Grove City College v. Bell

Grove City College v. Bell, 465 U.S. 555 (1984), was a case in which the United States Supreme Court held that Title IX, which applies only to colleges and universities that receive federal funds, could be applied to a private school that refused direct federal funding but where a large number of students had received federally funded scholarships. The Court also held that the federal government could require a statutorily mandated "assurance of compliance" with Title IX even though no evidence had been presented to suggest that Grove City College had discriminated in any way. However, the Court also held that the regulation would only apply to the institution's financial aid department, not to the school as a whole.

While Hillsdale College was not a party to this case, the result of this case directly influenced that institution to decline all federal aid starting with the fall 1984 semester, a practice that continues today. Grove City followed suit in 1988, establishing a loan program with PNC Bank instead.

Opinion of the Court

Justice White delivered the opinion of the Court, which was unanimous as to all but Part III.

Overturning of the Court's decision

The decision by the Supreme Court was effectively overturned when the United States Congress subsequently passed the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, which specified that recipients of federal funds must comply with civil rights laws in all areas, not just in the particular program or activity that received federal funding.

See also

• List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 465
• Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987

Further reading

• Marks, Brian Andrew (1996). A Model of Judicial Influence on Congressional Policymaking: Grove City College v. Bell. Ann Arbor: UMI. OCLC 59620765. 
• Pittsburgh Press analysis

External links

• 465 U.S. 555 Full text of the opinion courtesy of Findlaw.com.