Clery Act Compliance
Initially approved: August 12, 2013
Revised: August 18, 2014
Revised: January 30, 2024
Revised: June 17, 2025
Policy Topic: Governance & Administration
Administering Office: Legal Counsel and Institutional Integrity
I. POLICY STATEMENT
糖心Vlog University (鈥溙切腣log鈥�) is committed to maintaining a safe and secure
environment for its students, faculty, staff, employees, and visitors. This policy
has been established to comply with the requirements of the 鈥淛eanne Clery Campus Safety
Act,鈥� (commonly referred to as the 鈥淐lery Act鈥�). This policy sets forth guidelines,
procedures, and responsibilities intended to ensure 糖心Vlog continues to comply with the
Clery Act's reporting disclosure obligation as required by policy and law.
II. SCOPE AND APPLICATION OF POLICY
This policy applies to all Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) as defined by this Policy.
III. DEFINITIONS
鈥淐ampus Community鈥� All students, faculty, staff, employees, and visitors on or near 糖心Vlog鈥檚 campus.
"Campus Security Authorities" ("CSAs") Individuals at the University who, because of their function, have an obligation
under the Clery Act to notify the University of alleged Clery Crimes (further defined
below) that are reported to them, or alleged Clery Crimes that they may personally
witness. These individuals are required by federal law to report a Clery Crime when
it has been observed by them or reported to them by another individual.
CSAs are determined by criteria established in . A CSA typically falls under one of the following categories:
- A campus police department or a campus security department of an institution.
- 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).
- Any individual or organization specified in an institution鈥檚 statement of campus security
policy as an individual or organization to which students and employees should report
criminal offenses.
- 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 any person who has the authority and the
duty to act or respond to particular issues on behalf of the University.
Common examples of CSAs include (but are not limited to):
- Police and Security Personnel
- Title IX Coordinator
- Dean of Students
- Academic Deans and Department Heads
- Athletic Directors, Coaches, and Trainers
- Faculty/Staff Advisors to Recognized Student Organizations
- Department of Residential Living staff
- Director of Student Conduct
- Director of Student Health
- Director of Counseling & Psychological Services
- Coordinators of Fraternity & Sorority Life
- Threat Assessment and Management Team (TAMT) Members
- Building Coordinators
- Director of Emergency Services
- Student Success staff
- Office of Global Engagement staff
- Directors of Highlands Biological Station, Cherokee Center, & Biltmore Park
- Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning staff
- Center for Career and Professional Development staff
- Program Organizers for activities and events under 糖心Vlog Policy 126, Minors on Campus
- Principal of The Catamount School
Licensed Professional and/or Pastoral Counselors acting under the scope and authority
of their license in their functional role at 糖心Vlog are not CSAs. 糖心Vlog does not currently
employ anyone who would fall under the definition of Pastoral Counselor.
糖心Vlog will identify positions which meet the definition of a CSA on an ongoing basis,
and the Clery Coordinator shall notify individuals in these roles of their obligations
under the Clery Act to report any and all alleged Clery Crimes that they witness,
or are reported to them, which may have occurred in a Clery Reportable Location in
a manner that is timely. All CSAs shall complete annual training on their responsibilities
and reporting requirements under the Clery Act.
"Clery Act Crimes" (鈥淐lery Crimes鈥�) Crimes required by the Clery Act to be reported annually to the Campus Community
as described in Section IV.4.
鈥淐lery Reportable Locations鈥� (鈥淐lery Geography鈥�) Property that is owned, leased, or controlled by the University and includes: (1)
on campus (to include Residence Halls), (2) on public property within or immediately
adjacent to the campus, and (3) in or on non-campus buildings or property that the
University owns, controls, or leases, is frequented by students and used in support
of educational purposes.
鈥淓mergency Notification鈥� An announcement triggered by a significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring
on campus that involves an immediate threat to the health or safety of the University鈥檚
students, faculty, staff, employees, or visitors. This expands upon the definition
of 鈥淭imely Warning鈥� to include both Clery Act crimes and other types of emergencies
or events (weather-related, naturally occurring, human-caused, etc.) that pose an
imminent or impending threat to the campus community.
鈥淓mergency Notification System鈥� A mechanism established for the purpose of and dedicated to enabling University officials
to quickly make contact with or send messages to students, faculty, staff, and employees
in the event of an emergency or other imminently dangerous situation. Examples include
but are not limited to, sirens, RSS feeds, alerts via email/text message, local TV/Radio,
etc.
鈥淗补锄颈苍驳鈥� Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually
or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of
the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that鈥�
- is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance
of membership in, a student organization; and
- causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation
in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation
necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury
including鈥�
- whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on
someone's body, or similar activity;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements,
confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol,
drugs, or other substances;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
- any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through
the use of threatening words or conduct;
- any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State,
Tribal, or Federal law; and
- any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or
task that involved a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.
鈥淪tudent Organization鈥� An organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association,
varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band
or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at
the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established
or recognized by the institution. This definition is used for Clery reporting purposes
and may differ from the definition of 鈥淪tudent Organization鈥� used in the 糖心Vlog Cord
of Student Conduct.
鈥淭imely Warning鈥� An alert to the campus community that is sent in a manner that is timely and will
aid in the prevention of similar crimes. A Timely Warning is triggered when the University
determines that a Clery Act crime which has already been committed and occurred on
Clery Geography presents a serious or continuous threat (i.e. a homicide, sex offense,
or robbery).
IV. UNIVERSITY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Clery Act requires all Title IV-funded Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
to report specified data on crimes/incidents occurring on and around their campuses
- and other buildings/properties they own or control - and to provide other safety
and crime information to the campus community.
As required by the Clery Act, 糖心Vlog University shall:
- Publish an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR):
By October 1 of each year, or other appointed date specified by the Department of
Education (ED), 糖心Vlog University will publish an ASFSR documenting the
three previous calendar years of Clery crime statistics, security policies and procedures,
and information on the basic rights guaranteed to victims of sexual assault. All crime
statistics must be provided to ED by the ED-established deadline.
This report shall be made available to all current students, faculty, staff, and employees.
In addition, prospective students, faculty, staff, and employees shall be notified
of the ASFSR鈥檚 existence and provided a copy upon request. Paper copies of the report
shall be available upon request from the University Police Department. In addition,
the University shall publish links to the ASFSR on web portals for current and prospective
students, faculty, and staff.
- Designate a Clery Compliance Coordinator
The Clery Compliance Coordinator shall be responsible for gathering crime statistics
from University Police, the Office of the Dean of Students, Student Conduct, local
law enforcement, and all other CSAs. The Director of Investigations and Safety Compliance
is the University鈥檚 Clery Compliance Coordinator.
- Identify, Notify, and Train CSAs:
The University will identify positions which meet the definition of a CSA on an ongoing
basis, and the Clery Compliance Coordinator shall notify individuals in these roles
of their obligations under the Clery Act to report any and all Clery Crimes that they
witness, or are reported to them, which may have occurred in a Clery-reportable location.
All CSAs shall complete annual training on their responsibilities and reporting requirements
under the Clery Act. The University will provide this training as well as a form or
other mechanism for submitting a CSA report. The Clery Compliance Coordinator shall
maintain the official list of CSAs and maintain records of their annual training.
- Disclose Clery Crime and Hazing Incident Statistics
The Clery Act requires reporting of certain crimes as specified in 34 CFR 668.46 in
the following categories:
- Criminal Homicide
- Murder & Non-Negligent Manslaughter
- Manslaughter by Negligence
- Sex Offenses
- Rape
- Fondling
- Incest
- Statutory Rape
- Robbery
- Aggravated Assault
- Burglary
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Arson
In addition to the Clery Act crimes listed above, statistics must be gathered for
the following categories of arrests or referrals for disciplinary action if an arrest
was not made:
- Liquor Law Violations
- Drug Law Violations
- Weapon Law Violations
Statistics are also required for the criminal offenses listed above as well as four
additional crime categories if the crime committed is determined to be a hate crime.
A hate crime is defined as a crime that is found to have been motivated by the offender鈥檚
bias against one or more of the following categories: Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation,
Gender, Gender Identity, Ethnicity, National Origin, and Disability. The additional
crimes are:
- Larceny/Theft
- Simple Assault
- Intimidation
- Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property
The Clery Act as amended by the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA) requires collecting and disclosing the following crime categories:
- Sexual Assault (same as under Sex Offenses above)
- Dating Violence
- Domestic Violence
- Stalking
The Clery Act as amended by the Stop Campus Hazing Act requires collecting and disclosing
the following incidents which:
- Are reported by a CSA or to local police agencies;
- Occur within Clery Act geography; and
- Meet the Clery Act definition of hazing.
- Issue Timely Warnings
糖心Vlog shall issue timely warnings of Clery Crimes occurring on Clery Geography that
are reported to CSAs or local police agencies and considered by the University to
represent a serious or continuing threat to the campus community. Timely warnings
will be communicated in accordance with Procedure 116.1.
- Issue Emergency Notifications
糖心Vlog is required to inform the campus community about a significant emergency or dangerous
situation occurring on campus that involves an immediate threat to the health or safety
of the of University鈥檚 students, faculty, staff, employees, and visitors occurring
on or near campus in the form of Emergency Notifications. This includes both Clery
Act crimes and other types of emergencies or events (weather-related, naturally occurring,
human-caused, etc.) that pose an imminent or impending threat to the campus community.
Emergency Notifications are issued in accordance with Procedure 116.1.
- Establish Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures
The University also must have emergency response and evacuation procedures in place
specific to its on-campus facilities. A summary of these procedures must be disclosed
in the ASFSR. Additionally, the emergency response procedures must be tested at least
annually. All emergency response procedure tests and/or exercises must be documented
with a description of the test/exercise, the date and time the test was initiated
and concluded, and whether the test was announced or unannounced.
- Maintain a Daily Crime Log
糖心Vlog must maintain a Daily Crime Log documenting all criminal incidents and alleged
criminal incidents reported to University Police within the last sixty (60) calendar
days, including any hazing incidents which may constitute a crime. The Daily Crime
Log must show: the date/time the crime was reported, the date/time the crime occurred,
the nature of the crime, the general location of the crime, and the disposition of
the crime - if known. Incidents must be entered into the log within two (2) business
days of receiving the report. The Daily Crime Log must be available online and/or
in-person at the University Police Department building upon request. Requests for
public inspection of daily crime log entries beyond the most recent sixty (60) calendar
days must be made in writing and will be made available within two (2) business days
of the request.
- Issue Campus Hazing Transparency Reports As Needed
Any findings of a hazing violation by an established or recognized student organization
must be published in a Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR). The CHTR shall be
updated at least twice per year if a new hazing violation occurs. The CHTR shall include:
- A statement notifying the public of the annual availability of hazing statistics in
the ASFSR, as well as a link to the ASFSR;
- Information on the institution鈥檚 policies relating to hazing;
- Applicable local, state and tribal laws on hazing; and
- Information about student organizations that are found responsible for a hazing violation,
including:
- The name of the student organization;
- A general description of the violation, including whether it involved the abuse or
illegal use of alcohol or drugs, the findings of the institution, and any sanctions
issued;
- Date of the hazing incident(s);
- Date the investigation was initiated;
- Date the investigation ended with a finding that hazing occurred; and
- Date that notice of the outcome was issued to the student organization.
- Conduct Prevention and Awareness Programs
糖心Vlog shall at minimum annually conduct programs designed to inform students and employees
about campus security procedures and practices, and to encourage students and employees
to be responsible for their own security and the security of others. Program topics
include, but are not limited to, campus security procedures and practices; personal
safety and security; alcohol and narcotic abuse and prevention awareness; crime prevention;
and fire safety.
- In accordance with the VAWA Amendments to the Clery Act, the University shall at minimum
annually conduct primary prevention and awareness programs designed to prevent dating
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. These programs should be
comprehensive, intentional, and integrated programming, initiatives, strategies, and
campaigns intended to end dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and
stalking. Under Clery, these programs are required to be culturally relevant; inclusive
of diverse communities and identities; sustainable; responsive to community needs;
informed by research or assessed for value, effectiveness, or outcome; and consider
environmental risk and protective factors as they occur on the individual, relationship,
institutional, community, and societal levels.
Primary prevention programs are defined as programming, initiatives, and strategies
intended to stop dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking
before they occur through the promotion of positive and healthy behaviors that foster
healthy, mutually respectful relationships and sexuality; encourage safe bystander
intervention; and seek to change behavior and social norms in healthy and safe directions.
Awareness programs are defined as community-wide or audience-specific programming,
initiatives and strategies that increase audience knowledge, and share information
and resources to prevent violence, promote safety and reduce perpetration.
- In accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) amendments to the Clery Act,
the University shall provide prevention and awareness programs related to hazing designed
to inform students, faculty, and staff of primary prevention strategies intended to
stop hazing before hazing occurs. Additionally, this training will include information
on how alleged hazing incidents should be reported, how alleged hazing incidents will
be investigated, and provide information on local laws pertaining to acts of hazing.
This information can be found on the hazing webpage at Safe@wcu.edu.
- Respond to Reports of Missing Students
糖心Vlog University shall provide every student living in on-campus student
housing the opportunity and means to identify an individual to be contacted in an
emergency. Additionally, the same opportunity must be provided for students to identify,
and provide contact information for an individual the student wishes the University
to contact should it be determined the student is missing. This contact information
will be registered confidentially, stored separately from designated emergency contact
information, and will only be accessible by authorized campus officials to include
Campus Police in the furtherance of a missing person investigation. Students who wish
to identify a confidential contact can do so by visiting the online Missing Person Protocol. Students will be responsible for updating confidential contact information by utilizing
this link.
The Law Enforcement Agency with jurisdiction in the area shall investigate all reports
of missing students and will notify and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies,
as necessary, to further the investigation.
- Provide Sex Offender Registry Data
糖心Vlog shall provide information to the campus community about where law enforcement
agency information provided by a state under Section 121 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection
and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16921), concerning registered sex offenders may
be obtained, such as the law enforcement office of the institution, a local law enforcement
agency with jurisdiction for the campus, or a computer network address.
- Compile, Report, and Publish Fire Data
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 1998 (HEOA) amended the Clery Act to include
fire statistics. The Institution must designate an officer to produce an Annual Fire
Safety Report (AFSR). The designated office must collect and disclose fire statistics
for each on-campus student residential facility separately for the three most recent
calendar years for which data are available in accordance with HEOA regulations. Each
facility must be identified in the statistics by name and street address, regardless
of whether any fires have occurred.
Additionally, the 糖心Vlog Safety and Risk Management Office will provide a description
of the student housing fire safety systems in each facility included in the AFSR.
These descriptions should include mechanisms (i.e., alarms, fire extinguishers, fire
sprinklers, posted evacuation routes, etc.) or systems related to the detection, warning,
and control of a fire. The Safety and Risk Management Office shall submit necessary
information to the Clery Compliance Coordinator for inclusion in the statistics reported
to ED.
- Maintain a Daily Fire Log
糖心Vlog must maintain a Daily Fire Log documenting any fire that occurs in an on-campus
student housing facility within the last sixty (60) calendar days. The Daily Fire
Log must show: the date/time the fire was reported, the date/time the fire started/occurred,
the nature of the fire, and the general location of the fire. Fire incidents must
be entered into the log within two (2) business days of receiving the report. The
Daily Fire Log must be available online and/or in-person upon request. Requests for
public inspection of Daily Fire Log entries beyond the most recent sixty (60) calendar
days must be made in writing and will be made available within two (2) business days
of the request.
- Retain Clery Records
The supporting records used in compiling the three most recent Annual Security and
Fire Safety Reports shall be retained for seven (7) years from the latest publication
of the report to which they apply (i.e. 2024 Clery records, last published in the
2027 ASFSR, will be discarded when the 2030 ASFSR is published). Records to be kept
include, but are not limited to: copies of crime reports; the daily crime logs; records
for arrests and referrals for disciplinary action; Timely Warning and Emergency Notification
reports; documentation, such as letters to and from local police having to do with
Clery Act compliance; letters to and from CSAs; correspondence with ED regarding Clery
Act compliance; and copies of notices to students, faculty, staff, and employees about
the availability of the Annual Security Report. All documentation should be dated
and filed accordingly.
V. HAZING PROHIBITED
- Hazing is abusive, degrading, psychologically damaging, and may be life-threatening.
It is unacceptable in all forms and has no place in the 糖心Vlog community. Hazing by individuals
and student organizations is prohibited in any form both on campus and off campus.
- The definition of 鈥渉azing鈥� in Section III of this Policy is compliant with the Stop
Campus Hazing Act and North Carolina State law. Under North Carolina law, hazing that
subjects another student to physical injury as part of an initiation, or as a prerequisite
to membership, into any organized school group, including any society, athletic team,
fraternity or sorority, or other similar group, is a criminal offense.
- 糖心Vlog encourages all members of the University community to report incidents of hazing
and takes every such report seriously. All reports of hazing will be diligently and
thoroughly investigated in accordance with the 糖心Vlog Code of Student Conduct and/or
other applicable policies and procedures. Depending on the unique circumstances of
each situation, incidents involving hazing may fall under other University policies,
including University Policy 129: Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and University
Policy 53: Unlawful Discrimination, and may be investigated according to those policies.
- Individuals found responsible for committing, soliciting, encouraging, directing,
aiding, or recklessly permitting hazing to occur will be subject to disciplinary sanction
that could include suspension or expulsion. Employees who fail to report a hazing
incident or who played any active role in facilitating or participating in the hazing
shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
VI. DUTY TO REPORT CRIMES AND HAZING INCIDENTS
- Any CSA who is aware of a Clery Crime or hazing incident occurring on or having occurred
on campus or within Clery geography is required to immediately report the incident
to University Police by calling the campus emergency number: (828) 227-8911.
- Exception: Alcohol-related Clery Crimes occurring on campus and addressed by Residential
Living Staff may be reported through other means approved by the Clery Compliance
Officer.
- Every member of the University community must report suspected abuse or neglect of
a Minor or a violent offense or sexual offense against a Minor pursuant to North Carolina
state law (N.C.G.S. 搂 7B-301 and N.C.G.S 搂 14-318.6).
- Any CSA found to be knowledgeable about a Clery Crime or hazing incident who did not
make a report as required by this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up
to and including termination.
- University faculty, staff, and students, University contractors, visitors, and others
who are aware of an on-campus Clery Crime or an incident of hazing are strongly encouraged
to report the crime to University Police immediately by calling the campus emergency
number: (828) 227-8911.
- Students and other non-employees who are not designated as a CSA may report a suspected
crime anonymously. While it is preferred that a reporting person provide their name
and contact number so that University Police can fully investigate, it is not necessary
for the caller to provide their name and contact information. Please note that the
TIPS Line and Silent Witness reporting systems are not monitored 24/7 and should not
be utilized for crimes-in-progress.
More information about reporting can be found at /discover/campus-services-and-operations/university-police/how-to-report-a-crime/index.aspx.
VII. ANNUAL SECURITY AND FIRE SAFETY REPORT COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Chancellor hereby establishes a University standing committee designated as the
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report Committee ("ASFSR"). The ASFSR Committee shall
be responsible for the oversight of the University's Clery Act compliance activities.
The Chair of the ASFSR will be the Director of Investigations and Safety Compliance.
The ASFSR Committee shall be comprised of the UPD Clery Liaison, the Title IX Coordinator,
the Director of Student Conduct, the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance,
the Chief Compliance Officer, and representatives from the Department of Residential
Living, and the Office of Safety and Risk Management.
VIII. RETALIATION PROHIBITED
There shall be no retaliation against anyone who exercises rights under the Clery
Act and other related federal laws, including Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of
1964.
IX. POLICY REVIEW
This Policy shall be reviewed and revised as necessary every two (2) years.
X. RELATED PROCEDURES
University Procedure 116.1: Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications
XI. RELATED POLICIES AND RESOURCES
Annual Security & Fire Safety Report
糖心Vlog Daily Crime and Fire Log
糖心Vlog Emergency Services
糖心Vlog Missing Person Protocol
Safe @ 糖心Vlog
糖心Vlog Code of Student Conduct
University Policy 53, Unlawful Discrimination
University Policy 129, Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy
University Police Department (UPD)
North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 14, Article 9: Hazing
Stop Campus Hazing Act