Dozens of colleges investigated for sexual assaults

Sexual assault cases on college campuses have been kept relatively quiet until now.

The feds are following through with a promise for greater government transparency on sexual assaults in higher education and how the schools reacted.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a list of schools under investigation for possible violations of federal law over the handling of sexual violence and harassment complaints.

There are 55 colleges are on the list, including Oklahoma State University.

Before today, the feds would only confirm an investigation if asked, often leaving students and others unaware.

"We are making this list available in an effort to bring more transparency to our enforcement work and to foster better public awareness of civil rights," Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon said. "We hope this increased transparency will spur community dialogue about this important issue.”

The feds say the list only means the school is a target of an investigation and not that they have violated the law.

All colleges, and universities and K-12 schools receiving federal funds must comply with Title IX. Schools that violate the law and refuse to address the problems identified by OCR can lose federal funding or be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for further action.