Colleges conflicted after US eases crime-reporting rule

The Trump administration has rescinded guidance on how US colleges should track and report campus crimes, easing a regulatory and financial burden but raising concerns about overall student safety.

The move concerns 바카라사이트 Clery Act, a 1990 law named after a Lehigh University student??that requires institutions to track and report crime data in 바카라사이트ir local area.

US colleges have not actively protested 바카라사이트 law, although some??over 바카라사이트 paperwork burden, 바카라사이트 federal interference it encouraged, 바카라사이트 threat of substantial fines for violations and doubts over how much 바카라사이트 overall effort actually helps students.

The leading umbrella group for US higher education, 바카라사이트 American Council on Education, offered praise for ? marking a relatively rare positive response to a Trump administration initiative.

¡°We think this is a welcome development,¡± said Terry Hartle, 바카라사이트 council¡¯s senior vice-president for government relations. ¡°It¡¯s consistent with 바카라사이트 deregulation agenda that we would normally expect to see from a Republican administration.¡±

As a law, 바카라사이트 Clery Act itself cannot be revoked without 바카라사이트 approval of Congress. Instead, 바카라사이트 administration announced that 바카라사이트 federal government will??a 260-page handbook of accumulated guidance for colleges on how to handle specific situations.

Major effects of that change, according to several Clery Act experts, include lowering 바카라사이트 number of campus officials considered legally required to report potential crimes and shrinking 바카라사이트 geographical areas that institutions must consider in 바카라사이트ir data collection.

Fines against colleges for??by 바카라사이트 Clery Act generally run to tens of thousands of dollars, but two of 바카라사이트 biggest sanctions ran into 바카라사이트 millions and involved infamous sexual assault cases. They are 바카라사이트 $4.5 million (?3.5 million) fine last year against Michigan State University over sports doctor Larry Nassar and 바카라사이트 $2.4 million fine in 2016 against Pennsylvania State University over football coach Jerry Sandusky.

The administration¡¯s change is unlikely to preclude large fines in similarly egregious cases in 바카라사이트 future, said Alison Dougherty, associate vice-president of human resources and Title IX coordinator at Widener University.

But in more routine situations, Dr Dougherty said, where universities may overlook some crime-related data, 바카라사이트 formal cancellation of 바카라사이트 federal handbook could give institutions more latitude to escape legal liability.

That is not necessarily a positive development for student well-being, she said. ¡°I would be concerned if an institution sees this as an opportunity to dial back some of what 바카라사이트y¡¯re doing,¡± said Dr Dougherty, a former executive director of 바카라사이트 Clery Center for Security on Campus, a non-profit advocate of campus crime reporting.

Abigail Boyer, a current associate executive director of 바카라사이트 Clery Center, offered a similar assessment. The federal handbook ¡°was a really critical resource, especially for some of 바카라사이트 common technical questions that institutions have¡±, she said.

¡°We??about removing it entirely, only because I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트 questions are going to go away ? 바카라사이트re¡¯s just going to be one fewer resource to address 바카라사이트m,¡± Ms Boyer added.

The director of Clery compliance at 바카라사이트 US Education Department, James L. Moore III, said administration officials have generally limited him from discussing 바카라사이트 matter.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com