Campus Safety

The Issue

Colleges and universities are committed to maintaining campus environments that are safe, supportive, and responsive so all students can benefit from the widest possible array of educational opportunities. The federal government plays a crucial role in promoting campus safety, primarily through two laws: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, which requires crime data disclosure. Collaborations with entities such as the National Institute of Justice and Department of Homeland Security further govern institutional efforts to enhance preparedness and respond to various incidents in order to maintain a safe learning environment.

Our Work
Letter on the Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act
March 20, 2024
Letter on the Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act
On behalf of five other higher education organizations, ACE wrote to leadership of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in opposition to the Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act.
A President’s Guide to the Clery Act: 2023 Edition
June 28, 2023
A President’s Guide to the Clery Act: 2023 Edition
This guide provides an overview of the Clery Act’s requirements, focusing on five core elements that senior leaders need to know to ensure that their campus has solid policies and protocols in place that are in compliance with Clery’s expectations.
Letter to Congressional Leaders Requesting Action on Threats to HBCUs
February 14, 2022
Letter to Congressional Leaders Requesting Action on Threats to HBCUs
Letter from ACE and 63 other organizations to the leaders of the House and Senate urging Congress to promptly pass resolution condemning threats of violence against HBCUs and hold hearings into these threats.
Comments to the Education Department's Public Hearing on Title IX
June 10, 2021
Comments to the Education Department's Public Hearing on Title IX
Comments from ACE and 42 other associations to the Education Department's public hearing on the Title IX regulations put in place by the Trump administration. The comments address concerns with the highly prescriptive, court-like processes required und...
Letter to Education Secretary-designate About Higher Education Priorities
January 26, 2021
Letter to Education Secretary-designate About Higher Education Priorities
Letter to Education Secretary-designate Miguel Cardona about the higher education community's priorities for the Biden administration, including additional emergency COVID-19 relief.
Executive Action Priorities for Higher Education Under the Biden Administration
November 19, 2020
Executive Action Priorities for Higher Education Under the Biden Administration
Letter to the Biden-Harris transition team on the Trump administration's executive actions of concern to students, educators, and institutions that could be reversed by the Biden administration.
Amicus Brief to Delay Effective Date of Title IX Regulations
July 31, 2020
Amicus Brief to Delay Effective Date of Title IX Regulations
Brief submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in support of the motion to delay the Aug. 14, 2020, effective date of the Department of Education's new regulations on Title IX filed by the Victim Rights Law Center.
Amicus Brief and Motion to Delay Effective Date of Title IX Regulations
June 24, 2020
Amicus Brief and Motion to Delay Effective Date of Title IX Regulations
Brief submitted to the District Court for the District of Columbia in support of the motion to delay the Aug. 14, 2020, effective date of the Department of Education's new regulations on Title IX filed by 18 state attorneys general.
Request for Delay in Implementing the Final Title IX Rule
June 10, 2020
Request for Delay in Implementing the Final Title IX Rule
Letter from 15 higher education association presidents to Education Secretary Betsy Devos requesting a delay in implementing the final Title IX rule, which is scheduled to go into effect Aug. 14.
Summary of the Key Provisions of the Final Title IX Rule
May 14, 2020
Summary of the Key Provisions of the Final Title IX Rule
An outline of the key provisions of the Department of Education's final rule on Title IX sexual assault on campus, which goes into effect Aug. 14, 2020.
Letter to Congress in Support of Research During COVID-19 Pandemic
March 20, 2020
Letter to Congress in Support of Research During COVID-19 Pandemic
Letter from ACE, AAU, APLU, and AAMC outlining a four-point strategy to help U.S. universities continue leading in the battle against COVID-19 and ensure that research in other areas can continue.
Comments to NASA on Sexual Harassment Reporting Requirements
August 16, 2019
Comments to NASA on Sexual Harassment Reporting Requirements
From ACE and six other higher education institutions in response to the July 17, 2019 Federal Register notice on “Reporting Requirements Regarding Findings of Sexual Harassment, other Forms of Harassment, or Sexual Assault.”
Comments to the Department of Education on Proposed Title IX Rule
January 30, 2019
Comments to the Department of Education on Proposed Title IX Rule
Comments from ACE and 60 other higher education associations on the Department of Education’s proposed Title IX regulations published in the Federal Register in November 2018.
Issue Brief: U.S. Departments of Education and Justice Release Joint Guidance Related to Transgender Students and Title IX
May 17, 2016
Issue Brief: U.S. Departments of Education and Justice Release Joint Guidance Related to Transgender Students and Title IX
The Departments of Education and Justice released joint guidance May 13 to help educational institutions understand their responsibilities to serve transgender students. This ACE issue brief looks at select aspects of the guidance and answers possible ...
Issue Brief: The Department of Education's Guidance on the Role and Responsibilities of Title IX Coordinators
April 30, 2015
Issue Brief: The Department of Education's Guidance on the Role and Responsibilities of Title IX Coordinators
Issue brief on the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights new guidance package on campus Title IX coordinators. The brief summarizes aspects of the new guidance and flags selected points that OCR has not previously conveyed.
Summary: Campus Accountability and Safety Act (114th Congress)
April 1, 2015
Summary: Campus Accountability and Safety Act (114th Congress)
This memo addresses provisions in the Campus Accountability and Safety Act relating to matters such as confidential advisors; climate surveys; Clery Act reporting obligations; agreements with law enforcement agencies; definitions; and terminology.
Comments on the Campus Accountability and Safety Act
September 5, 2014
Comments on the Campus Accountability and Safety Act
Letter to Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) the campus sexual assault bill introduced by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), the Campus Accountability and Safety Act (S. 2692).
Summary: The Campus Accountability and Safety Act
September 5, 2014
Summary: The Campus Accountability and Safety Act
Summary and analysis on the Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA) (S. 2692), introduced by Sen. Claire McCaskill and cosponsors on July 30, 2014.
Letter to the Senate HELP Committee on Campus Efforts to Address Sexual Assault
June 25, 2014
Letter to the Senate HELP Committee on Campus Efforts to Address Sexual Assault
Letter from ACE President Molly Corbett Broad to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions in advance of the June 26 hearing, “Sexual Assault on Campus: Working to Ensure Student Safety.”
Letter to the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault
April 3, 2014
Letter to the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault
Sent as a followup to the March 14 meeting between the task force and the higher education community to discuss how best to ensure a safe, secure environment on campuses.
Comments to the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault
February 28, 2014
Comments to the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault
Letter in response to the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault’s request for input on how best to ensure safe, secure campus environments.
Latest News
Beyond Berkeley: Lessons from a University Chancellor on the Front Lines
February 8, 2024
Beyond Berkeley: Lessons from a University Chancellor on the Front Lines
Nicholas Dirks joins Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq to discuss his new book City of Intellect and his time as chancellor of University of California, Berkeley.
Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on Biden Administration Actions to Help Campuses Combat Antisemitic Incidents
October 30, 2023
Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on Biden Administration Actions to Help Campuses Combat Antisemitic Incidents
We appreciate the actions announced today by the Biden administration to help campuses combat the rising wave of antisemitic incidents and threats of violence against Jewish students.
Guide to Clery Act Provides High-Level Overview for Campus Leaders
July 3, 2023
Guide to Clery Act Provides High-Level Overview for Campus Leaders
For more than 30 years, the Clery Act has served as the primary federal law setting forth safety and security requirements for institutions—requirements that serve the law’s goals of increased transparency, accountability, and safety for campuses.
Preventing Gender-Based Harassment and Violence Learning Circles
November 2022–April 2023
Preventing Gender-Based Harassment and Violence Learning Circles
Join a Preventing Gender-Based Harassment and Violence Learning Circle, beginning in November. Be part of a group striving to use data-driven practices and policies to prevent harassment on campus before it ever occurs.
ACE, Other Groups Comment on Education Department Title IX Draft Rule
September 12, 2022
ACE, Other Groups Comment on Education Department Title IX Draft Rule
The groups thank the department for its efforts to provide greater flexibility and urge additional clarity and flexibility to help colleges and universities fulfill the promise of the law.
ACE Convenes Women Leaders to Speak About Past, Present, and Future of Title IX
July 18, 2022
ACE Convenes Women Leaders to Speak About Past, Present, and Future of Title IX
The event was part of ACE’s ongoing Women’s Leadership Speaker series and featured Gayle Hutchinson, Linda A. Livingstone, Fayneese S. Miller, and moderator Luoluo Hong.
New Proposed Title IX Regulations are Here. Now What?
July 14, 2022
New Proposed Title IX Regulations are Here. Now What?
ACE's Anne Meehan and Peter McDonough talk about what the newly proposed Title IX regulations mean for college campuses and the effort to address and prevent sex-based discrimination.
Title IX: Celebrating 50 Years and Preparing for the Future
July 13, 2022
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. ET
Title IX: Celebrating 50 Years and Preparing for the Future
Since Title IX passed 50 years ago, the education sector has been realizing advances in gender equity. Celebrate this milestone—join a July 13 discussion on progress so far and future plans.
Education Department Proposes New Title IX Regulations on Campus Sexual Assault, Expands Protections for LGBTQ+ Students
June 27, 2022
Education Department Proposes New Title IX Regulations on Campus Sexual Assault, Expands Protections for LGBTQ+ Students
The Department of Education has issued a proposed rule revising the Trump-era Title IX regulations, another major overhaul to how colleges must respond to sexual assault and harassment.
Federal 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Launches July 16
June 23, 2022
Federal 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Launches July 16
The new number—akin to 911—will be operated through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network of over 200 locally run and funded crisis centers across the country.
Midterm Elections Loom Over Higher Ed
June 16, 2022
Midterm Elections Loom Over Higher Ed
How will issues like student loan forgiveness, immigration, and on the state level—academic freedom and critical race theory play out as November approaches?
The Higher Ed Agenda as Congress Returns From Spring Break
April 21, 2022
The Higher Ed Agenda as Congress Returns From Spring Break
Congress comes back to DC next week to a full agenda and an attention span increasingly absorbed by the midterm elections. What’s in store for higher education?
Higher Education Community Calls on Congress to Address Threats to HBCUs
February 14, 2022
Higher Education Community Calls on Congress to Address Threats to HBCUs
ACE and 63 other organizations today requested that Congress immediately take steps to support and protect historically Black colleges and universities following the recent wave of bomb threats.
Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on the Threats Against HBCUs
February 3, 2022
Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on the Threats Against HBCUs
We stand with our students and colleagues in solidarity against the deplorable and cowardly bomb threats against Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Higher Ed in 2022: Unfinished Business and Election Year Politics
January 27, 2022
Higher Ed in 2022: Unfinished Business and Election Year Politics
ACE Senior Vice President Terry Hartle joins hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer of the ACE government relations team to discuss what Congress still needs to finish from 2021.
Federal Government Extends I-9 Compliance Flexibility
December 17, 2021
Federal Government Extends I-9 Compliance Flexibility
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has granted an extension to April 30, 2022, of the COVID-19 related flexibilities related to Form I-9 compliance.
Colleges and Universities Are Not Courts, Higher Education Groups Tell Education Department in Comments on Title IX
June 14, 2021
Colleges and Universities Are Not Courts, Higher Education Groups Tell Education Department in Comments on Title IX
ACE and 42 other organizations have submitted comments on the Education Department's Title IX regulations, expressing concerns with the highly prescriptive, court-like processes including the mandate for a live hearing with direct cross-examination.
Episode 36: What Colleges Can Expect From Miguel Cardona's Education Department
February 12, 2021
Episode 36: What Colleges Can Expect From Miguel Cardona's Education Department
ACE President Ted Mitchell joins Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq to talk about his impressions of incoming Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona and about his own experience working in the Education Department.
Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on the Senate Confirmation Hearing of Secretary of Education-designate Miguel A. Cardona
February 3, 2021
Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on the Senate Confirmation Hearing of Secretary of Education-designate Miguel A. Cardona
ACE looks forward to working with Dr. Cardona and his team at the Department of Education on the many important issues facing students, families, and colleges and universities.
ACE, Other Associations Outline How Higher Education Can Help Combat COVID-19
February 1, 2021
ACE, Other Associations Outline How Higher Education Can Help Combat COVID-19
A letter sent Friday to President Biden by ACE and more than three dozen other higher education associations suggested a range of ways that colleges and universities may be able to help the country fight and conquer COVID-19.
As Talks on COVID-19 Emergency Bill Falter, Associations Write to Congress on the Needs of Students and Institutions
August 10, 2020
As Talks on COVID-19 Emergency Bill Falter, Associations Write to Congress on the Needs of Students and Institutions
As negotiations continue on the next COVID-19 relief bill, ACE and other associations made recommendations on the best path forward for needed assistance to students and institutions.
 
 


​Comments on the Education Department's Proposed Title IX Rule

ACE, on behalf of nearly 50 other groups, sent the Biden administration comments on its proposed revisions to the regulations implementing Title IX (Sept. 12, 2022).    


New Proposed Title IX Regulations are Here. Now Wh​​at?

Learn more about Title IX and what the newly proposed regulation​​​s mean for college campuses on ACE's July 14, 2022 dotEDU podcast.

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