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Article 3 – November 2023

The safety and security of students and employees on college campuses has always been a top priority for institutions of higher education in the United States. To enhance campus safety and transparency, Congress enacted the Clery Act in 1990. Named after Jeanne Clery, a young woman who was tragically murdered in her college dorm room, this federal law requires colleges and universities to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. In this article, we will explore the key requirements and implications of the Clery Act in higher education.

The Clery Act, formally known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, mandates that all institutions of higher education participating in federal student aid programs must maintain and disclose specific information about campus crime statistics and security policies. This information is made available to students, prospective students, employees, prospective employees, and the public to help them make informed decisions about their safety.

Key Requirements of the Clery Act

  1. Annual Security Report (ASR): Every institution must publish an ASR by October 1st each year. The ASR contains statistics on various types of crimes that occurred on campus, in nearby public areas, and on certain non-campus properties. These statistics must cover the past three years. UCF calls this report the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report, which can be found on the UCF Police Department Clery Act website.
  2. Emergency Notifications and Timely Warnings: When a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community arises, institutions are required to issue timely warnings to inform students and employees about potential dangers. These warnings are disseminated promptly through various communication channels. These messages may come in the form of a UCF Alert email or text message for Emergency Notifications, and a Campus Crime Awareness email for timely warnings. More information on additional methods of dissemination and how to receive these notifications is available within the Annual Security & Fire Safety Guide, as well as on the UCF Alert website and within UCF Policy 3-116 Emergency Notification (UCF Alert System).
  3. Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures: The Clery Act also mandates that institutions have emergency response and evacuation procedures in place. This includes conducting regular tests of emergency notification systems, developing evacuation plans, and providing information on how to respond to emergencies.
  4. Campus Security Policies: Colleges and universities must maintain and disclose within their ASR their campus security policies, which cover topics such as drug and alcohol policies, prevention programs, and reporting procedures for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Please take a moment to read and familiarize yourself with UCF’s security policies, which are also located in the online UCF Policies and Procedures Library.
  5. Crime Log: Institutions must maintain a crime log that records all reported crimes that occurred on campus, in public areas immediately adjacent to campus, and in non-campus properties. This log is accessible on the UCF Police Department Daily Crime Log website and updated on a daily basis.

Failure to meet these requirements can lead to significant consequences, including fines and a loss of federal funding. Moreover, non-compliance can damage an institution’s reputation and deter prospective students and employees.

The Clery Act plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and security of college campuses in the United States. It serves, not only as a regulatory tool, but also promotes a culture of transparency and accountability in higher education. By requiring institutions to be transparent about crime statistics and security policies, it fosters a safer environment for students and employees, and it empowers students and their families to make informed choices about where to pursue their education. For more information, please read this edition’s FAQs associated with this article. For questions about the Clery Act at UCF please contact clery@ucf.edu.