Clery Act and Campus Safety

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act) requires higher education institutions to provide timely warnings of crimes that represent a threat to the campus community and to publish their campus security policies. The Act also requires that the crime data are collected, reported, and disseminated to the campus community, the Department of Education, and potential students and employees. University of Alaska Anchorage updates and maintains the Annual Security for all UAA campuses, including Mat-Su College.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

 

Who to Call?

Emergency 911
Non-Emergencies call 907-745-2131

Students, staff, faculty, and visitors should report campus crimes, emergencies, and safety concerns to Alaska State Troopers as well as to the College Director, the Interim Director of Student Services, the Interim Director of Academic Affairs, or the Theater Director in an accurate and timely manner, including when the victim elects to, or is unable to, make such a report. A report is assessed for inclusion in the annual crime statistics and for determination if it warrants providing timely warning notices to the University community, when appropriate.

 

  • What is the Clery Act?

    In 1990, Congress passed the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act (CACSA) amendments
    to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Amendments to CACSA in 1998 renamed the law
    the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the
    Clery Act) in memory of a student who was murdered in her dorm room. In 2013, Congress passed
    the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), which included additional
    amendments to the Clery Act.

    The Clery Act requires that all postsecondary institutions participating in Title IV student financial
    assistance programs disclose campus crime statistics and other security information to students
    and the public. The VAWA amendments added requirements that institutions disclose statistics,
    policies and programs related to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking,
    among other changes.

    Clery Act Appendix for FSA Handbook: (October 2020)

  • Who is a Campus Security Authority (CSA) and what is their function?

    According to the The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting (June 2016), 

    “Campus security authority” is a Clery Act-specific term that encompasses four groups of individuals and organizations associated with an 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 (e.g., an individual who is responsible for monitoring the entrance into institutional property).
    • 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 not 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.

    If someone has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, he or she is a campus security authority.

    Examples include; but are not limited to:

    • a dean of students who oversees student housing, a student center or student extracurricular activities;
    • a faculty advisor to a student group;
    • a student resident advisor or assistant;
    • a Title IX coordinator; and
    • members of a sexual assault response team (SART) or other sexual assault advocates.

    Additional examples can be found in The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting (2016). 

    CSA Function

    A campus security authority (CSA) is to report to the official or office designated by the institution to collect crime report information, such as the campus police or security department, those allegations of Clery Act crimes that he or she receives. CSAs are responsible for reporting allegations of Clery Act crimes that are reported to them in their capacity as a CSA. This means that CSAs are not responsible for investigating or reporting incidents that they overhear students talking about in a hallway conversation; that a classmate or student mentions during an in-class discussion; that a victim mentions during a speech, workshop, or any other form of group presentation; or that the CSA otherwise learns about in an indirect manner.

    CSAs can expect the following:

    • An annual training regarding their reporting responsibilities
    • A requirement to immediately report any Clery Crimes brought to their attention while performing in their CSA role
    • Semesterly requests for any unreported crime statistics (currently done through Qualtrics) that takes 30 seconds on average to complete
  • CSA Crime Reporting Process and Training

    Reporting Process

    Students, staff, faculty, and visitors should report campus crimes, emergencies, and safety concerns to Alaska State Troopers as well as to the College Director, the Interim Director of Student Services, the Interim Director of Academic Affairs, or the Theater Director in an accurate and timely manner, including when the victim elects to, or is unable to, make such a report. A report is assessed for inclusion in the annual crime statistics and for determination if it warrants providing timely warning notices to the University community, when appropriate.

    In an emergency, dial 911 and then contact the College Director, the Interim Director of Student Services, Director of Academic Affairs, or the Theater Director.

    For non-emergencies, phone the local police and then contact the College Director, Director of Academic Affairs, or the Interim Director of Student Services.

    Contact Phone
    Alaska State Troopers 907-745-2131
    College Director 907-745-9726
    Interim Director of Student Services 907-745-9712
    Director of Academic Affairs 907-745-9726
    Theater Director 907-746-9302

    Online Reporting Option

    Semesterly requests for any unreported crime statistics will be sent out to the CSA through their UAA email in the form of a Qualtrics survey, which takes 30 seconds on average to complete.

    CSA Training

    UAA Dean of Student Office has partnered with D Stafford & Associates (DSA) to provide a Campus Security Authority (CSA) On-Line Training Program. This training will help each person identified as a CSA meet their annual training needs and will assist the institution in complying with the Clery Act. Visit (UAA Clery Website) for more information on training.

  • Campus Safety and Campus Emergency Response Team 

    Campus Security

    We care about your safety on campus. While relatively safe, our campus is NOT a sanctuary from crime, and accidents still occur no matter how hard we try to prevent them. You are encouraged to be responsible for your own safety and to bring safety concerns to the attention of MSC faculty or staff, or contact the Physical Plant Office at 745-9750 when you observe an unsafe environment. Also, for your own safety, please take time to locate the nearest exit and emergency telephone when you are in campus buildings. Emergency phones are located outside the entrance to JKB by the Director’s Office, the lobby in FSM on the first floor, and at the west entrance to Snodgrass Hall. For additional safety information and procedures for emergencies at MSC visit Campus Safety.

    Emergency Closure

    In the event of an urgent emergency at Matanuska-Susitna College (MSC), and you are the first to recognize a fire situation, activate the alarm, evacuate to a safe location using the nearest exit, and notify the Alaska State Troopers at 907-745-2131 Police Emergency or dial 911. Emergency telephones are located at the outside entrance to JKB by the Director’s Office and at the west entrance to Snodgrass Hall (entrance facing the front parking lot). Regular land-line phones are also available in every classroom. The College Director should always be notified of all significant problems within twenty-four hours, if not sooner.

    After contact with 911, and/or in the event of less urgent situations, contact should be made with the College Director or designee. In an urgent event or emergency, the Physical Plant should be contacted.

    College Director's Office: (907) 745-9726; Jalmar Kerttula Building (JKB) 101; 8295 E. College Drive, Palmer AK  99654

    Physical Plant: (907) 745-9789

    Evacuation Procedures

    At the sound of the fire alarm or if you are instructed to evacuate, leave your work area immediately and proceed to the nearest exit, and leave the building. 

    1. Remain Calm
    2. Do NOT use Elevators, Use the Stairs.
    3. Assist the physically impaired. If any individual is unable to exit without using an elevator, secure a safe location near a stairwell, and immediately inform the police or responding fire department of the individual's location.
    4. Proceed to a clear area at least 50 feet from the building. Keep all walkways clear for emergency vehicles.
    5. Make sure all personnel are out of the building.
    6. Do not re-enter the building.

    Campus Emergency Response Team

  •  Title IX and Nondiscrimination

    Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX states:
    "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." (Title IX and Sex Discrimination)

    If you have experienced or are aware of  any form of harassment, discrimination or retaliation, please make a report. Reports received help us track patterns and improve campus safety and educational prevention efforts for our campus community.

    Reporting Options

    If you are in immediate danger, call 911. 

    Report Online 

    The information you submit will be directly sent to the UAA Office of Equity and Compliance.

    Online Incident Report Form

    Report by Email

    You can file a report by sending an email to uaa_titleix@alaska.edu and describing the incident, including the date and names of people involved.

    Report to the Mat-Su College Title IX Liaison

    Adelina Rodriguez Interim Title IX Liaison
     907-745-9712
    arodriguez22@alaska.edu
     
    For more information and additional resources visit Nondiscrimination Statement and Title IX Compliance

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