Beshear instructs Kentucky colleges and universities to review sexual assault policies
By Josh James
October 21, 2026 at 6:07 PM EDT
Gov. Andy Beshear is calling on all Kentucky colleges and universities to conduct a review of their policies surrounding sexual assault and sexual harassment, amid nationwide attention on the issue.
Sexual assault allegations at Cornell University and elsewhere demand more action in the commonwealth, according to Beshear.
While the governor said the call to review the policies doesn't imply any failures at Kentucky's institutions of higher education, he did say it's time to be more "proactive."
"In Kentucky, we shouldn't wait until we learn that someone is harmed and the system didn't work. We ought to be looking at that system itself," he said. "So the universities will report in 90 days. But listen, I think we're going to get good partnership from them. I think that we're going to see people that are looking to meet the moment. And if they overcorrected in one way in the past, that we get these policies right so that we can protect our students on campuses."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldv3cDUBchQ
The University of Kentucky's recent annual campus safety and security report listed 24 reported rapes on the main campus in 2025, 22 of which occurred in student housing facilities.
UK Police Chief Joe Monroe said that's an improvement from the previous report, but more work needs to be done using a number of strategies.
"This past year, we saw the numbers go down slightly. Well, that's just a small dent into that," Monroe told WUKY. "We've got to make sure that we are continuing that through training, education, bystander intervention, providing resources, and really making sure that we tear down those barriers where people feel comfortable reporting things to us."
As part of the review, Beshear said colleges and universities should at minimum look at awareness campaigns, ease of access to resources, reporting steps, victim services, due process, bystander prevention, education on retaliation, and resulting appropriate action.
UPDATE (9 PM): The University of Kentucky issued a statement to WUKY. Below is the full comment.
The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority.
At the University of Kentucky, we have made significant investments in prevention, education, survivor advocacy, training, reporting and support. That includes required prevention education for students, confidential advocacy through the VIP Center, bystander intervention through Green Dot, specialized training for employees and student leaders and dedicated resources through the UK Police Department Special Victims Unit.
We welcome the opportunity to take a close look at our efforts, identify ways we can continue to improve and strengthen the support we provide our community.
While the governor said the call to review the policies doesn't imply any failures at Kentucky's institutions of higher education, he did say it's time to be more "proactive."
"In Kentucky, we shouldn't wait until we learn that someone is harmed and the system didn't work. We ought to be looking at that system itself," he said. "So the universities will report in 90 days. But listen, I think we're going to get good partnership from them. I think that we're going to see people that are looking to meet the moment. And if they overcorrected in one way in the past, that we get these policies right so that we can protect our students on campuses."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldv3cDUBchQ
The University of Kentucky's recent annual campus safety and security report listed 24 reported rapes on the main campus in 2025, 22 of which occurred in student housing facilities.
UK Police Chief Joe Monroe said that's an improvement from the previous report, but more work needs to be done using a number of strategies.
"This past year, we saw the numbers go down slightly. Well, that's just a small dent into that," Monroe told WUKY. "We've got to make sure that we are continuing that through training, education, bystander intervention, providing resources, and really making sure that we tear down those barriers where people feel comfortable reporting things to us."
As part of the review, Beshear said colleges and universities should at minimum look at awareness campaigns, ease of access to resources, reporting steps, victim services, due process, bystander prevention, education on retaliation, and resulting appropriate action.
UPDATE (9 PM): The University of Kentucky issued a statement to WUKY. Below is the full comment.
The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority.
At the University of Kentucky, we have made significant investments in prevention, education, survivor advocacy, training, reporting and support. That includes required prevention education for students, confidential advocacy through the VIP Center, bystander intervention through Green Dot, specialized training for employees and student leaders and dedicated resources through the UK Police Department Special Victims Unit.
We welcome the opportunity to take a close look at our efforts, identify ways we can continue to improve and strengthen the support we provide our community.