Jul 17, 2015 12:25 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The University of Tennessee (UT) - Knoxville is under federal investigation for its handling of sexual violence on campus.

School officials confirmed the Education Department's (ED) Office for Civil Rights had opened the investigation, the Tennessean reported. However, the officials said they could not comment on the matter for legal reasons.

"While privacy laws prevent the university from disclosing the details of the complaint, I can assure you we will cooperate fully with OCR as it investigates the complaint," UT Chancellor Jimmy Cheek told the newspaper.

Two former UT football players - linebacker A.J. Johnson and defensive back Michael Williams - are currently awaiting trial on aggravated rape charges stemming from a Nov. 16 incident. Accused of raping a female student-athlete also attending UT, both men have pleaded not guilty and await trial on Aug. 24.

As the Tennessean noted, four other UT football players form last season's team have been accused of sexual assault.

The newspaper reported obtaining a sexual assault complaint a freshman female filed with UT in Sept. against a football player. The documents indicate the school investigated the matter, but determined the sexual act was consensual and did not impose any disciplinary action. The female student did not pursue criminal charges, nor did she make her complaint public.

Title IX, a federal gender equity law, requires schools to thoroughly investigate all complaints of sexual misconduct that occur on campus, which includes appropriate discipline for any student found responsible. The Clery Act requires the school to report any crime committed on campus as well. Violations of these laws can result in individual fines for each one from ED, but certain lawmakers are seeking to increase the department's array of punishments.

With sexual violence on campus coming into focus for many schools, the NCAA and various athletic conferences are getting involved in trying to curb the issue. For example, the Southeastern Conference, which houses UT teams, is developing a "working group" to address student-athletes' personal conduct.

The conference has also passed a bylaw that would ban transfer student-athletes with domestic violence and/or sexual assault on their records.

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