A review of Title IX and the impact of the ‘Dear Colleague’ Letter on sexual assault reporting policies: Evidence from Massachusetts

Abstract

This paper examines Title IX sexual harassment and assault reporting and investigations as a function of the release of the Dear Colleague Letter in 2011. Since then, many policies have been shaped by the letter’s contents. Yet, little empirical evidence exists of its impact. This paper offers such evidence by analyzing Campus Safety and Security reporting data from 2007–2016 for all 61 Massachusetts 4-year degree-granting colleges and universities. The years of choice capture the 5-year period before the release of the Dear Colleague Letter and the 5-year period after. The results show an increase in reporting that led to a small increase in the numbers of resulting investigations. To further analyze the reasons, this paper offers a policy typology of the three different ways in which university bureaucracies handle claims filed with their Office of Civil Rights. Discussed are the reasons for the divergence in policy design and their effectiveness.