Clery Act Compliance
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) requires higher education institutions to publicly report crimes that occur on their campuses. In compliance with the Clery Act, Arcadia University publishes an annual security report containing important safety information and crime statistics for the previous three years within set geographic boundaries. This data includes crimes that have occurred on campus, in certain non-campus buildings or properties that are owned or controlled by Arcadia University, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.
The U.S. Department of Education Handbook for Campus Crime Reporting assists universities and colleges in meeting the Clery Act requirements. Under the law, a crime is reported when a victim, witness, other third party, or even the offender brings it to the attention of a Campus Security Authority (CSA) or local law enforcement officer. A CSA is an individual within the Arcadia community who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities. CSAs should report crimes immediately by calling 215-572-2999 or extension 2999 and complete a CSA Incident Report Form.
Clery Compliance Committee
Arcadia University has established a multi-person Clery Act Compliance Committee that is responsible for the comprehensive oversight, review, revision, and implementation of all University policies and procedures as required by the Clery Act. The committee’s vision includes: create a sophisticated, cross-functional, multi-disciplinary team to manage compliance with the Clery Act. Our mission is to: ensure that the appropriate campus constituents will collaborate in the coordination of compliance activities to support institutional awareness and compliance with the Clery Act. The committee’s ultimate goal is to: (1) facilitate coordinated communication of requirements, gathering and reporting information; (2) supporting training to mitigate compliance risks and nurture a culture of reporting that increases campus safety: and (3) ensure Arcadia University complies with both the regulations and spirit of the Clery Act.
The Clery Compliance Committee consists of the below units and meets quarterly to remain compliant.
- Public Safety (Chair)
- Title IX/OECR (Co Chair)
- General Counsel
- Community Standards and Conduct
- Residence Life
- Student Health Services
- Counseling and Wellness Center
- Campus Life/Student Affairs
- Global Studies
- Sexual Violence and Prevention
Campus Security Authorities
Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are individuals and organizations at the University who, because of the function of their position within the University, have an obligation under the Clery Act to notify the University of alleged Clery Act Crimes reported to them in good faith, or Clery Act Crimes they may personally witness. Although every institution wants its campus community to report criminal incidents to Public Safety, Arcadia University knows this is not always the case. A student or employee who is a victim of a crime may report it to someone other than Public Safety. Under the Clery Act, a crime is “reported” when it is brought to the attention of a campus security authority, the institution’s public safety department or campus office, or local law enforcement personnel by a victim, witness, third party, or even the offender.
Who Are Campus Security Authorities (CSA)?
- A campus police department or a campus security department of an institution. If your institution has a campus police or security department, all individuals who work for that department are campus security authorities. A security department can be as small as one person.
- Any individual or individuals who have responsibility for campus security but who do not constitute a campus police department or a campus security department (e.g., an individual who is responsible for monitoring the entrance into institutional property). Include individuals such as those who provide security at a campus parking kiosk, monitor access into a campus facility, act as event security, such as for sporting events or large, registered parties, or escort students around campus after dark (including other students).
- Any individual or organization specified in an institution’s statement of campus security policy as an individual or organization to which students and employees should report criminal offenses. If you direct the campus community to report criminal incidents to anyone or any organization in addition to police or security-related personnel, that individual or organization is a campus security authority.
- An official of an institution who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to, student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings. An official is defined as any person who has the authority and the duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution.
Examples of individuals (outside of a police or security department), who generally meet the criteria for being campus security authorities include:
- a dean of students who oversees campus life officials;
- athletic coaches and staff (including part-time employees and graduate assistants);
- a faculty advisor to a student group;
- university housing staff
- a student who monitors access to dormitories or buildings that are owned by recognized student organizations;
- a coordinator of Greek affairs;
- a Title IX coordinator;
- community standards and conduct officials;
- the director of a campus health or counseling center;
- victim advocates or others who are responsible for providing victims with advocacy services, such as assisting with housing relocation, disciplinary action or court cases, etc.;
- members of a sexual assault response team (SART) or other sexual assault advocates;
- office of general counsel;
- human resources officials;
- faculty or staff traveling with students and
- officers from local law enforcement who are contracted by the institution to provide campus safetyrelated services.
If your institution directs students or employees to report crimes to other individuals, then those individuals are also CSAs. These individuals could include:
- physicians in a campus health center;
- counselors, including peer counselors (except for professional or pastoral counselors addressed later in this chapter); and
- health educators, including peer health educators.
Campus Security Authorities can report incidents by using the CSA Form found here.
Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting
The Pennsylvania College and University Security Act of 1988 governs the responsibility of Pennsylvania institutions of higher education to report crime statistics and rates and to provide descriptions of security policies and procedures to applicants, matriculated students and employees. Each institution is required annually to report crime statistics and crime rates (per 100,000 FTE students and employees) to the State Police for publication in the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Report (UCR). Colleges and universities are required to maintain a daily log of campus crime activity and make it available for public review.
If you believe there has been a violation of one or more of the provisions of the Pennsylvania College and University Security Information Act, you may file a complaint at the Department of Public Safety. The complaint will be forwarded to the Director of Public Safety, who will respond in writing to the complainant within five business days from the date the complaint is received. If, after receiving the reply to the complaint, you still feel that a violation has been committed and not corrected, you may appeal to the Vice President for Finance (CFO).
Daily Fire and Crime Log
The Division of Public Safety maintains a combined Daily Crime and Fire Log of all incidents reported to the division of Public Safety. This includes all crimes, fire related incidents and other serious incidents that occur on campus, those areas adjacent to the campus, and off campus buildings and residences controlled by the University.
The Daily Crime and Fire Log includes the incident type, date the incident is reported, date and time of occurrence, and general location of each reported incident type as well as the disposition of each incident, if this information is known. The Division of Public Safety posts specific incidents in the Daily Crime and Fire Log within TWO (2) business days of receiving a report of an incident.
The Daily Crime and Fire Log is available on-site at the Public Safety Office, Dilworth Hall, to students, faculty, staff and the general public during regular business hours. The most recent 60-day period is accessible to the public without written request.
