Rhode Island – Feds Request Brown Security Reports and Dispatch Logs as Campus Safety Review Begins 

Providence, R.I. — The U.S. Department of Education says it will review Brown University’s campus safety and emergency alert practices following a Dec. 13 shooting that killed two students and injured others, a move that could lead to federal penalties or required policy changes if violations are found. 

The department’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced Dec. 22 that it is launching a “program review” to examine whether Brown complied with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, a federal law tied to participation in federal student aid programs. Officials cited public reporting and community concerns that the university’s surveillance coverage and emergency notifications may have been insufficient or delayed in the hours after the shooting. 

As part of the review, FSA requested Brown submit materials by Jan. 30, 2026, including copies of its 2024 and 2025 Annual Security Reports and evidence they were distributed, multi-year crime and arrest “audit trails,” daily crime logs, dispatch and call logs, a list of timely warnings and emergency notifications from 2021–2025, and policies and standard operating procedures for emergency response, including active-shooter protocols. 

For families, the review is a reminder to confirm students are enrolled in campus alert systems (text, email, and app), know where to find the university’s safety resources, and plan simple check-in steps if an emergency unfolds. Parents can also ask what escort services, building access controls, and reporting options are available on campus.

Brown has separately said it is reviewing safety policies and support for the campus community as investigations continue. The federal review will proceed as documents are gathered, and updates are expected as findings and any required corrective actions are announced.  

This article was produced by an education parenting today journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.

Source: https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-review-of-brown-university-potential-clery-act-violations