Clery Act
About the Clery Act
The Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (the "Clery Act") is a federal law requiring transparency regarding campus crime policies and statistics at institutions of higher education in the United States. Key requirements of the Clery Act include:
- Annual Security Report (ASR): Institutions must publish an ASR by October 1st each year. The ASR must disclose campus crime statistics for the preceding three years and outline policy and programs designed to promote campus safety. The ASR must be shared with current and prospective students, employees, and submitted to the U.S. Department of Education.
- Clery Crimes Awareness: Institutions must inform students and employees about Clery-defined crimes and issue timely safety warnings and emergency notifications for serious or ongoing threats to the campus community.
- Campus Security Policies: Institutions must make campus security policies and procedures accessible to the campus community.
- Daily Crime Log: Campus police or public safety departments must maintain a publicly accessible daily log of reported crimes.
The Executive Director of Title IX and Clery Compliance, in collaboration with Public Safety, coordinates RIT's Clery Act compliance efforts. For additional information, refer to 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 campus safety. When CSAs become aware of Clery crimes, they must promptly report the incidents to ensure accurate inclusion in campus crime statistics and enable timely alerts to protect the campus community.
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
- Margaret's House Staff
- Student Life Center Staff
Reporting Crime and Hazing at RIT
RIT community members are encouraged to promptly report all crimes, hazing, and safety-related incidents to Public Safety by calling (585) 475-3333 (voice) or texting (585) 205-8333. Public Safety can also provide guidance on reporting crimes to law enforcement. For essential safety information, including emergency contacts, mobile BlueLight, and hotline access, download 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.
For information on hazing, refer to the Hazing Prevention website. All members of the RIT community are encouraged to complete the Recognizing and Preventing Hazing module.
RIT Advisory Committee on Campus Security
The RIT Advisory Committee on Campus Security reviews current campus security policies and procedures to ensure that 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 reports submitted to RIT's President are available upon request to complianceandethics@rit.edu.