The federal government is investigating how Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, handles sexual violence and harassment complaints.
Hampshire is one of 71 schools on the latest list of open investigations released by the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights office. It says the review of Hampshire College began on July 17th. UMass Dartmouth was added to the list one day earlier. UMass Amherst and Amherst College remain on the list first released by the feds in May.
The department provides no details for why it chooses colleges, and notes that an open investigation does not necessarily mean the school has violated federal discrimination laws.
In a letter to the campus, Hampshire President Jonathan lash says the review was not prompted by any individual complaint. He pledges transparency and says the college will do all it can to learn from the review.