Enact the Cassidy-Fetterman Protecting Students on Campus Act or similar legislative measures that mandate transparency and regular oversight.
Move a federal transparency mandate that makes discrimination complaint data and outcomes visible across colleges that receive federal funds. Use the Cassidy–Fetterman concept to require annual reporting and clear homepage links to OCR complaint information, paired with regular oversight like OCR briefings and targeted audits. Keep scope focused on reporting and process—not policing speech—to reduce backlash.
Why this works
- It creates a uniform national requirement, ensuring every college must step up.
- Monthly OCR briefings keep the issue on policymakers’ radar.
- It also pairs transparency with accountability (Inspector General audits for schools with unusually many complaints).
Public Citizen
AdvocacyChampioning consumer rights and accountable government
Mechanism
About LobbyingHow Public Citizen uses funding
- Draft and promote legislation that requires annual publication of discrimination complaint data and resolutions.
- Standardize baseline reporting categories so data can be compared across schools.
- Require campus homepages to link clearly to OCR complaint information.
- Build an oversight loop through regular OCR briefings and audit triggers for outlier complaint volumes.
- Identify viable legislative vehicles, including Higher Ed Act pathways referenced in the cause materials.
Milestones
Checkpoints and the expected timing for each step
- 1
Legislative language finalized
Near termReporting and oversight requirements are drafted with guardrails.
- 2
Sponsors and coalition secured
Near termSponsors and stakeholder support are public.
- 3
Committee movement achieved
This sessionHearing or markup advances the federal package.
- 4
Implementation guidance planned
After passageReporting categories and publication guidance are issued.