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Hampshire College is under review for possible Title IX violations but President Jonathan Lash pictured here, said the review was not prompted by a complaint.

(Republican file Roback)

AMHERST – Hampshire College is on the latest list of colleges and universities under review for possible violations of gender discrimination under Title IX.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights released an initial list of 55 May 1 being investigated over their handling of sexual abuse complaints, and updated it July 1, adding another dozen. The list is down to 71 active investigations as of July 23.

The initial list included Amherst College and the University of Massachusetts. Title IX prohibits gender discrimination at institutions that receive federal funding. The investigations were initiated because of complaints received by the civil rights or as reviews of compliance with the law.

According to a campus memo from President Jonathan Lash, "the review was not prompted by an individual complaint against Hampshire, nor does the opening of the review signify that we are not currently in compliance."

According to the latest list from the Office for Civil Rights, the investigation at Hampshire College began July 17.

Lash wrote, "We have endeavored to be proactive in updating our policies and processes to incorporate the evolving Federal law and guidance and to reflect promising practices that are fair and balanced to all parties, but I recognize that there is always more that we can do.

"The review will cover the College's policies and procedures on sexual and gender-based harassment and violence, including our response to reports of sexual assault.

"Nonetheless we expect that OFC (Office of Civil Rights) may identify areas where we can more effectively serve our students, faculty and staff, and I gave OCR my commitment that the College will do all we can to learn from their review.

"In addition to reviewing policies, investigative reports and other materials, the OCR team will visit our campus in the fall to collaborate with our Title IX staff and administrators, and in early 2015 to engage with the campus community. It is our understanding that this review may last up to a year.

He also wrote that the college "does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender, and will take responsive action to eliminate prohibited harassment, prevent its recurrence and address its effects under Title IX."

According to a May press release, "As with all OCR investigations, the primary goal of a Title IX investigation is to ensure that the campus is in compliance with federal law, which demands that students are not denied the ability to participate fully in educational and other opportunities due to sex.

"The list includes investigations opened because of complaints received by OCR and those initiated by OCR as compliance reviews."