A federal investigation has been launched into Brown University following a deadly shooting on campus that killed two students and injured nine others.
Department of Education Review
The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that it would investigate whether Brown violated Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act, known as the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act). Education Secretary Linda McMahon said, “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 cited reports of delayed emergency notifications and concerns about the university’s surveillance and security system. It has asked Brown to submit by Jan. 30, 2026:
- Copies of the 2024 and 2025 Annual Security Reports (ASRs) and any revised versions, along with evidence of distribution
- An audit trail of all crime incidents (2021-2024) and arrests by Brown Public Safety (BPS) or other agencies, plus referrals for disciplinary action on weapons, drugs, or liquor violations
- BPS activity/dispatch/call logs (2021-2025)
- Daily crime logs (2021-2025)
- A list of all timely warnings and emergency notifications issued (2021-2025) with descriptions of the media used
- All policies and procedures related to timely warnings, emergency notifications, daily crime log maintenance, and evacuation, plus any assessments conducted since 2020
- BPS standard operating procedures for dispatch, response, reporting, arrests, citations, and active-shooter protocols
University’s Response and Leadership Changes
Brown President Christina Paxson addressed the community with a letter that began, “Dear Brown Community, … I am happy to share that the conditions of the injured victims continue to improve; all but two have been discharged from the hospital.” She outlined three immediate actions: an external after-action review of the Dec. 13 incident, an external comprehensive campus safety and security assessment, and a rapid response team to secure the campus during the winter break and ahead of the Spring 2026 semester.
Paxson also announced that campus police chief Rodney Chatman 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. Clements, who previously directed the federal Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services, will oversee the after-action review and day-to-day leadership of BPS.
Security Enhancements
The university has doubled police and security personnel, increased patrols, and is accelerating the conversion of key-based buildings to card access. Additional cameras will be installed at Barus & Holley and other locations, and panic alarms and duress systems will be expanded for front-facing service areas. The campus is also reviewing event security for high-attendance activities and planning a phased return of students, faculty, and staff after winter break.
Funding and Antisemitism Issue
In the summer, Brown reached an agreement with the Trump administration to restore federal funding. The government said in April it intended to halt nearly $510 million in contracts and grants over Brown’s handling of antisemitism.
Key Takeaways
- The Department of Education is investigating Brown for potential Clery Act violations after the Dec. 13 shooting that killed Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov and injured nine others.
- Brown has placed its campus police chief on leave, appointed Hugh Clements as interim chief, and is conducting external after-action and safety assessments.
- The university must provide extensive security documentation to the Department by Jan. 30, 2026, and it has secured an agreement to restore federal funding while addressing concerns over antisemitism.
The investigation and the university’s rapid response underscore the seriousness with which campus safety and federal compliance are being pursued.
