Dec 08, 2014 11:33 AM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The University of New Mexico (UNM) is under federal investigation from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for their sexual assault practices and policies.

According to the Associated Press, the DOJ is conducting the investigation as part of the Obama Administration's campaign to curb sexual assault on college campuses. It is unclear if a complaint from a student or faculty member triggered the probe.

"The investigation is being conducted under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which both prohibit sex discrimination in education programs," the DOJ said in a statement.

Under Title IX, schools are required to adequately and thoroughly investigate and adjudicate complaints of sexual assault on campus. Newer laws are also trying to expand schools' jurisdiction in such cases to residences just off campus. The Clery Act requires schools to be transparent with crime reporting and to release annual reports disclosing all campus crimes.

"We have assured the DOJ of our deep concern about the issue of sexual assault and the seriousness of its nature," UNM President Robert G. Frank said in a statement. "We look forward to sharing the many steps that UNM has already taken to address it, as well as detailing the programs we are continuing to implement for training and education aimed at prevention."

UNM called the investigation a "compliance review" in their announcement and the school said it has already taken suggested measures from the DOJ. For example, the AP reported, UNM installed a mandatory primer on sexual violence and misconduct that reached some 10,000 incoming students.

"We have been actively working for some time to reduce sexual assault on campus, and believe that we have made significant progress toward our goals of encouraging the reporting of incidents and responding appropriately to complaints," Tomas Aguirre, UNM dean of students, said in the statement. "UNM has initiated a number of programs to increase awareness and prevention that also meet federal law requirements."

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