AD74 Compliance With Clery Act

To establish the parameters for compliance with the “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998” (commonly referred to as the “Clery Act”) at all University locations.

BACKGROUND:

The “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998,” commonly referred to as the “Clery Act,” requires institutions of higher education receiving federal financial aid to report specified crime statistics on college campuses and areas within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of college campuses, and to provide other safety and crime information to members of the campus community.

DEFINITIONS:

Campus Security Authority (CSA) - individuals at the University who, because of their function for the University, have an obligation under the Clery Act to notify the University of alleged Clery Crimes that are reported to them in good faith, or alleged Clery Crimes that they may personally witness. These individuals, by virtue of their position due to official job duties, ad hoc responsibilities, or volunteer engagements, are required by federal law to "report" crime when it has been observed by, or reported to them by another individual. They individuals typically fall under one of the following categories:

  1. A member of a campus police/security department.
  2. Individuals having responsibility for campus security in some capacity, but are not members of a campus police/security department (e.g., an individual who is responsible for monitoring the entrance to University property).
  3. People or offices that are not members of a campus police/security department, but where policy directs individuals to report criminal offenses to them or their office.
  4. Officials having significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including but not limited to, student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings.

Common examples of CSAs include (but are not limited to):

Clery Act Crimes ("Clery Crimes")- crimes required by the Clery Act to be reported annually to the University community, including: criminal homicide (murder and negligent/non-negligent manslaughter); sex offenses (rape, fondling, statutory rape, and incest); robbery; aggravated assault; burglary; motor vehicle theft; arson; hate crimes (including larceny-theft, simple assault, intimidation, or destruction/damage/vandalism of property that are motivated by bias); dating violence; domestic violence; stalking; and arrests and referrals for disciplinary action for any of the following: (a) liquor law violations, (b) drug law violations, and (c) carrying and possessing illegal weapons.

Emergency Notification- an announcement to inform the campus community about a “significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on the campus." An emergency response expands upon the definition of "timely warning" (see below), as it includes both Clery Act crimes and other types of emergencies (examples: a fire, infectious disease outbreak, terrorist attack, natural disaster, weather emergency).

Missing Student Notification- the University has provided a list of titles of persons and offices to which students, employees, or others, can contact if they have reason to believe a student who lives in on-campus student housing has been missing for 24 hours. The intent of this notification process is to direct others who believe a Penn State student is missing to immediately notify specific staff in the University administration, University Police and Public Safety, and local law enforcement.

Pastoral Counselors- individuals who are associated with a religious order or denomination, recognized by that religious order or denomination as someone who provides confidential counseling, and is functioning within the scope of that recognition as a pastoral counselor. Pastoral Counselors, when acting within the scope of the official responsibilities are not Campus Security Authorities.

Professional Counselors- individuals whose official responsibilities include providing mental health counseling to members of the institution's community and who is functioning within the scope of his or her license or certification. Professional Counselors, when acting within the scope of the official responsibilities are not Campus Security Authorities.

"Reasonably Contiguous" (as pertaining to a college campus)- buildings or property owned or controlled by the institution, located in an area that is considered and treated as an integral part of campus and covered by the same security policies as the main campus.

Timely Warning- an announcement made to alert the campus community about Clery Crimes and other serious incidents in the event that a reported crime may pose a serious or continuing threat to the campus and surrounding community.

University Police and Public Safety Compliance Coordinator- works collaboratively with various offices at the University to develop, implement and oversee programs that ensure the University's overall compliance with the Clery Act and associated regulations at all University locations.

POLICY:

In accordance with the requirements of the Clery Act, the University shall:

  1. Via issuance of timely warnings, alert the campus community of Clery Crimes that pose a serious or continuing threat to the campus and surrounding community. Timely warnings will be disseminated throughout the community as soon as pertinent information is available and will provide information that will allow the community to take precautions to protect themselves and prevent similar crimes from occurring.
  2. Via issuance of emergency notifications, alert and inform the campus community about a “significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on the campus."
  3. Maintain a daily crime log of all crimes reported. This log will be available for public inspection, upon request.
  4. Maintain a daily fire log of all fire-related incidents reported. This log will be available for public inspection, upon request.
  5. Compile and disclose statistics of reports on the types of Clery Crimes reported for the University's campuses, the immediately adjacent public areas and public areas running through the campuses, remote classroom facilities and certain non-campus facilities.
  6. Collect reports of Clery Crimes made to University Police and Public Safety, local law enforcement, University officials and other associated with the University who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities.
  7. Create and publish an annual report to the Department of Education disclosing statistics of Clery Crimes reported over the past three years, as well as University policies and procedures addressing campus security and safety.
  8. Annually disclose/provide access to the campus community and the public, the Annual Security Report, which provides:
  9. Identify CSAs on a regular, ongoing basis, and notify these individuals of their obligations under the Clery Act to report any and all Clery Crimes that they witness, or are reported to them.
  10. Provide regular, mandatory training for all CSAs.
  11. Work with the University Police and Public Safety and other appropriate departments to create, establish and conduct programs at all University campus locations to educate the campus and surrounding community about the Clery Act and Clery Act obligations, and to promote general awareness of all crime and safety-related issues at all University locations.
  12. In the event that a person is reported as missing, contact the appropriate University offices, notify local law enforcement that has jurisdiction in the geographical area around the specific campus location, and utilize the emergency contact information available for the missing person to notify those listed as emergency contacts for the alleged missing person. See Policies SY03 and SY42 for additional information.

For further information on the Clery Act, visit the University Police and Public Safety website.

Questions may be directed to the Compliance Coordinator, University Police and Public Safety, at (814) 863-1273.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

All University Faculty, Staff, and Students on University Facilities or Property:

All University Visitors on University Facilities or Property:

University Police and Public Safety Compliance Coordinator: