The U.S. Department of Education has announced it will review Brown University for potential violations of the Clery Act following a tragic shooting on December 13, 2025. This incident resulted in the death of two students on campus, raising serious questions about the university’s safety measures.
Investigation Details
The Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) is leading the investigation to determine if Brown has adequately fulfilled its safety obligations under Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act, commonly referred to as the Clery Act. This law mandates that colleges receiving federal student aid maintain specified campus safety requirements.
Concerns Raised Post-Shooting
- Initial reports indicate that Brown’s campus surveillance and security systems may not have been effective during the incident.
- Criticism has emerged regarding delayed emergency notifications about the active shooter situation, contributing to student safety concerns.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon emphasized the importance of campus safety. “Students deserve to feel safe at school,” she stated, affirming the Department’s commitment to ensuring adequate safety measures are in place at educational institutions nationwide.
Information Requested from Brown University
As part of the ongoing review, the FSA has requested that Brown submit various documents by January 30, 2026. These include:
- Original and revised Annual Security Reports (ASRs) for 2024 and 2025, along with evidence of their distribution.
- An “audit trail” of all reported crimes from 2021 to 2024, classified by offense.
- Records of arrests made by Brown’s Public Safety Department and local law enforcement concerning weapon, drug, or liquor violations during the same period.
- Cumulative activity logs and daily crime logs for the years 2021 to 2025.
- A record of all Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications issued from 2021 to 2025, including methods of dissemination.
- University policies related to emergency protocols and safety procedures implemented since 2020.
Implications of the Clery Act
The Clery Act requires educational institutions receiving federal funding to provide annual public safety reports. These reports must include crime statistics and detail safety improvement efforts. Non-compliance with the Clery Act can lead to fines and mandatory policy modifications.
The FSA’s review aims not only to assess compliance following this devastating event but also to address systemic challenges universities may face in maintaining adequate safety measures for their students.
