Some Universities Won’t Take Part in AAU’s Sexual-Assault Survey

Fifteen of the Association of American Universities’ member institutions say they will not participate in the organization’s survey on sexual assault on their campuses, reports Inside Higher Ed.

In November the association announced the survey, in part to try to ward off efforts in Congress to require universities to conduct annual sexual-assault surveys. Shortly after it was rolled out, a group of researchers wrote a letter urging colleges not to participate, citing the survey’s lack of transparency and the fact that it might discourage institutions from conducting their own surveys.

Some of the 15 institutions that spoke to Inside Higher Ed said they had chosen not to participate in the AAU effort because they planned to conduct their own surveys.

Barry Toiv, a spokesman for the association, told the publication the effort was “in good shape,” adding that participating colleges represented a “broad cross section.” The project is on schedule, he said.