A team of auditors from the U.S. Department of Education visited Green River College’s campus this week to investigate potential Clery Act violations.
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal statute that requires colleges and universities participating in federal student aid programs to publish an annual security report that accurately discloses campus crime statistics and security information and make it publicly available.
Allison Friedly, Green River’s executive director of college relations, said in an email on Monday that the auditors were investigating an anonymous complaint that Green River is not in compliance with the Clery Act.
“We have not been given any additional information about their visit, at this time,” Friedly said. “I can, however, state that they have not indicated any finding at this time.”
Several emails and a phone message for the Department of Education seeking information about the complaint were not returned by press time.
Friedly said the auditors interviewed safety and student affairs staff at the college who deal directly with Clery Act compliance.
Friedly said she expects it will be six to nine months before the Department of Education releases findings from the investigation.
According to the Federal Student Aid website, after the review is completed, the Department of Eduction will issue a program review report to the college that outlines concerns identified during the investigation and provides the college the opportunity to respond.
The department will then send out a final program review determination and decide whether to issue a fine. Fines can range up to $35,000 per violation.
Green River publishes its annual safety reports online at greenriver.edu/about-us/campus-safety.htm.
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