Sep 29, 2014 11:30 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

While several U.S. schools are under fire for mishandling reports of sexual assault on campus, new analysis shows there may be a problem with the disciplinary process as well.

According to a report from the Huffington Post, less than one-third of those found responsible of sexual assault are expelled as punishment. Earlier this year, the Obama Administration started a campaign to address the issue of investigating and adjudicating sexual assault on college campuses.

In the wake of the White House's efforts, Congress has taken steps to set a standard for schools to respond to reports of sexual assault and punish those responsible. In late July, Congress and the House passed bipartisan legislature meant to address what President Obama called an "epidemic" of rape on college campuses.

Instead of using the word "guilty" in their disciplinary hearings, many U.S. schools find students responsible or not responsible of crimes. The HP's data analysis showed 47 percent of students found responsible for sexual assault were suspended, while 30 percent were expelled. 17 percent received some sort of academic penalty and 13 percent saw probation time.

The new report comes with an accompanying survey of cases at more than 125 different institutions from the 2011 to 2013 fiscal years. The HP reported receiving the data through a Freedom of Information Act request filed with the U.S. Justice Department. These schools, which receive federal funding for programs to curb sexual assault, expelled anywhere between 13 and 30 percent of the students found responsible of such crimes, according to estimates.

In certain cases that became public, the HP reported, school administrators said their punishments seemed light because of recommendations from Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA). "The worst thing we can do is tell someone they can't go to school at our institution," ASCA president-elect Laura Bennett told the HP.

In one case at James Madison University, two students found responsible of sexual assault and harassment were almost graduating. They were then punished with "expulsion after graduation," essentially being told to stay away after receiving their degrees.

The ASCA has apparently advised U.S. schools against being too harsh with sexual assailants, in stark contrast to the Obama Administration's mission.

"'Rape' is a legal, criminal term," Bennett said. "We're trying to continue to share we're not court, we don't want to be court - we want to provide an administrative, educative process."

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