Clery Act
Clery Act
About the Clery Act
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) is a federal law that requires institutions of higher education in the United States to disclose campus security information, including crime statistics for the campus and surrounding areas. Under the Clery Act, any postsecondary institution that participates in federal Title IV student financial assistance programs is required by law to:
- Issue an annual security report that discloses campus crime statistics to current and prospective students, employees, and the U.S. Department of Education
- Advise students and employees of Clery crimes, and issue timely safety warnings and emergency notifications for crimes that pose a serious or continuous threat to the campus community
- Make available its campus security policies and procedures
- Maintain a public, daily log of reported crimes
The Director of Title IX and Clery Compliance is responsible for coordinating the university's efforts to comply with the Clery Act.
For more information on the Clery Act, see Understanding Clery Statistics and Explaining Hate Crimes Under the Clery Act.
Campus Security Authorities (CSA)
Individuals in certain positions throughout campus are designated as Campus Security Authorities (CSAs). They are required to promptly report Clery crimes of which they are aware so that the incidents can be included in campus crime reports in accordance with the Clery Act. CSAs also help to promote campus safety because timely reports allow Public Safety to issue alerts when others on campus may be in danger.
CSAs are defined as:
- An institution's campus police or security department
- Other individuals with security responsibilities, such as those monitoring access to campus property (e.g., parking lots, residence halls and athletic venues)
- Individuals or organizations designated in the institution's security policy as those to whom students and employees should report crimes
- Officials with significant responsibility for student and campus activities, such as student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings
CSAs at RIT include:
- Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Staff
- Public Safety Officers
- Academic Advisors
- Resident Advisors and Residence Life Staff
- Student Club and Organization Advisors
- Parking and Transportation Staff
- Campus Center Welcome Desk Staff
- Student Life Center Staff
Crime Reporting at RIT
RIT community members are encouraged to report all crimes and safety-related incidents to Public Safety in a timely manner by dialing (585) 475-3333 (voice) or by texting them at (585) 205-8333 (text). Public Safety Officers will provide information and resources on reporting a crime to the appropriate law enforcement agency when requested or when applicable. The RIT Community is also encouraged to download the TigerSafe App, which has important information and safety features that may be useful, including emergency contact information, mobile BlueLight, and a hotline feature.
CSAs are encouraged to use the Clery Crime Reporting Form when reporting Clery crimes to Public Safety.
RIT Advisory Committee on Campus Security
The committee meets during the year to review current campus security policies and procedures and makes recommendations for their improvements. RIT maintains an Advisory Committee on Campus Security. The purpose of the Advisory on Campus Security is to review current security policies and procedures and make recommendations for improvement. This advisory committee is responsible for ensuring that the procedures for educational programs on safety, sexual assault, and crime prevention are in place and that reporting, referral, counseling, and response mechanisms for security and safety are also updated and monitored regularly. The membership of this Committee is mandated Article 129-A of the New York State Education Law, and Committee members are comprised of faculty, staff and students and are appointed by the President.
The Committee reports, in writing, to the RIT's President on its findings and recommendations on an annual basis and the report is available upon request to complianceandethics@rit.edu.