Department of Education Investigating Military College

 

By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

VIRGINIA, United States – For the past sixteen months the federal Department of Education has been investigating allegations that policies and procedures at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) are discriminatory. The probe began over a year ago and will determine whether certain practices are sexist and hostile to women.

The Virginia Military Institute was founded in 1839 as an all male higher educational facility that is partially supported by government money. It is known for its highly regimented and military atmosphere. In 1996, the United States Supreme Court ruled that VMI had to admit females into the school or it would lose its government support. In 1997 VMI admitted its first female students.

The recent investigation of VMI’s policies and procedures centers around a range of issues. The complaint asserts that there is an overall hostile environment to women, that the physical standards are unfair to women, and that the promotion and tenure polices discriminate against women. The Department of Education also is investigating whether the school’s marriage and parenthood policies discriminate against women. Currently, VMI expects those cadets that marry or become pregnant to resign from the school. Promoting this policy, the school wrote that “the responsibilities of parenthood are deemed to begin upon a cadets learning that a child has been conceived.” In regards to the allegations of discriminatory promotion practices, VMI stated that it takes in account teaching ability, scholarly engagement, professional citizenship and contributions to the development of the cadets.

Since VMI admitted women, one hundred and fifty nine females have graduated from the institution. Also, about twenty two percent of current full and part time faculty are female. This past year VMI dropped its fitness requirement of five pull-ups to one pull-up for women. VMI received one hundred and sixty nine female applications this year and admitted fifty females.

Some women at the institution were surprised by the investigation. Senior cadet Elizabeth Dobbins stated that there “was no male model here.” She believed that the school was so open that any mistreatment would be noticed. Professor Mary Ann Dellinger also stated that there was no discrimination in promotion practices. The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education awarded VMI its top honor for recruitment this past June.

For more information, please see:

Inside Higher Ed – Education Department Probes Allegations About VMI – 24 November 2009

MSNBC – Virginia Military Institute Faces Sexism Accusations – 22 November 2009

Roanoke Times – VMI is Subject of Sexism Probe – 8 August 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive