College Campus Sexual Assaults

Map of Sex Crime Rates on College Campuses in the U.S.

Despite concerted organizational and governmental efforts, sexual assault remains a significant issue on college and university campuses. About one in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college – and women in college are three times more likely to suffer sexual violence than other women.

Because the gravity of sexual assaults on college campuses cannot be ignored, we have created this comprehensive database of colleges and universities nationwide. Using data from Clery Act Annual Security Reports (ASRs), this searchable database provides sexual assault figures and statistics from 2016-2018.

What is the Clery Act?

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act was enacted in 1990 to ensure accurate and transparent reporting of crimes that took place on college and university campuses. It requires any public and private colleges who receive any federal funding (such as student financial aid) to:

• Report information about certain crimes or be fined as much as $35,000.
• Publish an Annual Security Report that details reported crime statistics for the past three years.
• Maintain a detailed crime log that is easily accessible by the general public.
• Disclose any crimes that occur on campus and, in certain cases, within a specified proximity of the campus.
• Protect the confidentiality of any survivors involved in the incident.

In 2013, the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (Campus SaVE) Act introduced more comprehensive transparency and reporting measures for crimes of sexual violence on college campuses. Although the initial Clery Act made considerable progress, it did not provide comprehensive details on crimes involving sexual assault or misconduct – only categorizing those as forcible and non-forcible sexual crimes.

Under the changes outlined in the Campus SaVE Act, higher education institutions are required to record statistics on additional categories such as dating violence, hate crimes, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. Additionally, it also outlines greater protections and rights for survivors of sexual violence. This includes:

• Protective measures for survivors, including any accommodations necessary to ensure the survivors’ protection and/or safety.
• Informing survivors of any services that may be useful to them, such as counseling and health care.
• Informing survivors of any legal rights they may have following the incident, such as protective orders or other measures.

Additionally, the act required campuses to institute preventive programs aimed at increasing education and awareness of sexual violence crimes on campuses, while also requiring that campuses have strict protocols in place for any disciplinary proceedings.

How is Sexual Assault Defined in the Clery Act?

According to the Clery Act, sexual assault offenses are defined by four categories:

• Rape – The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.
• Fondling – The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age and/or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental incapacity.
• Incest – Non-forcible sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.
• Statutory Rape – Non-forcible sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.

The Scope of Sexual Assault on College Campuses

Although on-campus sexual assault has been a significant issue, data obtained from the Clery Act effectively illustrates the full gravity of the problem: from 2016-2018, the institutions in our database reported over 32,000 instances of sexual assault. This includes:

• 19,255 rape incidents
• 12,703 cases of fondling
• 5 reports of incest
• 206 instances of statutory rape

Further, reports of sexual assault are increasing largely across the board. Rape and fondling, in particular, have seen significant year-over-year increases: from 2016 to 2018, there was a 15% increase in reported rapes and an 81% increase in reported fondling incidents.

Although this staggering rise in sexual assault cases is indeed a cause for concern, there may also be a silver lining. Sexual assaults widely been considered the most underreported crime in the nation. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), 68% of all females aged 18-24 do not report instances of sexual assault to police or other authorities – and the numbers for those who are students is much higher. 80% of female students the same age do not report any incidents of sexual assault.

Seeing an increase in sexual assault incidents in Annual Security Reports may indicate that those who are survivors of on-campus sexual assault are being empowered to report their accounts to campus administration and other relevant authorities – a promising first step to preventing sexual crimes on campus.

A State by State Look

In terms of total incidents, the states with the highest number of students enrolled in college reported the most sexual assaults. However, when adjusted for total enrollment, Vermont, Washington D.C., Maine, Iowa and Wyoming had the highest rates of reported sexual assault.

The Limitations of the Clery Act

Despite the Clery Act (and the Campus SaVE Act) greatly increasing transparency on college campuses for all types of violent crimes, there are still inherent limitations within the reporting process that may indicate sexual assaults are still being underreported by colleges and universities.

Although the act states that it applies to select grounds within close vicinity to campus, the standards by which properties qualify are often vague and result in loopholes for reporting criteria. For example, an investigation by the Daily Princetonian, Princeton University’s campus newspaper, found that its storied “eating clubs” were excluded from the Clery Act map. Although these exclusive dining halls for undergrads are considered independent private properties, they are immediately adjacent to Princeton campus, and they are invariably tied to its university culture.

Common sense would indicate that they should fall within the boundaries of the Clery Act, yet they are not. This may be a common situation in other universities and colleges, many of which have off-campus nightlife and housing – and 55% of sexual assaults occur at or near the survivor’s home. This indicates that instances sexual assault around a college campus may be far higher than what is being reported.

How Do I Report a Sexual Assault?

One of the reasons why survivors do not report any instances of sexual assault is that they simply are not aware that they have a legal right to report their incident to campus authorities. Title IX of the Education Amendments includes protections for survivors of sexual assault and misconduct. It not only allows students to report assaults without fear of retaliation, but requires campuses to address any needs the students may have following an assault. This includes accommodations for housing, education, health care, and mental health support – as well as protections against the alleged assailant.

If you or a loved one has been sexually assaulted on a college or university campus, you have multiple options to report your sexual assault.

• Speak to your school’s Title IX coordinator. Many colleges have a Title IX coordinator on campus specifically tasked with taking reports of sexual assault and misconduct. Reporting an assault to a Title IX coordinator is the fastest way to ensure you receive the protections and help you are entitled to.
• Visit a local rape crisis center. If your college does not have a Title IX coordinator and you are unsure who to turn to, visiting a local rape crisis center may help. Typically, there is at least one rape crisis center located near a college campus – and some may even have one on campus property. They provide support for your incident, while giving you resources on how to report your incident and any next steps you may need to take.
• Report your assault to the local law enforcement. Although reporting your assault to campus authorities should be your first priority, it is also recommended to report the incident to local law enforcement as well. Although campus authorities can tend to your needs more effectively, reporting your incident in a criminal capacity can ensure that your assailant is held accountable for his or her actions outside of campus life as well.

If you are unsure how to proceed as a survivor of assault, but you would like to speak to someone, you may also contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline. You can speak to a counselor or staff member who has been trained to provide support in a confidential capacity, while also providing any resources or information necessary to take the next steps.