Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act is a federal consumer protection law that promotes transparency about campus crime and safety. Originally adopted in 1990 and amended several times, including the 2013 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act and the 2024 Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), the law requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to disclose campus crime statistics and safety information.

The Clery Act helps students and employees make informed decisions by ensuring access to clear, consistent data about campus safety. Institutions must publish policies, procedures, and crime statistics for all locations within their Clery geography.

Each year, as part of this requirement, institutions release an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) by October 1st, summarizing safety initiatives, crime data from the past three years, and key prevention efforts.

A Campus Security Authority (CSA) is an individual or group of individuals who have significant responsibility for campus safety or student activities. CSAs play a key role in ensuring that incidents of crime are reported and included in the university’s Annual Security Report.

CSAs include:

• Campus Police or Security Personnel: All members of a campus police or security department.
• Individuals Responsible for Security: Employees or students who monitor access to campus property, provide event or contract security, or serve as safety escorts.
• Designated Personnel: Anyone the institution explicitly identifies as a Campus Security Authority.
• Officials with Significant Student or Campus Responsibility: Those involved in student housing, student discipline, or campus judicial proceedings.

Not every university employee is designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). Individuals whose roles do not involve student interaction or oversight of campus activities, such as clerical staff, accounting and finance personnel, IT staff, or faculty whose duties are limited to classroom instruction are generally not classified as CSAs.

While these individuals are not required to report Clery-qualifying crimes, they are strongly encouraged to share any safety concerns or incidents with a CSA, the Compliance Coordinator Clery Director or the MGA Police Department to help promote transparency and community safety.

An Annual Security Report and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) is a federally mandated consumer report required under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. It is designed to provide students, employees, and families with transparent, easy-to-understand information about campus safety similar to how a consumer report helps individuals make informed choices.

Each year, by October 1st, colleges and universities that receive federal funding must publish and distribute their ASR to current and prospective students and employees.

Clery Geography defines the locations for which colleges and universities must collect and report crime statistics under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.

Institutions must include data for Clery crimes that occur in any of the following areas:

• On-campus: All property within the institution’s main campus boundaries.
• On-campus student housing: Residential facilities owned or controlled by the institution (if applicable).
• Public property within campus bounds: Sidewalks, streets, or public spaces running through or immediately next to campus.
• Public property adjacent to campus: Areas immediately bordering campus and accessible to students and employees.
• Noncampus property: Buildings or locations owned or controlled by the institution but located off-campus, such as facilities used for educational purposes or property owned by officially recognized student organizations.

Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications are safety alerts issued to keep the campus community informed and protected.

• Timely Warnings:
  If a crime occurs that may pose an ongoing threat, MGA notifies students and employees through a Timely Warning. These alerts share verified information and safety tips so the campus community can take protective action.
• Emergency Notifications:
  When an immediate threat to health or safety occurs, such as severe weather, an active threat, or a public health emergency, MGA issues an Emergency Notification to alert the campus community. These messages are sent quickly through multiple channels and may apply to the entire university or just the area affected.

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) strengthened the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act by expanding the types of incidents colleges and universities must track, report, and prevent.

Under VAWA, institutions must:

• Collect and report statistics on incidents of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
• Include clear policy statements in their Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) explaining how these incidents are prevented and addressed.
• Provide prevention and awareness programs that promote healthy relationships, bystander intervention, and risk reduction for students and employees.

The U.S. Department of Education enforces the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, ensuring that colleges and universities meet federal standards for transparency in campus safety reporting.

Institutions that fail to comply may face civil penalties of up to $71,545 per violation (as of January 2025, adjusted annually for inflation). Beyond financial fines, the Department may impose:

• Corrective action plans to address compliance gaps
• Heightened federal oversight of reporting processes
• Potential limits on participation in federal financial aid programs

Reporting crimes and safety concerns helps Middle Georgia State University maintain a secure learning and working environment for everyone. Each report, no matter how small it may seem, contributes to accurate statistics, timely communication, and stronger prevention measures under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.

When students, employees, or visitors report incidents:

• MGA can provide immediate assistance to those affected and connect them with support resources.
• The information helps determine whether a Timely Warning or Emergency Notification should be issued.
• It ensures that campus crime data reported in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) is accurate and complete.

Title IX and the Clery Act are separate federal laws that work together to support safety and equity on campus.

• Title IX is a civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. It addresses issues such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
• The Clery Act is an administrative law that promotes transparency by requiring institutions to have safety policies, collect and publish crime statistics, and provide prevention and response measures.

These laws overlap because Title IX’s definition of sexual harassment includes the same behaviors defined by the Clery Act as dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS). 

Both laws require campuses to:

• Provide written information on rights and resources;
• Designate officials responsible for reporting and responding to incidents; and
• Maintain fair and transparent disciplinary procedures.

In short: Title IX protects individuals’ rights, while the Clery Act ensures institutional accountability.

A Campus Security Authority (CSA) under the Clery Act and a Responsible Employee under Title IX both have reporting obligations, but their focus and reporting lines differ.

• CSAs report Clery defined crimes to the University Police Department or Clery Compliance to ensure accurate crime statistics and timely warnings.
• Responsible Employees report sexual harassment or sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure an institutional response and support for affected individuals.