The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act, an amendment to the Clery Act, increases transparency on campus about incidents
of sexual violence, guarantees victims enhanced rights, sets standards for disciplinary
proceedings and requires campus-wide prevention education programs. President Obama
signed SaVE into law on March 7, 2013 as part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
Reauthorization.
SaVE requires that incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault
and stalking be disclosed in annual campus crime statistic reports. Additionally,
students or employees reporting victimization will be provided with their written
rights to:
Be assisted by campus authorities if reporting a crime to law enforcement
Change academic, living, transportation or working situations to avoid a hostile environment
Obtain, or enforcement of, a no contact directive or restraining order
Have a clear description of the university’s disciplinary process and know the range
of possible sanctions
Receive contact information about existing counseling, health, mental health, victim
advocacy, legal assistance and other services available both on-campus and in the
community
SaVE clarifies minimum standards for university disciplinary procedures covering domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking to ensure that:
Proceedings shall provide a prompt, fair and impartial investigation and resolution
and are conducted by officials receiving annual training on domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault and stalking
Both parties may have others present during the university’s disciplinary proceeding
and any related meeting, including an advisor of their choice
Both parties will receive written outcomes of all disciplinary proceedings at the
same time
SaVE instructs universities to provide programming for students and employees addressing
the issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Education
programs shall include:
Primary prevention and awareness programs for all incoming students and new employees
Safe and positive options for bystander intervention
Information on risk reduction to recognize warning signs of abusive behavior
Ongoing prevention and awareness programs for students and employees
SaVE establishes collaboration between the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education,
and Health and Human Services to collect and disseminate best practices for preventing
and responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.