Greetings! This University Policy Spotlight will focus on University Policy 10:3,
Community Notification of Potential, Imminent, or Active Threat to the University. Please keep reading to learn more about this important policy.
Why is this policy in place?
This policy sets forth the guidelines for when and how the university provides information to the university community regarding potential, imminent, and active threats to the university in compliance with the Clery Act and other applicable laws and policies.
What is the Clery Act?
The Clery Act is the informal name for the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, which is a federal consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics. The act is named in memory of Jeanne Clery, who was murdered in her dorm room in 1986. The Clery Act requires the university to report crime statistics, publish an annual security report, and make timely warnings and emergency notifications to the campus community. Please see University Policy 10:11 (Clery Act Compliance) for additional information on the Clery Act.
What is a timely warning?
Timely warnings are notifications to the university community that provide information on Clery Act crimes that occur on university Clery geography, are reported to campus security authorities or local law enforcement, and that pose a serious or continuing threat to students and employees.
What is a Clery Act crime?
Clery Act crimes include a range of offenses such as murder, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, and certain hate crimes. Please see University Policy 10:11 (Clery Act Compliance) for additional information on the Clery Act.
Are timely warnings issued immediately following the report of an alleged Clery Act crime?
No, timely warnings are not instantaneous. Enough information has to be gathered to determine whether a timely warning is required and would be of assistance to the SDSU community. Some delays occur to prevent impeding a criminal investigation. Additionally, some victims may not report the crime until several days after it occurred.
What is the difference between timely warnings and emergency notifications?
As stated above, timely warnings provide information on Clery Act crimes that occur on university Clery geography, are reported to campus security authorities or local law enforcement, and that pose a serious or continuing threat to students and employees. Emergency notifications have a wider focus than timely warnings and are issued without hesitation to alert the university community to a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on the SDSU campus.
What kinds of incidents trigger an emergency notification?
Emergency notifications are sent when emergencies are happening in real time. These types of incidents may be weather-related, criminal, or pose other types of emergencies. Examples include an approaching tornado or other extreme weather condition, a gas leak, a nearby chemical or hazardous waste spill, or an armed intruder.
What are "other notifications?"
Under the policy, "other notifications" may be issued to provide information to the university community when an incident does not meet the threshold for a timely warning or an emergency notification.
Who makes the decision to issue a timely warning, emergency notification, or other notification?
The Chair of the university's Emergency Management Team (EMT), in consultation with the appropriate members of EMT and other university units as appropriate, is responsible for initiating timely warnings, emergency notifications, and other notifications to the campus community.
How will I receive a timely warning or emergency notification?
The university maintains a university status webpage which contains both prior and active timely warnings and emergency notifications. The university also maintains a campus alert system through Everbridge for the purpose of issuing immediate notifications to the campus community. The campus alert system through Everbridge is a free service to members of the university community. Employees and students are automatically a part of this system through their campus-assigned email address. By logging in at the link above, users may add other methods of contact and set their contact preferences.
May I opt out of receiving timely warnings and emergency notifications?
No, all SDSU students and employees are mandated by the South Dakota Board of Regents to have their campus-assigned email uploaded to the campus alert system to receive these important notifications. You may opt out all other contact information by logging in to your account at the link above.
Why are timely warnings and emergency notifications important?
Timely warnings and emergency notifications are important because they keep our campus community aware of emergency situations that could impact their health and safety, and they provide instructions and information on how to keep yourself and others safe.
Are timely warnings and emergency notifications a requirement for all universities?
Yes, all institutions of higher education that receive federal financial aid (Title IV) are mandated under the Clery Act to report statistics on specified crimes on or near college campuses and to provide other safety and crime information to members of their campus community. These requirements include timely warnings and emergency notifications.
Where can I find the university's annual security report?
The University Police Department publishes the university’s annual security report to the university’s public website each year.
For additional information, please refer to University Policy 10:3. Additionally, you may contact the Office of General Counsel with any questions.
