Clery Act
About the Clery Act
The Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act ("Clery Act") is a federal law that ensures transparency around campus crime policy and statistics at higher education institutions in the United States. The key requirements of the Clery Act include:
- Annual Security Report (ASR): Colleges and universities must issue an ASR every October 1st. This report discloses campus crime statistics for the preceding three years and outlines efforts to enhance campus safety. It is shared with current and prospective students, employees, and the U.S. Department of Education.
- Clery Crimes Awareness: Institutions must inform students and employees about Clery crimes and promptly issue safety warnings and emergency notifications for serious or ongoing threats to the campus community.
- Campus Security Policies: Colleges and universities must make their campus security policies and procedures accessible to the community.
- Daily Crime Log: A public, daily log of reported crimes must be maintained by campus police and public safety departments.
The Executive Director of Title IX and Clery Compliance, in collaboration with Public Safety, coordinates the university's Clery Act compliance efforts. For further details on the Clery Act, see Understanding Clery Statistics and Explaining Hate Crimes Under the Clery Act.
Campus Security Authorities
Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are designated individuals on campus who play a crucial role in safety. When they become aware of Clery crimes, CSAs promptly report them. This ensures that the incidents are documented in the necessary campus crime reports. By reporting promptly, CSAs contribute to and promote campus safety, allowing Public Safety to issue timely alerts when others on campus might be at risk.
CSAs are defined as:
- An institution's campus police or security department
- Individuals with security responsibilities, such as those monitoring access to campus property (e.g., parking lots, residence halls, and athletic venues)
- Individuals or groups identified and designated in the university's security policy as those to whom students and employees should report crimes
- Officials with significant responsibilities 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 promptly report all crimes and safety-related incidents to Public Safety. You can call (585) 475-3333 (voice) or text at (585) 205-8333. Public Safety officers can also provide information and resources on reporting crimes to law enforcement. For essential safety information, including emergency contacts, mobile BlueLight, and hotline access, consider downloading the TigerSafe App. CSAs should use the Clery Crime Reporting Form when reporting Clery crimes to Public Safety. For comprehensive information on crimes and safety-related incidents, refer to the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report.
RIT Advisory Committee on Campus Security
The RIT Advisory Committee on Campus Security reviews current campus security policies and procedures to ensure that 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 updated and monitored regularly. Committee membership is mandated by Article 129-A of the New York State Education Law, and includes faculty, staff, and students appointed by the President. Annual committee reports made to RIT's President are available upon request to complianceandethics@rit.edu.