzed a nation-wide reconsideration of admissions policies at women’s institutions. Smith College amended their policy to include admission of trans-women in May 2015.