U.S.

Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Educational Opportunities Section

John W. Huber
United States Attorney
District of Utah

DJ 169-77-25 SS:FM:VL U.S. Mail: Civil Rights Division

USAO 201700003 950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Patrick Henry Bldg., Suite 4300
Washington, D.C. 20530
Overnight: 601 D Street, N.W., Suite 4300
Washington, D.C. 20004
victoria.lill@usdoj.gov
Sandra.Steinvoort@usdoj.gov

January 12, 2017

Via U.S. Mail and Electronic Mail

President Noelle Cockett
Presidents Office
Utah State University
1400 Old Main Hill
Logan, Utah 84322-1400
noelle.cockett@usu.edu

Re: Title IX Compliance Review and Title IV Investigation of Utah State University

Dear President Cockett:

The Department of Justice (the Department) has learned of allegations regarding Utah
State Universitys response to numerous reports of student-on-student sexual assault. The
Department enforces Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities operated by recipients of
federal financial assistance, and is responsible for coordinating enforcement of Title IX across
the federal government under Executive Order No. 12250, Leadership and Coordination of
Nondiscrimination Laws, 45 Fed. Reg. 72,995 (Nov. 2 1980). The University receives federal
financial assistance from the Department. The Department is also charged with enforcing Title
IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects students from discrimination based on sex,
race, color, national origin, and religion in public schools and institutions of higher learning.
Pursuant to this authority, the Department, through its Civil Rights Division and the United
States Attorneys Office for the District of Utah, is initiating a compliance review under Title IX
and an investigation under Title IV of the Utah State Universitys handling of allegations of
sexual harassment, including sexual assault, between 2013 and 2016.

USUGR2017.09.12.001
 We have reached no conclusions regarding whether the University has violated Title IX
or Title IV. To permit us to make a full assessment, we request that the University provide
information and documents that will assist the Department in evaluating the allegations and the
Universitys policies, procedures, and practices for responding to reports of sexual harassment,
including sexual assault. Please respond to the enclosed Request for Information by February
13th, 2017. For all documents maintained by the University in electronic format (including, but
not limited to, word processing files, PDF files, spreadsheets, databases, and electronic mail),
please produce such documents in their native electronic format saved to a CD or DVD. Please
ship all documents via UPS, FedEx, or overnight mail to our attention at 601 D Street NW, Suite
4300, Washington, D.C. 20004. Please encrypt any information containing students personally
identifiable information and provide a password to enable access separate from the shipment
(e.g., by telephone or electronic mail).

Please do not hesitate to contact me by email at Victoria.Lill@usdoj.gov or by phone at

202-307-6083 with any questions about this request. Thank you in advance for your assistance
with this inquiry.
Sincerely,

/s/ Victoria Lill /s/ Sandra Steinvoort

Victoria Lill Sandra Steinvoort
Trial Attorney Assistant United States Attorney
Civil Rights Division District of Utah

Enclosure

USUGR2017.09.12.002