The Supreme Court of Virginia announced on Thursday that it would hear appeals in two cases involving Randolph College’s decision to admit men and issues of donor intent regarding an art collection.

The Lynchburg Circuit Court had dismissed both cases, which were brought by students and alumnae, as well as donors, of the college, formerly known as Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.

The first suit, which dates from 2006 and alleges breach of contract, was filed by a group of students who argued that they had been promised four years of education at an women’s college. Randolph began admitting men this fall.

The second suit, filed by a group of students and donors, argues that by admitting men, Randolph has violated the wishes of donors whose gifts were intended to “educate women in the liberal arts.”

Randolph College chose to enroll men in part to increase its revenue after being put on warning by its accreditor because of a lack of financial stability.

The college has also asked a court to declare that Randolph has the authority to sell or share ownership of items in its art collection that were purchased with funds from a trust set up under a 1928 bequest. Alternatively, Randolph asked the court to issue an order modifying the terms of the trust to allow the college to take such steps.

The bequest, by Louise Jordan Smith, an art professor, stipulated that income from the trust be used to form a permanent art collection at the college. The university has purchased more than 35 works of art using the fund, which now amounts to more than $40-million.

No decision has been made about whether any pieces of the collection will be sold or perhaps shared with other institutions. —Erin Strout