Federal Updates:
Senate confirms US Department of Education undersecretary charged with overseeing higher education
The US Senate approved James Kvaal, a lawyer and longtime policy adviser, as undersecretary for the US Department of Education, the top post overseeing higher education.
US Department of Justice awards the State of Maine over $425,000 to aid victims of sexual assault
The US Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) has awarded $428,498 to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to assist victims of sexual assault, Acting US Attorney Donald E. Clark recently announced. Nationwide, OVW is making 56 awards totaling $28.2 million through the FY 2021 Sexual Assault Services Formula Program.
State Updates:
College sexual assault prevention grants announced by Pennsylvania governor
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced that $1 million in It’s On Us PA grants are available to colleges, universities, and other postsecondary schools in Pennsylvania. It’s On Us PA is a statewide campaign that invites education leaders and all Pennsylvanians to be part of the solution to protect students from sexual violence.
College students at Auburn University protest after sexual assault reports increase according to Inside Higher Education
Students at Auburn University in Alabama recently protested following three reports of sexual assault on campus. During the protest, students circulated a petition asking the university to share more information about the fraternity named in one of the student’s allegations that she was raped at a fraternity house on Sept. 10.