Hartford — A new report released Friday indicates a significant increase in certain crimes from 2013 to 2014 at the University of Connecticut's main campus in Storrs, including sexual assaults.

University officials contend the uptick stems from improved efforts to collect information on all known criminal incidents and allegations and stepped-up analysis of the facts of some events.

The report showed that rapes climbed from 18 in 2013 to 43 last year.

"Typically, the more of that you do, the more comfortable people will be with reporting and having confidence in the process, particularly in discussing sensitive crimes such as sexual assault," said UConn Police Chief Barbara O'Connor.

Last summer, UConn settled a lawsuit by five women who alleged the school didn't take their claims of campus sexual assaults seriously.

The state's flagship university on Friday posted its Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, as required by federal law. Information about branch campuses is also included in the 190-page document.

UConn's report also showed increases in other key categories. Incidences of stalking increased from 6 to 30; dating violence from 8 to 26; and fondling from 7 to 10. Meanwhile, incidences of domestic violence decreased from 15 to 6.

There was also an upturn in the number of liquor-related violations. Fourteen liquor arrests were reported in 2013 and 56 in 2014. Meanwhile, the number of alcohol violations that were referred to the university's Office of Community Standards possible for review and potential school discipline increased from 483 to 750. UConn said that number was driven mostly by reports from resident assistants who undergo training that now emphasizes they must inform police of such incidents.

Over the two years, the number of drug-related arrests dipped slightly from 178 to 161, while the number of disciplinary referrals for drug violations increased from 125 to 269.

Early last year, O'Connor said UConn would likely face a fine from the federal Department of Education because of its past crime reporting practices. The university was audited for its compliance with the Clery Act, which requires colleges and keep and report statistics on crime in and around campus. Stephanie Reitz, a spokesman for UConn, said Friday that no decision has been made yet on whether the school will be fined.

Higher education campuses have until Oct. 1 to post the data and some other Connecticut schools also released similar information on Friday.

For example, Wesleyan University Middletown reported 37 on-campus rapes of Wesleyan students in 2014, in addition to four on a non-campus building and two on public property. At Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, there were two on-campus rapes in 2014, the same as in 2013.