The American Association of Universities (AAU) recently submitted comments to the US Department of Education calling on the department to make significant changes in its proposal for new Title IX regulations covering sexual assault and misconduct on university and college campuses.

The AAU, which represents Duke and 61 other major research universities, welcomed the department’s review but said the proposal would have significant and far-reaching consequences that would require universities to run quasi-courts and would reduce protection for students who received sexual harassment and assaults. 

The submitted comments were signed by AAU President Mary Sue Coleman, but the text had been reviewed and incorporated feedback from Duke officials and those from other AAU members.

The Department of Education undertook the Title IX review following concerns that current federal policy did not provide adequate protections to students involved in investigations in sexual assault and misconduct cases. 

“It is our hope that these comments, informed by our universities’ experiences in administering campus sexual assault and misconduct proceedings, will help guide the department as they work to ensure policies and procedures are fair to all involved, and result in safer campus communities,” said Coleman.

The full text of the AAU response can be found here.