H.R. 2555: Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025

This bill, called the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, proposes amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 with the aim of protecting the rights of students associated with single-sex social organizations, such as fraternities and sororities. Here are the key components of the bill:

Purpose of the Bill

• Protection from Adverse Actions: The bill seeks to protect students in single-sex social organizations from negative actions taken by higher education institutions solely based on the organization's gender-specific membership practices.
• Non-Bias Treatment: It aims to ensure that students associated with single-sex organizations are treated fairly compared to their peers who are not part of such organizations.
• Right to Associate: The bill emphasizes the right of students to freely associate with and participate in social organizations, including single-sex groups.

Freedoms Granted to Students

According to the amendments proposed:

• Students may form or join any recognized or unrecognized social organization, including those that are single-sex.
• If selected for membership by any organization, students can join and participate in that organization.

Non-Retaliation Provisions

• Institutions that receive federal funds must not:
• Coerce students to waive their rights regarding membership in single-sex organizations as a condition for enrollment.
• Take negative actions against students or organizations solely due to their single-sex membership practices.
• Impose unique recruitment restrictions on single-sex organizations that are not similarly applied to other organizations unless mutually agreed upon.

Clarifications and Limitations

• The bill does not require institutions to officially recognize social organizations.
• Institutions can still take actions for reasons unrelated to membership practices, such as academic misconduct.
• Social organizations retain the right to manage their own membership.
• Faculty can express opinions about the organizations without restrictions on academic freedom.
• The bill does not create enforceable rights against social organizations regarding membership decisions.

Definitions

• Adverse Action: This includes measures like expulsion, suspension, or denial of participation in programs or activities based on membership conditions.
• Single-Sex Social Organization: Defined as organizations such as fraternities or sororities that limit membership to individuals of one sex, including private social clubs primarily comprising students or alumni of a college or university.

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