Women's colleges in the Southern United States

Many early women's colleges began as female seminaries and were responsible for producing an important corps of educators.

Historically black colleges and universities for women developed in the Southern United States in the 19th century after emancipation.

The court found that the university would be in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause if it denied admission to its nursing program on the basis of gender.

"[20]In their dissenting opinions, Justices Harry A. Blackmun, Warren E. Burger, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., and William H. Rehnquist suggested that the result of this ruling would be the elimination of publicly supported single-sex educational opportunities.

[29] In addition, there were numerous protests on campus including rallies, blocking administrative offices, mass requests for transfer transcripts, banners all over campus, striking from classes, and participation in quiet protest to highlight lack of student voices in the board of trustees votes.

[30][31] The non-profit "Preserve Education Choice" (PEC) was founded,[32] composed of students, faculty, and alumnae who are trying to reverse the decision.

[34] PEC raised enough money to appeal both dismissals,[35] and a group of nine students brought the case to the Virginia Supreme Court.

"Richmond lawyer Wyatt B. Durrette Jr. asked the state's high court to grant an appeal of the group's lawsuit.