Compliance Guide: Campus SaVE Act/Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013

The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act, part of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, amended the Clery Act and added domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking to sexual assault and other criminal offenses for which higher education institutions must report statistics and disclose certain information in their annual security reports. In addition, reportable “hate crimes” include those based on a victim’s gender identity or national origin. This guide offers guidance on how to comply with the Campus SaVE Act, including the definitions institutions should use to decide which offenses involving domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault to report and other specific mandates regarding procedural notifications, disciplinary procedures, and training.

• Institutions must take several steps to comply with the Campus SaVE Act, including collecting data about the categories of crimes (including hate crimes based on gender identity or national origin) that must be reported in the annual security report due Oct. 1 of each year.
• The SaVE Act also imposes on institutions specific requirements for procedural notifications to parties, internal disciplinary procedures for those accused of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, and training and prevention for both students and employees.
• Institutions must publicize the SaVE Act as widely as possible because compliance requires effective campus-wide collaboration. Among the constituents who must know its requirements: students, the President and cabinet, faculty, campus security, Risk Management, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, Residence Life, and Counseling and Health Services staff.