On Monday, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it is investigating Brown University over the deadly campus shooting that took place on Dec. 13.
Department of Education Investigation
The department’s Office of Federal Student Aid said it would “investigate if Brown violated Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act, otherwise known as the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), which requires institutions of higher education to meet certain campus safety and security-related requirements as a condition of receiving federal student aid.” Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated in a Monday statement that “After two students were horrifically murdered at Brown University when a shooter opened fire in a campus building, the Department is initiating a review of Brown to determine if it has upheld its obligation under the law to vigilantly maintain campus security.” She added, “Students deserve to feel safe at school, and every university across this nation must protect their students and be equipped with adequate resources to aid law enforcement. The Trump Administration will fight to ensure that recipients of federal funding are vigorously protecting students’ safety and following security procedures as required under federal law.” The department also noted that “If true, these shortcomings constitute serious breaches of Brown’s responsibilities under federal law.” The investigation will require the university to submit a range of documents by Jan. 30, 2026, including copies of the original 2024 and 2025 Annual Security Reports, audit trails of crime incidents and arrests, activity logs, daily crime logs, timely warnings and emergency notifications, policies and procedures, and standard operating procedures for dispatch, response, and active-shooter protocols.
University Response and Leadership Changes
In the wake of the tragedy, Brown’s president, Christina Paxson, issued a letter to the campus community outlining immediate actions. She confirmed that Rodney Chatman, the campus police chief, has been placed on leave and that Hugh T. Clements, former chief of the Providence Police Department, will serve as interim vice president for Public Safety and chief of police. Paxson praised the public safety officers’ rapid response, noting that they were first on the scene minutes after the shooting and that their actions “saved lives.” She also announced that the university would double police and security personnel, increase patrols, and accelerate the implementation of new safety measures that were already underway before Dec. 13.
Security Measures and External Reviews
Paxson’s letter details a comprehensive plan that includes a rapid response team, an external After-Action Review, and an external comprehensive Campus Safety and Security Assessment. Both reviews will be overseen by a committee of the Brown Corporation, the university’s highest governing body, which will approve the selection of the external reviewers. The After-Action Review will cover the period leading up to the shooting, the incident itself, the university’s emergency response, coordination with law-enforcement agencies, and all related information. The comprehensive assessment will examine current safety systems, policies, staffing, technology, and training, and will involve the campus and local community in discussions about the campus’s safety posture.
Key security enhancements highlighted in the letter include:
- Sustained increased presence and patrol of police, public safety officers and security guards, with a visible security presence across buildings, pedestrian corridors and gathering areas.
- Conversion of key-based access buildings to card access on an accelerated timeline, prioritizing academic and mixed-use buildings.
- Installation of additional security cameras across campus, including at Barus & Holley, to assess and address coverage gaps.
- Expansion of panic alarms and duress systems in front-facing service areas and late-night operations, such as dining facilities.
- Ongoing event security reviews for high-attendance activities, including athletic events and other known high-population gatherings.
- Thoughtful planning for the phased return of students, faculty and staff from winter break, ensuring physical security and preparing for increased staffing needs.
Paxson also mentioned that for Barus & Holley, a dedicated team is considering operational changes, including relocating spring classes and lectures from sensitive areas. The School of Engineering and Department of Physics complex remain closed, and urgent research activities are encouraged to contact the Division of Research directly.
Document Requests and Timeline
The Department of Education’s request for documents is extensive. By Jan. 30, 2026, Brown must provide:
- Copies of the original 2024 and 2025 Annual Security Reports (ASRs) and any revised versions produced to comply with the Clery Act, along with credible evidence of distribution.
- An audit trail of all crime incidents (organized by offense classification) for 2021-2024 and an audit trail of all arrests made by Brown University Public Safety and Emergency Management Department (BPS) or other state or local law-enforcement agencies, plus all referrals for disciplinary action against students or employees for violations of state laws and local ordinances related to weapons, drugs, or liquor.
- A copy of the BPS activity/dispatch/call log for 2021-2025.
- A copy of the daily crime log for 2021-2025.
- A list of all timely warnings and emergency notifications issued by the university during 2021-2025, with a brief description of the means or media used.
- Copies of all Brown policies and procedures related to timely warnings, emergency notifications, maintenance of a daily crime log, emergency response notifications, and evacuation, as well as any assessments of campus safety policies and practices conducted since 2020.
- A complete set of BPS standard operating procedures regarding dispatch, response to calls, reporting writing, arrests including issuance of citations, and protocols for active-shooter scenarios.
Community Letter and Ongoing Recovery
Paxson’s letter, addressed to the entire Brown community, expresses gratitude for the support of students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni. She notes that the injured victims’ conditions are improving, with all but two discharged from the hospital. Paxson emphasizes the university’s commitment to “take every possible action to increase the safety and security of our campus, with the goal of protecting our community from future harm.” She also acknowledges the anxiety, fear and stress that follow a tragedy of this magnitude and reaffirms that Brown is still “Brown - a safe, inclusive, caring community of talented students and scholars and dedicated staff.” The letter ends with a pledge to nurture a thriving campus while addressing the psychological and social health of all community members.
Federal Funding and Antisemitism Concerns
During the summer, Brown reached an agreement with the Trump administration to restore federal funding. In April, the government announced its intention to halt nearly $510 million in contracts and grants over Brown’s handling of antisemitism, a separate issue that has added to the university’s scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
- The Department of Education is investigating Brown for potential violations of the Clery Act following the Dec. 13 shooting.
- The university has placed its campus police chief on leave and appointed an interim chief from Providence.
- Brown is implementing extensive security enhancements and will submit a large set of documents to the Department by Jan. 30, 2026.
The investigation and the university’s rapid response underscore the seriousness of campus safety compliance and the federal government’s role in ensuring that institutions receiving federal aid maintain adequate security measures.
