Campus Security Authority (Clery Act)

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education has identified four types of Institutional Officials who are considered Campus Security Authorities (CSA’s) in relation to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, generally referred to as the Clery Act and is in section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act. This is explained in The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting: 2016 Edition.

1. University Police / Public Safety / Security Employees
2. “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)” (Office of Postsecondary Education, 2016, p. 4-2).
3. “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” (Office of Postsecondary Education, 2016, p. 4-2).
4. “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” (Office of Postsecondary Education, 2016, p. 4-2).

Definitions:

Employee: Any employee (Faculty, Staff, Student Employee, or other) is anyone accepting W-2 wages for work performed for St. Mary’s University. This does not supersede, alter or address any previously defined description and it used in the determination of an employee for Clery Act Compliance only.

Identification of Campus Security Authorities

Each job description currently in place will be updated to include if someone is considered a CSA as defined by the Department of Education, listed above. Each job description will then be sent to the employee, if updated to include the designation of CSA, or if updated to remove the designation.

Responsibilities of Campus Security Authorities

To assist with Clery Act compliance efforts, a CSA must complete training as provided by Human Resources and the Clery Compliance Office, whether in-person or online.

CSA’s must immediately notify the Clery Compliance Office if notified of a Clery reportable crime, to allow for proper determination of whether a Timely Warning Notice is needed as defined within the “St. Mary’s University Timely Warning Notifications (Clery Act) Policy”. In addition, a “Crime Statistic Report Form (Clery Act)” must be filled out and submitted.

A CSA must complete the semester online survey which is distributed by the Clery Compliance Office when it is received.