Spelman College is taking a huge step towards the promoting gender equality. In a recent update to the school’s admissions and enrollment policy, the all-female historical black college announced that it will allow transgenders to enroll as students.

Spelman College, a Historically Black College whose mission is to serve high-achieving black women, will consider for admission women students including students who consistently live and self-identify as women, regardless of their gender assignment at birth. Spelman does not admit male students, including students who self-identify and live consistently as men, regardless of gender assignment at birth. If a woman is admitted and transitions to male while a student at Spelman, the college will permit that student to continue to matriculate at and graduate from Spelman.

A task force of students, faculty, trustees and alumnae assessed the school’s admission practices, in 2016, to see if the policies applied to the “evolving understanding and knowledge of gender.” From that study, Spelman decided to update their admissions and enrollment policy to favor this change.

“In adopting this admissions policy, Spelman continues its fervent belief in the power of the Spelman Sisterhood. Students who choose Spelman come to our campus prepared to participate in a women’s college that is academically and intellectually rigorous, and affirms its core mission as the education and development of high-achieving black women.”

For current students who may be questioning the change, the Spelman website has updated their frequently asked questions page accordingly. Here are a few questions listed with quick answers:

  • “Is Spelman still a women’s college?” Yes.
  • “How will Spelman know if a student is transgender?” Self-disclosure.
  • “What resources will be offered to trans students?” After full adoption of the policy, “all Spelman students receive the full support and guidance of college faculty, staff and administrators through graduation.”
  • “How will Spelman handle housing accommodation?” On a case-by-case basis.

Students will be able to send in questions to Spelman’s assigned task force. For more information, visit http://www.spelman.edu/admissions/frequently-asked-questions#revised-policy .

Spelman College was voted no.1 on the 2017 Best College List by the U.S. News & World Report. The campus boasted approximately 2,144 students enrolled in 2017.

 

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