A growing number of colleges and universities in the past few years have adopted policies requiring all faculty members and other professional employees to report sexual misconduct to designated administrators. Though not required by law, the move is an outgrowth of U.S. Department of Education guidance on preventing and investigating campus sexual assault. The guidance, issued in 2011, mandated that certain employees have an obligation to report cases of sexual assault and other sexual misconduct they become aware of. The regulations outlined clear exceptions for professional and pastoral counselors, but offered little else in determining which specific employees should be mandatory reporters. Some in higher education -- including groups as varied as sexual assault researchers and the national umbrella organization representing fraternities -- now say colleges and universities have interpreted the guidance far too broadly.

December 4, 2015 ・ From Inside Higher Ed