The Associated Press

SMITH COLLEGE

A women’s college in western Massachusetts, Smith recently said it is excluding financial aid documents from the list of materials it uses to affirm an applicant’s gender identity. Now, only the application and official supporting documents are part of that review. Officials say they are weighing further changes. Smith alumni include Julia Child and two recent first ladies.

WELLESLEY COLLEGE

Wellesley, a women’s college outside Boston whose alumni include Hillary Rodham Clinton, says it will hold lectures, discussions and presentations this academic year on “what it means to be a women’s college at a time when definitions of gender are expanding.”

BARNARD COLLEGE

Barnard, in New York, says it will hold similar campus conversations about transgender students at women’s colleges. Officials say that in the meantime it, like some other women’s colleges, will be reviewing transgender applications on a case-by-case basis.

DUKE UNIVERSITY

North Carolina’s Duke has added an options question to its application meant to encourage applicants — in up to 250 words — to discuss their sexual orientation or gender identity.

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

Iowa allows applicants to select “transgender” as a third option in its gender question. It also asks an optional question about sexual orientation.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.