New Law Requires Minnesota Colleges to Conduct Sexual Assault Prevention Training

A new state law in Minnesota, which takes effect this month, requires all colleges and universities in the state to train all new students in sexual assault prevention within the first 10 days the students are on campus. While many educational institutions have such programs in place during orientation, the new law requires colleges and universities to document that students have completed the training. Faculty and staff who work with victims of sexual assault must now undergo “comprehensive training” in dealing with such cases.

In addition the new law requires colleges and universities to file a report each year on how many sexual assaults were reported on campus and how many of these incidents resulted in disciplinary action. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education will collect the data and publish the results.

The new legislation also mandates that colleges and universities institute an online system where students or other members of the campus community can report incidents of sexual assault anonymously.