LEXINGTON—Virginia Military Institute is defending itself against a lengthy investigation into accusations that the school’s policies are sexist and hostile toward female cadets, a dozen years after women won the right to enroll. The federal Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has an ongoing investigation of a sex-discrimination complaint at the small, state-supported school that so far has taken nearly a year and a half—three times longer than usual.

LEXINGTON—Virginia Military Institute is defending itself against a lengthy investigation into accusations that the school’s policies are sexist and hostile toward female cadets, a dozen years after women won the right to enroll. The federal Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has an ongoing investigation of a sex-discrimination complaint at the small, state-supported school that so far has taken nearly a year and a half—three times longer than usual.