The N.J. school joins 175 colleges currently under investigation as the federal government steps up efforts to get schools to better address campus sex assaults.
LAWRENCEVILLE -- The federal Department of Education opened an investigation earlier this month into how Rider University handles sexual assault and harrassment complaints, according to federal documents.
The department's Office of Civil Rights began its probe April 4, federal officials said. Rider is one of 175 colleges and universities currently under investigation as the federal government steps up efforts to get schools to better address the growing number of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment complaints on their campuses.
The investigation follows reports of at least two unrelated sexual assaults in Rider dormitories last fall and the arrest of a Hamilton man who allegedly touched two other women as they slept in a Rider dorm in September.
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Rider officials said the federal investigation was sparked by a complaint, but neither federal officials nor a university spokeswoman would give any details about the complaint, who filed it or whether it was related to the alleged assaults last fall.
"Rider University is aware of the complaint that was filed with the U.S. Department of Education," said Kristine Brown, a university spokeswoman. "Rider University is committed to building and maintaining an academic environment that is free from sexual violence, sexual harassment and discrimination and has worked tirelessly with the campus community to develop resources and processes that are effective, accessible, fair and equitable compliant with its obligations under Title IX."
The federal Office of Civil Rights investigates whether colleges are violating Title IX, the gender-equality law that says schools that receive federal money can be held legally responsible if they ignore sexual harassment or assaults on campus.
"Consistent with a shared goal of eliminating sexual violence, sexual harassment and discrimination on campus, Rider University is fully cooperating with the Office for Civil Rights in its investigation and hopes to achieve a timely and judicious resolution of this matter," Brown said.
A spokesman for the federal U.S. Department of Education said investigators would not give any details about the Rider investigation until it is concluded.
Seton Hall University is also the subject of an ongoing Title IX investigation that began last July, though no details have been released, according to federal documents.
Princeton University has been investigated several times for how it handles sexual assault complaints, according to federal documents. In 2014, the federal Office of Civil Rights found Princeton failed to properly respond to sexual assault complaints on campus. The school signed an agreement to improve it sexual assault prevention programs, reexamine all complaints dating back to 2011 and better coordinate with local police.
Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find NJ.com on Facebook.