University & Campus Sexual Assault

Campus sexual assault includes sexual assault by a student, faculty member, staff member, coach or member of an affiliated group, on campus or in a setting connected with school. Survivors can choose among several paths: a school's Title IX process, a police report, a federal civil rights complaint and a civil lawsuit. Each has different rules and outcomes. A school may be legally responsible for its own response, such as ignoring reports it knew about, but it is not automatically responsible for every assault. A campus sexual assault lawyer can help you understand the options without pressure to use any of them.

Who and where campus sexual assault can involve

Assault connected with a college or university may involve:

• Another student, including a classmate, roommate or teammate
• A professor, teaching assistant, advisor or research supervisor
• A coach, athletic trainer or team staff member
• A residence hall staff member or other employee
• A member of a fraternity, sorority, club or other recognized student organization

Location matters for some legal rules. The current federal Title IX regulations cover conduct in a school's education program or activity, which includes locations, events and circumstances where the school had substantial control over both the person accused and the context, and buildings owned or controlled by officially recognized student organizations at colleges1. An off-campus incident, such as at a school-sponsored trip or a recognized fraternity house, may be covered. State civil claims can follow different rules.

Campus processes, civil claims, criminal cases and federal complaints

These are separate paths, and you can choose any of them, more than one or none:

• Campus process: a school's Title IX or student conduct process can lead to discipline of a student or employee and to supportive measures for you. It does not award money damages.
• Criminal case: a police report may lead to charges by a prosecutor. You are not a party, and a conviction is not needed for a civil claim.
• Federal civil rights complaint: anyone can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, ordinarily within 180 days of the last act of discrimination2. OCR investigates the school but does not represent you3.
• Civil lawsuit: you can sue for damages, against the person who caused harm and, if the facts support it, against the school. An OCR complaint is not required before suing under Title IX3.

Title IX protections and procedures

Title IX bans sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal money4, and sexual assault can be a form of that discrimination. The rules schools follow have changed several times. As of November 6, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education enforces the 2020 Title IX regulations; the 2024 regulations were vacated by federal courts, and the Department formally restored the 2020 text on September 28, 20265.

Under the 2020 regulations61:

• A college must respond promptly, and in a way that is not deliberately indifferent, once its Title IX Coordinator or an official with authority to take corrective action has actual knowledge of sexual harassment
• The school must offer supportive measures, such as changes to classes, housing or work schedules, or no-contact orders, whether or not you file a formal complaint
• Supportive measures must be non-disciplinary and free of charge

A lawsuit for money damages under Title IX has a high bar. The Supreme Court has held that a school can be liable for damages when an official with authority to act had actual knowledge of the misconduct and responded with deliberate indifference78. A school is not liable simply because an assault occurred.

Potential institutional responsibility

Questions that may matter in a claim against a school include:

• How the school responded after a report, including delays and whether it offered supportive measures
• Whether the school knew of earlier complaints about the same person and what it did
• Supervision of employees, coaches and recognized organizations
• Security of campus property, such as residence hall access and lighting, which can raise negligent security issues
• Retaliation after you reported

Supportive measures, reporting and retaliation

You can ask a school for supportive measures without starting a formal investigation6. Retaliating against someone for reporting, taking part in a Title IX process or refusing to take part is prohibited9. If you also work at the school, federal employment law separately prohibits retaliation10.

Supportive measures have limits. They depend on what is reasonably available, and they must not unreasonably burden the other person6. A school process may also take time and may not end the way you hope.

Confidential resources and employees who must report

Not everyone at a school keeps what you tell them confidential. Under the 2020 Title IX rules, telling the Title IX Coordinator or an official with authority to take corrective action puts a college on notice6. Many schools also designate other employees who must pass reports along, so ask about a person's role before sharing details.

• Professional and pastoral counselors acting in that role are not campus security authorities under the Clery Act regulations11. Licensed counselors also follow professional confidentiality rules, with legal exceptions.
• Campus police, security and many other officials are campus security authorities, which means they must report certain crimes for the school's annual crime statistics1112. Statistics do not include your name.
• Off-campus advocates and hotlines, such as RAINN, are not part of the school.

Your school's Title IX policy lists who is confidential. If you are unsure, ask before sharing details.

Records that may help

You do not need any of these to ask for a review. If you have them, keep copies somewhere private:

Records that may be useful

Messages and notes

• Texts, direct messages, emails or social media posts
• A private note of what you remember and when
• Names of friends you told and when

School records

• Any report or complaint and the school's responses
• Title IX notices, interview summaries or outcome letters
• Housing assignments and any no-contact orders

Other records

• Any police report number
• Medical or counseling records you choose to share
• Names of witnesses

Students have a right to see their own education records, and a school must respond to a request within 45 days13. A lawyer can also request records through the legal process.

Filing deadlines and public universities

Deadlines depend on the state, the claim and whether the school is public or private. Examples verified on November 6, 2026:

• OCR complaints: ordinarily within 180 days of the last act of discrimination, with waivers possible for good cause2.
• Arizona: most personal injury claims must be filed within two years14, and claims against a public university or public employee require a notice of claim within 180 days15.
• California: claims against a public entity usually must be presented within six months16. Adult sexual assault claims generally may be filed within 10 years, or three years from discovery17.
• New York: where a notice of claim is required against a public corporation, it is generally due within ninety days18.
• Texas: notice to a governmental unit is generally due within six months19.

Public universities may also raise immunity defenses to some state-law claims. If the assault happened when you were under 18, longer childhood abuse deadlines may apply; see our page on sexual abuse lookback windows and filing deadlines.

Tell Us Your Story →

Privacy protections

• Your education records are protected by federal privacy law, with exceptions13.
• Clery Act crime statistics do not identify victims12.
• In a lawsuit, filing under a pseudonym generally requires the court's permission20, and evidence of a survivor's other sexual behavior is limited21.
• School proceedings and court cases have different rules about who sees what. A lawyer can explain them before you decide.

Privacy when you contact us

You choose what to share. The form asks for your name, email and phone so we can reach you. The description box is optional, and you do not need to describe what happened in detail to ask for a review.

After you submit the form, a copy of what you sent is emailed to the address you enter. If someone else can read that inbox or your phone's messages, consider leaving the description blank, using an email address only you can access, or calling us instead. You can use the description box to tell us the safest way and time to reach you.

We treat what you share with care. Even so, information you send through a website or email is not the same as a privileged attorney-client communication, and submitting the form does not create an attorney-client relationship or guarantee representation.

What happens after you contact CBW Law

How a review works

1. You reach out

   Use the form or call. Share only what you are comfortable sharing. A short note, or none at all, is enough to start.

2. We talk at your pace

   We ask a few questions about where and when it happened and who was involved. You can skip any question.

3. We look at the law that applies

   We check the deadlines, the possible defendants and any notice or bankruptcy rules that may apply where it happened.

4. We explain your options

   We tell you what we found and what we did not find. Deciding whether to take any step is up to you.

You can get support from your school, report, file a complaint or bring a claim, or none of these. The choice is yours.

Plain English

Medical, Health & Insurance

Words you may see in school, medical and court records.

Campus terms

Title IX Coordinator

The school employee responsible for coordinating its Title IX compliance and responses6.

Supportive measures

Free, non-disciplinary services, such as schedule or housing changes, offered to restore or preserve access to education6.

Campus security authority

A school official who must report certain crimes for Clery Act statistics11.

Deliberate indifference

A response to known harassment that is clearly unreasonable in light of what the school knew1.

Care after an assault

Medical forensic exam

An exam after a sexual assault that can treat injuries and collect evidence, done under state and local rules.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A condition in which fear, stress or memories of a traumatic event continue long afterward and get in the way of daily life22.

Student health and counseling center

Campus health services; ask about their confidentiality before sharing details.

Records and insurance

Right of access

Your federal right to see and get copies of most of your medical and billing records23.

Psychotherapy notes

A therapist's separately kept notes about session content, which are treated differently from the rest of a medical record24.

Explanation of benefits (EOB)

A health plan statement listing what was billed, what the plan paid and what you owe. It can help confirm dates of treatment.

Questions

Frequently asked campus sexual assault lawsuit questions

Short answers to questions students and families ask. Every situation depends on its facts and the law that applies.

Must I report to the university before seeking legal advice?

No. You can talk with a campus sexual assault lawyer before, instead of, or after reporting to your school. You also do not have to file with OCR before bringing a Title IX claim in court3.

Can an off-campus incident matter?

Yes, it can. Title IX rules cover locations and events under a school's substantial control and buildings of recognized student organizations1. State-law claims may reach other situations.

What if the school already investigated?

A school's finding does not decide a civil claim. How the school handled the investigation may itself raise legal questions. A lawyer can review the school's records and response.

What privacy protections may apply?

Education records are protected by federal law13, Clery statistics do not identify victims12, and courts may allow a pseudonym with permission20. Protections have limits, and a lawyer can explain them.

Which Title IX rules apply now?

As of November 6, 2026, the 2020 Title IX regulations are in effect; the 2024 rule was vacated and formally rescinded5. The rules in effect when your school responded may matter.

Can I sue a public university?

Often, but public schools may have immunity defenses for some state claims and short notice deadlines, such as 180 days in Arizona15. Title IX claims follow federal rules.

What if the person who assaulted me was a professor or coach?

Claims may involve the individual and, if the facts support it, the school's knowledge and response. Employees may also be covered by the school's employment policies.

Do I need a police report to bring a campus sexual assault lawsuit?

No. A civil claim does not require a police report or criminal charge.

Does contacting CBW Law mean I am filing a lawsuit?

No. It starts a conversation. It does not create an attorney-client relationship or guarantee representation.

Tell Us Your Story

If you were sexually assaulted by someone connected with your college or university, you can ask questions without deciding on any next step.

Tell us as much or as little as you want, and the safest way to reach you. We will explain what a claim review could involve.

Submitting information does not establish an attorney-client relationship or guarantee that CBW Law will represent you. Every claim depends on its own facts and the law that applies.

Tell Us Your Story →Call (800) 476-2416

This page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it or contacting CBW Law does not create an attorney-client relationship. Allegations described here are allegations unless a court or agency has made a finding. Laws and deadlines differ by state and change over time; state-specific statements were last verified on November 6, 2026. No outcome can be promised in any case. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Title IX rules have changed several times; the description here reflects the rules in effect as of November 6, 2026.