DALLAS (AP) _ Two Texas schools are included on a list released by the federal Education Department of 55 colleges and universities from across the nation facing investigations over their handling of sexual abuse complaints.
The list released Thursday includes Southern Methodist University in Dallas and the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg. Federal officials say schools were publicly identified to increase transparency and spur a broader conversation on campus sex assaults.
The schools are being investigated under Title IX, which prohibits gender discrimination but has been increasingly used by victims who say their schools failed to protect them.
UTPA in a statement acknowledged it’s being investigated but said it treats with dignity and respect any victim of sexual abuse.
SMU says it’s been “aggressive” at adopting new procedures to resolve complaints and hold violators accountable.