Resulting from a complaint in Feb., the Education Department (ED) will place the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) under investigation for its handling of sexual assault claims.

The Huffington Post reported Monday it had obtained a copy of a letter from the ED's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) informing the complainant of the probe. The letter was sent April 21 and the news broke the same day the website learned Harvard College would be placed under investigation as well.

Joanna Espinosa, a UTPA alum, filed the federal complaint in Feb. alleging the school took five months to return a decision only to tell her they did not find enough evidence. She said the school's investigator often asked redundant questions and did not take good notes.

"It seemed pretty obvious throughout this case that they didn't know what sexual assault was or they had a very narrow view of what it was," Espinosa told the HP. "I guess most people imagine a brutal attack, where you're injured and you're fighting for your life and it was a stranger that did this to you. They don't necessarily think of a significant other violating your body."

She filed her initial sexual assault complaint against her boyfriend at the time. Espinosa said the investigator asked her if the relationship was "Facebook official" and if he physically abused her.

Although the investigation found the assailant not responsible of sexual assault, they said he exhibited "conduct that is inappropriate for members of an academic institution" and "[u]nauthorized entry to University facilities" after Espinosa filed an appeal.

In the 2013 fiscal year, the OCR reported receiving 30 Title IX complaints. April 3 marked the first half of the 2014 fiscal year and the OCR said it received the same amount. With the Harvard and UTPA investigations, the OCR has 54 pending Title IX investigations.

Title IX is a federal gender equity law that protects from sexually discrimination. Schools are required by law to perform adequate sexual assault investigations since rape is considered a sexually discriminatory crime.

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