UVA Grad Sues Education Officials Over Sexual Assault Policy

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former University of Virginia law student disciplined for sexual misconduct is suing the Department of Education over the way colleges evaluate allegations of sexual assault on campus.

The student is not named in the lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Washington. The lawsuit says he was allowed to graduate after being found responsible for a sexual misconduct claim against him, but a Washington-area law firm suspended its employment offer.

The student's lawsuit argues that a 2011 education department directive that changed the way sexual assault is evaluated bypassed the normal procedure of notifying the public of a proposed rule and seeking a response before imposing new regulations. The lawsuit says that's a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

A university spokesman says privacy laws prevent him from commenting.

[STORY BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]