
Mark J. Oberstaedt
Partner
Overview
Representative Experience
News & Insights
05.12.2026
Blogs
What Can Single-Sex Institutions Do in Light of DOE’s Title IX Attack on Transgender Admissions at Smith College?
In June 2025, a group calling itself “Defend Education” filed a complaint against Smith College for discrimination on the basis of sex-based discrimination based on its admission of transgender women. Smith has admitted transgender women since 2015 and currently considers “any applicants who self-identify as women.” On May 4, 2026, the Department of Education opened a Title IX investigation.
04.22.2026
Blogs
DOJ Extends ADA Web Accessibility Deadline to April 2027
On April 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an interim final rule extending the deadline for public colleges and universities to comply with updated ADA Title II web accessibility requirements. The original April 24, 2026 deadline has been pushed to April 27, 2027, with certain smaller institutions receiving an additional year, until April 26, 2028. The extension provides additional time, but does not change the scope of the underlying obligations or the risk of enforcement.
04.20.2026
Blogs
Early Decision Admissions Anti-Trust Case Scheduled for Oral Argument
The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts has scheduled oral arguments for May 1, 2026, in D’Amico v. Consortium of Financing Higher Education, a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that more than 30 colleges and universities colluded not to offer admission to students accepted by other institutions through Early Decision.