Protecting Students on Campus Act of 2025
- Sponsor
- Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
- Committees
- Education and Workforce Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Dec 18, 2025
Bottom line
The bill aims to enhance awareness of anti-discrimination rights under Title VI and increase transparency and oversight of discrimination complaints at colleges and universities.
What it actually does
This bill mandates that institutions of higher education (IHEs) participating in federal student aid programs promote awareness of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. It requires the Department of Education to conduct a public awareness campaign and IHEs to prominently display complaint information and campaign materials. Additionally, it establishes new reporting requirements for IHEs and the Department of Education regarding Title VI complaints, and mandates audits and studies by the Inspector General.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that this bill will empower students by ensuring they are fully aware of their rights under Title VI and how to report discrimination. They contend that increased transparency in complaint data and robust oversight will hold institutions accountable, foster safer and more equitable campus environments, and ensure timely responses to discrimination claims, ultimately strengthening civil rights protections in higher education.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that while the intent is laudable, the bill imposes significant new administrative burdens on IHEs through extensive reporting requirements and compliance mandates, potentially diverting resources from core educational functions. They may also raise concerns about the practicality and effectiveness of a broad awareness campaign, and whether increased reporting will genuinely address underlying issues of discrimination or merely create a bureaucratic backlog without substantive change.
The bill is short and clearly written, making it accessible for a quick read and easy to understand its core provisions.
Section 2(a)
Title VI Awareness Campaign by Secretary of Education
This section requires the Secretary of Education, through the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, to launch a public awareness campaign about individuals' rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The campaign must include visual and auditory elements, be updated annually, and be distributed to institutions of higher education for posting in high-traffic physical and digital locations to maximize student accessibility. The Secretary can contract a nonprofit organization to carry out this campaign.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that a dedicated public awareness campaign is crucial for ensuring that all students, especially those from marginalized groups, understand their rights and the avenues available to them if they experience discrimination. This proactive approach can prevent discrimination and encourage reporting.
Critics contend
Critics might suggest that while awareness is good, the effectiveness of a broad campaign in changing behavior or significantly increasing appropriate complaint submissions is questionable, potentially leading to an administrative burden with limited tangible results.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the goal of informing students with the administrative costs and effort required to develop, distribute, and maintain an effective, accessible campaign across numerous institutions.
Section 2(b)
HEA Amendments: IHE Requirements for Title VI Information
This section amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education (IHEs) participating in federal student aid programs to comply with two new conditions. First, they must prominently display a link on their homepage to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) webpage where individuals can submit Title VI discrimination complaints. Second, they must annually display and post the public awareness campaign materials created under Section 2(a) in high-traffic physical locations (like student centers) and digital locations (like student services webpages).
Section 3
Congressional Briefings on Title VI Complaints
This section mandates that the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education provide monthly briefings to Congress for one year, starting 30 days after the bill's enactment. These briefings must detail the number of Title VI discrimination complaints received by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the previous month, disaggregated by the basis of discrimination. They must also describe OCR's plans to address these complaints and investigations, and provide data on how long complaints remain open. A written report containing this information must be provided to Congress 48 hours before each briefing, protecting personally identifiable information.
Section 4
Audit and Study on Title VI Complaints
This section establishes new requirements for institutions of higher education and the Department of Education's Inspector General (IG). First, all IHEs receiving federal funds must submit annual reports to the IG detailing the number, substance, and actions taken regarding Title VI complaints received by the institution. Second, the IG must conduct annual audits of the top 5% of IHEs with the highest per capita complaints to examine their complaint processes and referral needs. Third, the IG must conduct a study to understand and quantify the disparity between Title VI complaints submitted directly to IHEs versus those submitted to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).