The Virginia Supreme Court heard the appeals case Monday from a group of women studying at Randolph-Macon Woman's College, who claim the school’s governing board broke a contract with students when it decided to admit men in 2006.

“The students allege with specificity they were promised four years at an all-female institution,” said plaintiffs’ attorney Wyatt B. Durrette Jr., according to the Associated Press. “That is the bargain they seek to enforce.”

Durrette said the school’s promotional materials, admission letters and the academic catalog all promoted a single-sex education mission.

Edward J. Fuhr, the lawyer for the college that now changed its name to Randolph College, insists marketing materials do not stand for a contract. He also reminded the jury that the academic catalog included a disclaimer that the advertised situation can change without notice.

However, Justice Donald Lemons said the situation should be considered seriously, comparing it to the situation of someone applying to a dentistry school and finding out it was actually a veterinary school.

But Mr. Fuhr said that students didn’t commit to stay in the same school for four years when they subscribe, so “at most you had a one-semester contract.”

In the second case, a lawyer for some students and donors claim that donations that were intended to support a woman’s college cannot be used on coeducation and the money should be spent on something else.

“Fundamentally, it's wrong to take assets intended for one purpose and use them for another purpose, charitable or otherwise,” plaintiffs' attorney William Hurd told the court.

Both lawsuits were dismissed by circuit court. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the cases in June.