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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS September 11, 1997 |
| Dr. James Garland, President Miami University Roudebush Hall Oxford, Ohio 45056 |
CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED RECEIPT #P 611 892 145 REF: PRCN 199740814014 |
Dear Dr. Garland: On July 1-3, 1997 and August 11-14, 1997, Fran Susman of the Denver Case Management Team and Gerald Sikora of the Chicago Case management Team visited your institution to conduct a review of Miami University's administration of the Campus Security Act of 1990 (the Act). Our review disclosed several areas where the institution needs to improve its compliance with the requirements of the Act. These are described in detail in the enclosed report. Findings of non-compliance are referenced to the applicable Federal laws and regulations. The corrective actions required are designed to assist the institution in complying with the law and regulations. Please review and respond to this report, indicating the corrective actions taken by Miami University. Your response should be sent to Fran Susman, Denver Case Management Team, U.S. Department of Education, 1391 N. Speer Boulevard, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80204, within 30 days of the date of this letter. Please refer to the above Program Review Control Number (PRCN) in all correspondence relating to this report. This report contains required actions that necessitate the development and implementation of various policies and procedures. Although this report contains guidance relative to the areas of non-compliance, please feel free to contact Gerald Sikora at (312) 886-8728 or Fran Susman at (303) 844-3677, ext. 105 for additional assistance. We look forward to your cooperation throughout this process. |
| Sincerely, | |
| Fran Susman Institutional Review Specialist Denver Case Management Team |
Gerald Sikora Institutional Review Specialist Chicago Case Management Team |
| Chicago Case Management Team 111 N. Canal St., Room 830 Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 886-8767 |
Denver Case Management Team 1391 Speer Blvd., Suite 800 Denver, CO 80204 (303) 844-3677 |
Seattle Case Management Team 1000 Second Ave., Suite 1200 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 287-1770 |
| cc: | Diane L. Stemper, Director, Office of Student Financial Aid Cathryn H. House, Director, Department of Public Safety Hazel Mingo, Division Director, Northwest Quadrant B. Ann Hageman, Area Case Director, Chicago Case Team |
PROGRAM REVIEW REPORT
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
OXFORD, OHIO 45056
| DATES OF REVIEW: |
July 1-July 3, 1997 and August 11-August 14, 1997 |
| PRCN: | 199740814014 |
| YEARS REVIEWED: | 1994, 1995, 1996 |
| OPE ID #: | 00307700 |
| EIN #: | 1316402089A1 |
| TYPE AND CONTROL: | University/Public |
| ACCREDITATION: |
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| SFA PROGRAM PARTICIPATION: |
1993-94 |
1994-95 |
1995-96 |
|
| $3,332,625 | $3,328,377 | $3,395,245 | Federal Pell Grant |
| $567,921 | $569,372 | $570,884 | FSEOG |
| $1,314 | $2,464 | Federal Perkins Loan | |
| $465,269 | $467,171 | $476,118 | Federal Work-Study |
| $28,340,787 | $7,815,315 | not avail. | Federal Family Education Loans |
| METHOD OF FUNDING: | Advance Payment |
ED REVIEWERS:
|
Fran Susman, Institutional Review Specialist,
Gerald Sikora, Institutional Review Specialist,
|
INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIALS CONTACTED: Cathryn H. House, Director of Department of Public Safety |
PROGRAM REVIEW REPORT
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
OXFORD, OHIO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
| A. | INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................... | 1 |
| B. | BACKGROUND INFORMATION.......................................................................................................... | 1 |
| C. | SCOPE OF REVIEW................................................................................................................................ | 1 |
| D. | FINDINGS AND REQUIREMENTS....................................................................................................... | 2 |
| 1. | Campus Crime Statistics Not Accurately Disclosed--Annual Campus Security Reports.............................................................................................................. |
2 | |
| (a) Crime incidents from all sources not reported.......................................................................... | 2 | ||
| (b) Crime statistics not calculated correctly from Miami University police records....................... | 3 | ||
| (c) All university properties not included........................................................................................ | 4 | ||
| (d) Inconsistent data........................................................................................................................ | 5 | ||
| (e) Crime statistics from branch campuses misreported................................................................ | 6 | ||
| 2. |
Failure to Follow Campus Security Act Regulations Regarding Notification of Disciplinary Action.............................................................................. |
7 |
|
Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with branch campuses located in Hamilton, Ohio and Middletown, Ohio. Miami University is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to offer baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees. The university enrolls approximately 16,000 to 20,000 students. The University participates in the following Title IV Programs: Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program, Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Family Education Loan Program. On or about January 24, 1997, the Chicago Case management Team received a formal complaint of non-compliance against Miami University which alleged that the institution was not in compliance with the requirements of the Campus Security Act of 1990. As a result of that complaint, a focused program review was scheduled for the week of July 1, 1997. A focused program review was conducted during the week of July 1-3, 1997 and continued on August 11-14, 1997, to examine the administration of the Campus Security Act of 1990. The review consisted of an examination of Miami University's policies and procedures relative to the annual campus security report required under the law and regulations. The reviewers examined the pertinent forms, policies, and procedures at the institution and conducted interviews with appropriate institutional personnel and students. Additionally, interviews were conducted with off-campus counseling centers, the Oxford Police Department, the Hamilton Police Department, and the Middletown Police Department. During the review, areas of non-compliance with the provisions of the Campus Security Act of 1990 were noted. Findings of non-compliance are referenced to the applicable laws, regulations, and policies, and specify the actions to be taken by Miami University to bring the administration of the Campus Security Act into compliance with Federal statutes and regulations, and to identify any harm caused to the Title IV, HEA programs due to non-compliance. Although the review of the institution's administration of the Campus Security Act was thorough, it cannot be assumed to be all-inclusive. The absence of statements in the report concerning Miami University's specific practices and procedures must not be construed as acceptance, approval, or endorsement of those specific practices and procedures. Furthermore, it does not relieve Miami University of its obligation to comply with all of the statutory or regulatory provisions governing the Campus Security Act or the Title IV, HEA programs. D. FINDINGS REQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACTION 1. CRIME STATISTICS NOT ACCURATELY DISCLOSED--ANNUAL CAMPUS SECURITY REPORTS FINDING: The institution's annual campus security reports for each of the years 1994, 1995, and 1996 were reviewed to determine: 1) whether all of the disclosures had been made, and 2) whether the disclosed information was accurate. Because there had been complaints alleging that the information reported was inaccurate, the reviewers examined the source documents used to prepare the crime statistics and interviewed individuals involved in the gathering of these statistics and in the preparation of the reports. While the institution did meet the requirement to publish an annual report for each of these years, detailed examination revealed areas where the institution failed to properly report required information.
Failure to accurately report occurrences of crimes results in the underreporting of occurrence of crimes and denies students and employees the opportunity to make informed judgments about the relative security of the campus environment and to make personal security decisions.
REQUIRED ACTIONS: The institution is required to review the requirements of 34 CFR 668.47, develop a system for collecting information about all occurrences (reports/arrests) of those crimes covered in 34 CFR 668.47(a)(6) and (a)(8), for inclusion in its annual campus security report. In its response to this report, the institution is required to describe how it will bring its campus security statistical disclosures into compliance with the law and regulations, including detailed procedures it will implement to collect crime statistics and inform relevant staff of their reporting responsibilities and a listing of relevant staff who will be surveyed for required statistics. The institution's response should address each of the deficiencies noted above and explain how it will take corrective action to ensure complete reporting in the next annual campus security report. In addition, the institution must review previously disclosed statistics and report corrected statistics in light of the noted deficiencies. 2. FAILURE TO FOLLOW CAMPUS SECURITY ACT REGULATIONS REGARDING NOTIFICATION OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION FINDING: The institution failed to initiate and enforce appropriate procedures for notifying both parties of the outcome of any institutional disciplinary proceeding brought alleging a sex offense, as required by 34 CFR 668.47(a)(12)(vi). The institution's current disciplinary procedures, as set forth in the 1997-98 "Code of Student Conduct", page 22, state:
In addition, page 18 of the handbook, states:
The reviewers interviewed an institution official with the Office of Judicial Affairs to determine the actual procedure, if any, for notifying both parties of the outcome of any disciplinary hearing. According to that official, the complainant has the right to attend the punishment or sanction portion of the hearing. If the complainant does not attend the hearing, according to institution officials, the complainant "is usually notified" either by telephone, in person, or occasionally by letter. Federal regulations state that both parties "shall be informed of the outcome of any institutional disciplinary proceeding brought alleging a sex offense." The institution's current policies, both written and actual, do not provide sufficient safeguards to ensure that complainants are always notified of the outcome of disciplinary hearings. The institution's failure to properly develop a notification policy pursuant to the Campus Security Act of 1990 constitutes an inability by the institution to properly administer the Title IV programs.
REQUIREMENT: The institution is required to review its disciplinary notification procedures to ensure that all policy statements, as well as actual enforcement, are in compliance with 34 CFR 668.47(a)(12)(vi). In its current response, the institution must indicate additions/modifications to its current policy, as well as how it will implement the required policies and procedures. 1) Although there were three aggravated assault incidents, the incidents involved four victims and should have been reported as four crimes (Miami University Department of Public Safety police report nos. 96-2695, 96-3642, and 96-052). 2) Although there were two forcible fondling incidents, the incident involved three victims and should have been reported as three crimes (Miami University Department of Public Safety police report nos. 96-7809 and 96-183). 3) Miami University Department of Public Safety police report no. 94-179 not reported on 1995 campus security report, although institution was aware of crime as of February, 1994. 4) Hamilton police records-1601 Peck, 9/10/94 5) Hamilton police records-1601 Peck, 11/11/95 6) Hamilton police records-1601 Peck, 6/26/96, 8/19/96 7) Middletown police records-#95020480 |