Wagner College Enters Resolution Agreement to Comply with Title IX

Strategic Insights -

Wagner College, a New York-based liberal arts institution, has reached a resolution agreement with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The agreement follows an investigation into the college's decision to allow a biological male athlete to compete on its women's fencing team, which sparked controversy and a subsequent OCR investigation. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon praised Wagner College for its efforts to comply with Title IX, stating that the agreement marked a significant step towards ensuring equal opportunities for women and girls in education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Wagner College has entered into a Resolution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to comply with Title IX.
  • The agreement stems from an investigation into the college's decision to allow a biological male athlete to compete on its women's fencing team.
  • Wagner College has agreed to revise its athletic policy to adopt biology-based definitions for the words "male" and "female" pursuant to Title IX.
  • The college will issue a public statement to the community stating that it will comply with Title IX and will not allow male students to compete in female athletic programs.
  • Wagner College will post the statement on its main website and on each of its websites for women's athletics.
  • The college will rescind any guidance that authorized males to compete in women's athletics and will notify all staff and women's athletics teams of the rescissions.
  • Wagner College will issue personalized letters of apology to any female fencers and a public statement of apology to all female athletes who were required to compete against a male in a Wagner athletics program designated for women.
  • According to the agreement, no male student athlete competing in women's athletics for Wagner College received any individual athletic records or recognitions by the college.
  • The agreement reflects a recommended policy change by USA Fencing, which has removed males from competing in the women's category.

Statistics:

  • Wagner College will revise its athletic policy to comply with Title IX.
  • The college will issue a public statement to the community stating that it will comply with Title IX and will not allow male students to compete in female athletic programs.
  • Wagner College will post the statement on its main website and on each of its websites for women's athletics.
  • The agreement will affect the college's women's fencing program and potentially other women's athletics programs that designate males to compete.
  • The college has determined that no male student athlete competing in women's athletics for Wagner College received any individual athletic records or recognitions by the college.
  • According to the agreement, males are no longer allowed to compete in the women's category in USA Fencing, following the Department's investigation.

Sources:

  • A resolution agreement between Wagner College and the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) dated August 1, 2025.
  • A statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on August 1, 2025.
  • The Education Amendments of 1972, Title IX, section 901, dated 1972.
  • USA Fencing policy changes effective August 1, 2025, following the Department's investigation.