Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025

This bill protects students’ right to join or start social clubs at colleges, including single-sex groups. Colleges that get federal higher-education funds could not punish students or these groups just because they limit membership to one sex, and could not force students to give up these protections to enroll. They also could not put special recruiting rules on single-sex groups that don’t apply to other clubs, unless both sides agree in writing.

The bill does not make colleges officially recognize any club. Colleges could still discipline students for academic or nonacademic misconduct, or if a group clearly harms others, as long as it’s not only because the group is single-sex. Clubs could set their own membership rules. Faculty could share opinions and do research about these groups. The bill would not create new rights to sue a club or college if someone is denied membership.

Key points

• Who is affected: Students in social organizations and colleges that receive federal higher-education funds, including through Title IV programs.
• What changes: Students can form or join recognized or unrecognized clubs, including single-sex clubs; colleges can’t take adverse action based only on a club being single-sex; special recruiting limits require a written agreement; colleges can still act on misconduct or safety concerns; clubs control their membership; faculty speech and research are protected; no new right to sue over membership denials .