Crimes that occur on campus and within university owned/controlled buildings are to be reported under the Clery Act.  The university is required to record crimes at university non-campus facilities, like remote classrooms and administrative offices.  Which locations qualify for reporting is very specific to our school; if you are unsure if a location qualifies, you should contact campus law enforcement or the director of Title IX and Clery Compliance.

Under the Clery Act, any time a crime has or is occurring that poses a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community, the university must provide notice to the campus community in a way that is likely to reach all students and employees.  After receiving information of a possible threatening situation or crime on campus ( to include incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking), the university is required to assess the risk to public safety and determine the necessity of issuing a notice to the campus community.  A decision not to provide notice is reviewable under the Clery Act by the U.S. Department of Education.

The university will provide the campus community with a Timely Warning when crimes occur on campus that represent a serious and continuing threat.  The objective is to provide information, in a timely manner, so that students, employees, and guests/vendors on campus can take appropriate action to protect themselves and those around them.

Upon confirmation, the university will provide an Emergency Notification to the campus community when a significant emergency or dangerous situation has, or is, occurring on campus and is an immediate threat to the health or safety of students and employees.  Examples of an Emergency Notification: active shooter, gas leak, building fire, outbreak of serious illness, and extreme weather conditions.

To comply with the Clery Act, the university is required to explain policies and procedures regarding the handling and adjudication of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking cases.  This includes to whom a student or employee may report such an incident and what possible sanctions may be imposed as a result.  The university must also provide a list of available resources (such as available medical care, mental health resources, and other support options either on campus or within the local community) to victims.  We also must provide information regarding a student’s or employee’s right to request reasonable accommodations on campus in the wake of sexual violence.  Such an accommodation includes changing housing or an academic or work schedule to avoid seeing the accused.  Students also have several rights during campus disciplinary proceedings, such as being informed at every stage of the process, having the same rights as the accused to have an advisor present, to appeal a final decision, and to receive a final decision in writing at the same time as the accused.

The Clery Act requires reported crime statistics to protect a student and employee’s confidentiality while alerting the public to possible safety risks or incidents on campus.  We have an obligation to inform victims about rights regarding to whom they can formally report sexual misconduct if they wish a criminal prosecution, to facilitate that process if desired, and to let them know they have a right not to file a criminal report and yet still receive support from the university.

Finally, both Title IX and the Clery Act protects against retaliation.  The university cannot intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against a student or employee for filing a complaint or participating in the investigation and/or adjudication process.