Why It Matters
Recent allegations of campus sexual assault have renewed debate over how far colleges must go to protect students from sexual harassment and violence, according to a new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report.
The Clery Act requires every domestic institution of higher education participating in federal Title IV student-aid programs to publish an annual security report (ASR) by Oct. 1 each year, covering campus crime statistics for the preceding three calendar years and campus security policies. The Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid enforces the law and may impose fines, limit federal financial aid, or suspend or terminate an institution's eligibility to participate in federal student-aid programs, with a maximum fine of $71,545 per violation cited in the report.
The Big Picture
Since institutions can accrue multiple fines, violations have led to multimillion-dollar settlements. The ASR must disclose reported incidents of covered crimes, not only those resulting in a finding of guilt, across what the regulations call "Clery geography": on-campus property, adjacent public property and certain off-campus buildings controlled by recognized student organizations. Covered crimes include murder, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, manslaughter and arson, as well as bias-motivated offenses, liquor and drug violations, weapons possession, and incidents of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.
Beyond crime statistics, the ASR must describe reporting procedures, law enforcement arrangements, emergency evacuation procedures, prevention programs and disciplinary procedures for sexual assault and relationship violence cases, including the evidentiary standard used and notice of outcomes to both parties.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act, enacted as Public Law 118-173 on Dec. 23, 2024, added hazing reporting requirements to ASRs and created a Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR) that institutions with reportable hazing violations must update at least twice a year. The CHTR must name the student organization, describe the violation, list any sanctions imposed, and include the incident date, but may not include personally identifiable student information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
In the 119th Congress, the Campus Accountability and Safety Act (S. 2990) would expand Clery reporting to cover the resolution of certain Title IX complaints and require institutions to designate a sexual and interpersonal violence specialist. S. 2990 was introduced Oct. 8, 2025, and referred that day to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
The Bottom Line
The Trump administration's Department of Education retains enforcement authority under the existing framework, including the power to select institutions for compliance reviews based on prior violations, complaints, and media reports. The Campus Accountability and Safety Act remains a legislative proposal, not an enacted expansion of institutions' reporting obligations.
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