Clery Act and the Annual Security Report

About the Clery Act

The Clery Act is a consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime, policies, and statistics. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act or Clery Act, signed in 1990, is a federal statute codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f), with implementing regulations in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations at 34 C.F.R. 668.46.

The Clery Act requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their respective campuses. Compliance is monitored by the United States Department of Education. The law is named after Jeanne Clery, a 19-year-old Lehigh University student who was raped and murdered in her campus hall of residence in 1986.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

Cover of Annual Clery Safety Report

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, often referred to as the Clery Report, includes statistics about crimes and other security incidents reported to campus security authorities in the past three years.

The report also outlines policies, practice and resources related to campus security, crime reporting, alcohol and drug use, victim assistance programs, student discipline, community safety alerts, crime prevention, access to campus facilities/properties and personal safety tips. Below are the past seven Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports published by Fitchburg State University.

Fitchburg State University’s Clery Crime Logs and Fire Logs are available for viewing at the University Police Station, 32 Clinton Street, Fitchburg.

Information concerning sex offenders may be accessed on our Sex Offender Registry Information page.

Clery Geography

Although the Clery Act does not require institutions to provide a map to show their campus and non-campus buildings, campus property or public property areas, Fitchburg State University chooses to provide one in their annual security report to help the campus community better understand where reported crimes occurred. Our Maps are also useful if to help identify the buildings and property that make up the Fitchburg State University’s Clery Act geography, and to pinpoint the patrol jurisdiction of the Fitchburg State University Police Department. Due to the size and geographical layout the University shares within the City of Fitchburg, we have also broken down the ASR’s map into several larger maps for your convenience in a portable document format.

Fitchburg State University Alert (FSU Alert)

Fitchburg State Alert will enable the university to notify you of important campus announcements including, such as emergencies, and campus closures. Fitchburg State Alert is setup to send notifications to your Fitchburg State University email by default. Mobile phones, land lines, and additional email addresses must be entered by the user. Login with your Fitchburg State Username and Password (Falcon Key) to begin.

What is a Timely Warning (Also Known as an FSU Crime Alert)?

The Clery Act requires institutions to alert the campus community to certain crimes in a manner that is timely and will aid in the prevention of similar crimes. Although the Clery Act doesn’t define “timely,” the intent of a warning regarding a criminal incident(s) is to enable people to protect themselves. Warnings will be issued as soon as pertinent information is available. The warning will contain information about the type of criminal incident that has occurred.

A timely warning will be decided on a case-by-case basis in light of all the facts surrounding a crime, including factors such as the following:

  • The nature of the crime
  • The continuing danger to the campus community
  • The possible risk of compromising law enforcement efforts

Fitchburg State Alert is set up to send notifications to your Fitchburg State University email by default. Mobile phones, land lines, and additional email addresses must be entered by the user. Login with your Fitchburg State Username and Password (Falcon Key) to begin.

Campus Security Authority

Campus Security Authority is a Clery-specific term that encompasses four groups of individuals and organizations associated with the institution. 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. Any individual or organization specified in an institution’s 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 limited to, student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings. An official is defined as any person who has the authority and the duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution.

Campus Security Authority Incident Report Form

Frequently Asked Questions

A: Campus Security Authorities or CSAs, which include a wide range of individuals with responsibility for campus security or student and campus activities.

A: Report any information reported to them about Clery crimes* occurring in Clery geography* to the crime collection body at their institution.

A: In your institution’s Annual Security Report (ASR)! Published each year by October 1st and available to any current or prospective student or employee, the ASR contains policy information on various aspects of campus safety as well as Clery crime statistics for the three previous calendar years.

A: The Clery Act requires institutions to send a timely warning if a Clery crime occurring in Clery geography poses a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community. The Clery Act also requires institutions to send out an emergency notification if a significant emergency impacting the immediate health and safety of the campus occurs.

A: Clery crime statistics represent Clery crimes* that occurred in Clery geography reported to a CSA.

A: Yes it does. Clery requires institutions to have specific prevention, response, and disciplinary procedures in place for students and employees.