Dive Brief:
- The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has released new data showing the growth in sexual assault reporting as well as the increased length of investigations.
- The Chronicle of Higher Education reports the average length of investigations that resulted in substantive closures rose to 1,469 days in 2014, versus 379 days in 2009.
- ABC News reports on the front end, showing the jump in sex offense cases reported to the department — 3,360 in 2009 and more than 6,000 in 2013.
Dive Insight:
The Department of Education has requested more than $30 million extra in the next fiscal year to help its Office of Civil Rights handle a rise in sexual assault investigations. The number of open investigations has increased sharply since the Department of Education issued strict guidance in 2011, outlining post-secondary institutions’ responsibilities to students under Title IX. The Office of Civil Rights has a stated goal of wrapping up investigations in 180 days, which it is ill-equipped to do under current staffing and reporting levels.