PROVO, Utah — Brigham Young University is now one of more than 200 postsecondary institutions under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, according to a news release issued by the university Monday.
The investigations are related to federal requirements for responding to reports of sexual assault. Earlier this year, the university announced its own initiative to study the handling of reports of sexual assaults. That announcement was made in the wake of a controversial case in which a student reported she was raped, and was then investigated for potential honor code violations after reporting the crime.
In mid-May, BYU launched a website to seek feedback on the school's response to reports of sexual assaults.
"Our continued emphasis will be on providing our students with the support that they need, as well as an understanding of the Title IX process. We take any report of sexual assault extremely seriously, with our first priority being the welfare and safety of our students. Our goal in every situation is to give students the support that they need and safeguard their educational environment," wrote Janet S. Scharman, BYU's Vice President of Student Life, in the news release issued Monday.
The University of Utah and Westminster College are also under investigation.
