Campus sexual assault rules revamped

The U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday released new rules strengthening the rights of college students accused of sexual assault. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has worked to finalize the new regulations for more than a year. The process generated more than 124,000 public comments.

What will change? Colleges and universities now are required to hold live hearings and allow counsel representing students to cross-examine the parties and witnesses involved. Institutions must presume that the accused are innocent as the investigative process begins. Critics said the Obama administration’s guidance denied due process to the accused by using a “preponderance of evidence” standard to determine guilt. The new regulations direct school officials to use a standard of “clear and convincing” evidence and mandate they address dating and domestic violence and stalking. Schools must implement the changes by Aug. 14.

Dig deeper: Read more about Title IX protections on the Education Department website.