Report: Complaints to OCR Have Doubled Since 2005
Despite the increase, staffing at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has decreased by 15 percent in the past decade.
Despite the increase, staffing at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has decreased by 15 percent in the past decade.
A small Iowa college has surprised people by requesting that the Office for Civil Rights review their handling of three sexual assault cases.
A recent study found that sexual assault reports significantly rise when a university is being audited for possible Clery Act violations but drop back down after the investigation is complete.
OCR determined that Southern Methodist University failed to promptly and equitably respond to student complaints of gender-based harassment and sexual violence, including sexual assault, and to reports of retaliatory harassment.
The investigation revealed that the school didn’t have appropriate policies, didn’t address a sexually hostile environment for a student and failed to respond appropriately to sexual assault claims.
Eighty-five higher education institutions are being scrutinized for the ways in which they address sexual violence.
School will revise its marriage, parenthood and sexual violence policies.
University president says Dept. of Ed made an example of Tufts to warn other campuses.
School is also being investigated by OCR for possible Title IX violations.