EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University has more time to respond to a scathing report on how it handles crime by the United States Department of Education.
It’s just the latest chapter in the crisis on campus.
The university was expected to respond to that report this week, but it's been given a 90-day extension.
The nearly 50-page report stated MSU failed on a regular basis to provide the campus community with information about public safety issues, and failed to keep students safe.
It cites several violations of the Clery Act, which requires universities to report crime statistics and security concerns to the public.
It slams the university's handling of sexual assault reports related to former MSU sports doctor Larry Nassar.
It says 11 reports of abuse from Nassar survivors made to university officials – including coaches – were not properly filed with MSU Police or the university's Title IX Office.
But not all findings of the report are related to Nassar.
The report details nearly two dozen instances from 2011 to 2016 that MSU failed to issue warnings for burglaries and robberies that happened on campus.
It also claims MSU failed to identify and train people who are responsible for reporting crimes.
And the report found the university's sexual assault program did not maintain records of sex crime reports.
Since the report was released, MSU said it is focusing on improving accurate and transparent campus crime reporting, to comply with the Clery Act.
Interim-President Satish Udpa says the safety and well-being of the campus community is the university's top priority.
"One of the things I want to do is I want to look forward," Udpa said. "I don’t want to look back and point fingers because all we will end up doing is pointing fingers at each other. I want to do the very best I can for this institution and move forward."
The 90-day extension gives the university until May to respond to federal officials about the report.
After getting the response, the education department can make changes to the final document or come back to campus to investigate further.
It can then recommend for a judge to issue a fine of up to $56,000 for each violation.
The university can appeal any fines.
FOX 47 News will be tracking this story for you.
