How the Clery Act Addresses Campus Sexual Assault

• In Event: Policy Panel: The Future of Preventing College Sexual Assault

Abstract

As the Executive Director of the Clery Center I have worked with policy makers, students, campus administrators, and parents on the issue of campus sexual assault. Through our direct work providing training and technical assistance to colleges and universities around prevention and response to campus sexual assault, we recognize a need to training and collaboration on campuses in developing a comprehensive and coordinated response. Each campus culture and climate represents unique challenges and campuses need to evaluate the challenges at their institution when developing holistic plan.

The Clery Act requires colleges and universities receiving Title IV funding to publish crime statistics and policy statements around reporting, prevention, and other safety programs. At Clery Center we promote looking beyond reported statistics and evaluating the work that campuses are doing to foster an environment where students will report crimes that happen. To effectively do this, campuses must consistently educate their populations about these crimes and how to report.

Author

• Alison Kiss, Clery Center for Security on Campus