Context
According to the Clery Act (which is a federal law with the full title: Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act), Messiah University is required to disclose “statistics concerning the occurrence of certain criminal offenses reported to local law enforcement agencies or any official of the institution who is defined as a ‘Campus Security Authority.’”
Definition
The Clery Act defines “Campus Security Authority” (CSA) as:
“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.”
Examples of officials that fall under this definition include a Dean of Students who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including spaces that house or host student activities, a Director of Athletics, any athletic coach, and a faculty advisor to a student group. These roles have significant responsibility for student and campus activities that set them apart from other official roles at the University—such as a single teaching faculty member or an administrative assistant.
The majority of teaching faculty are unlikely to have significant responsibility for student and campus activities, except when serving as an advisor to a student group. Other staff members such as maintenance and grounds employees are also unlikely to have significant responsibility for student and campus activities.
The CSAs at Messiah are designated by the Vice President of Human Resources & Compliance and Title IX Coordinator (with additional input from legal counsel) based on the Clery Act definition of CSA, the individual role assignment, and evaluation of reasonable burden.
Confidential Resources
Confidential resources in the campus community such as “pastoral counselors” and “professional counselors”, when acting as such, are not considered to be a Campus Security Authority. Confidential resources are required to report crimes for inclusion into the annual disclosure of crime statistics but are not required to include any personally identifiable information. Confidential resources inform persons being counseled of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary basis and also provide all victims of potential crimes with rights and resources to assist, regardless of their decision to report.
Federal regulations define counselors as:
Pastoral Counselor - An employee of an institution who is associated with a religious order or denomination, recognized by that religious order or denomination as someone who provides confidential counseling and who is functioning within the scope of that recognition as a pastoral counselor.
- Emily Bingham and Dr. Douglas Curry are campus pastors who may serve as confidential resources in Campus Ministries and can be reached via ext. 3080.
- Dr. Stephen Gallaher is the campus community pastor and serves as a confidential resource for employees. He can be reached at ext. 2382.
Professional Counselor - An employee of an institution whose official responsibilities include providing psychological counseling to members of the institution’s community and who is functioning within the scope of his or her license or certification.
- The Engle Center counselors are confidential resources and can be reached at ext. 5357.
Additionally, through provisions offered by the Office of Civil Rights, University’s may designate other personnel as confidential resources including “people who provide assistance to students who experience sexual violence [but] are not professional or pastoral counselors” as confidential resources. Per this guidance, the Prevention and Education Specialist is also a confidential resource at Messiah University for the purpose of facilitating confidential interpersonal violence reporting options.
- Emma Dougherty, the Prevention and Education Coordinator is a confidential resource and can be reached at edougherty@messiah.edu or ext. 7085.
Scope of Campus Security Authorities
CSAs are required to disclose statistics for offenses and potential crimes that occur on campus, in or on non-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by our school, and public property within or immediately adjacent to our campus.
Also, please be aware that CSAs are required to report violations that occur off campus while in an official university capacity.
Clery report statistics are reported based on the calendar year not the academic year.
The criminal offenses for which CSAs are required to disclose statistics are:
- Aggravated assault
- Arson
- Burglary
- Drug abuse violations
- Liquor law violations
- Motor vehicle theft
- Murder/non-negligent manslaughter
- Negligent manslaughter
- Sex offenses (forcible and non-forcible)
- Reports of weapons: carrying, possessing, etc.
- Robbery
We are also required to report statistics for bias-related (hate) crimes for the following offenses:
- Aggravated assault
- Arson
- Burglary
- Damage/destruction/vandalism of property
- Intimidation
- Larceny—theft
- Motor vehicle theft
- Murder/non-negligent manslaughter
- Robbery
- Sex offenses (forcible and non-forcible)
- Simple assault
- Vandalism
Reporting Crimes and Potential Crimes
In emergencies, these crimes should be reported by calling the police at 911.
In non-emergency situations, reports can be made to Campus Safety at ext. 6565 from a campus phone or by calling 717-691-6005 from off campus. It is recommended that CSAs save this number on their cell phones in the event they are not near a campus phone.
Any Campus Safety officer can assist in filing a report with the Clery Coordinator, who is also the Title IX Coordinator and works in close collaboration with the Department of Safety.
CSAs may also report sex-based offenses to the Title IX Coordinator (Hannah McBride) or the Prevention and Education Specialist (Emma Dougherty) at ext. 5300 or by calling 717-796-5300 from off campus.
Notification
Messiah University has a responsibility to notify the campus community about any crimes which pose an ongoing threat to the community, and, as such, Campus Security Authorities are obligated by law to report crimes to Campus Safety within 24 hours.
Even if you are not sure whether an ongoing threat exists, or the validity of the potential crime, report the potential crime promptly.
CSAs are notified of their designation, definition, and role requirements annually:
- In October, all CSAs receive a notification and mandatory training module.
- Prior to the holiday break in December, all CSAs receive an inquiry soliciting reports.
- Prior to the close of the Spring semester in May, all CSAs receive an inquiry soliciting reports.
Rights and Responses for Messiah University Community Members
The Department of Safety advises every crime victim of his or her right to report the crime to the appropriate law enforcement agency and assist the victim in that process if desired. All reported criminal incidents are promptly investigated by the Department of Safety or turned over to the appropriate local law enforcement agency for investigation.
In matters of sex offenses, the victim may choose not to request an investigation. In these instances, the protocols compliant with the Clery Act as well as Title IX and VAWA are engaged according to the victim’s wishes.
Substantiated incidents may result in University disciplinary action as well as referrals to local law enforcement for criminal prosecution. University discipline proceedings may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following any off-campus civil or criminal proceedings. Crime victims or concerned persons may address questions regarding support measures to the Dean of Students at ext. 3200 or to any of the confidential resources available on campus. Support measures include counseling and health resources, changes in academic, work, or living situations, parking assignments, university response or discipline processes, and/or assistance in crime reporting to local law enforcement and/or advocacy agencies.
Campus Security Authorities at Messiah
To maintain reasonable expectations for reporting requirements, appropriate training, and support student employment, Messiah University intentionally limits the number of student employee roles designated as CSAs.
Additionally, no volunteer roles are designated as CSAs.
Below is a list of positions that have been identified at Messiah University as CSAs to report (potential) crimes for the annual federally mandated Clery Act report:
Personnel Responsible for Community Safety and Support
- Department of Safety (all employees)
- Office of Human Resources & Compliance (all employees except the Prevention & Education Specialist)
- Director of Facility Services
- Campus & Building Services Supervisors (including all supervisors of student employees)
- Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Coordinators
- Student Supervisors
President's Cabinet and Supporting Staff
- President of the University
- Executive Coordinator for the Office of the President and the Board of Trustees
- Executive Assistant for the Office of the President
- Provost
- Associate Provost
- Assistant Provost
- Vice President for Diversity Affairs
- Vice President for Enrollment Management
- Vice President for Advancement
- Vice President for Finance & Planning
- Vice President for HR & Compliance & Payroll
- Vice Provost for Student Success & Engagement
- Vice President for Operations
Academic Leadership
- Dean, School of the Arts, Culture, and Society
- Dean, School of Science, Engineering and Health
- Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies
- Academic Department Chairs
- Advisors/Facilitators of Trips under the Education Abroad Department
- Director of Academic Advising
- Coordinator of Student Services, School of Graduate & Professional Studies
- Director of the Collaboratory for Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research
- Collaboratory Program Manager
- Director of Peace and Conflict Studies
Personnel Responsible for Student Success & Engagement
- Dean of Students
- Director of Residence Life
- Assistant Director of Residence Life, First-Year Experience
- Assistant Director of Residence Life, Upper-Class Experience
- Director of Housing
- Residence Life Educators
- Director of Career and Professional Development Center
- Assistant Director for Career Coaching & Education
- Assistant Director for Internships & Faculty Partnerships
- Assistant Director for Employer & Alumni Relations
- Coordinator of Special Projects & Events
- Career Coach
- Director of Student Engagement
- Director of First-Year Experience
- Director of International Student Programs
- Intercultural Programs Advisor
- Director of Multicultural Student Programs
- Coordinator of Internships and Multicultural Student Programs
- Financial Services Counselor – Multicultural Student Programs Coordinator
- Director of Off-Campus Programs in the Agape Center
- Director of Service Learning & Community Engagement in the Agape Center
- Director of the Academic Success Center
- Assistant Director of the Office of Academic Accessibility
- Academic Success Assistant for the Office of Academic Accessibility
- Test Proctor in the Office of Academic Accessibility
- Director of Student Success
- Student Success Coordinator
- Student Clubs and Organization Advisors
- Director of Oakes Museum and Campus Sustainability
- Summer Camps Staff and Counselors
Athletics Personnel
- Athletic Director
- Associate Athletics Director for Facilities
- Associate Athletics Director, SWA
- Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Events
- Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance and Internal Operations
- Director of Sports Medicine
- Athletic Trainers
- Athletic Communications Coordinator
- Director of Fitness Center
- Athletic Coaches (Head and Assistant)
- Aquatic Director
- Assistant Aquatics Director
- Director of AROMA Sports Ministry Program
- Assistant Director of AROMA Sports Ministry Program
- AROMA Ministry Staff
Student Employees
- All Graduate Assistants
- All Summer Camp Staff
- SOAR Peer Mentors in The Office of Student Success
- Residence Assistants
- STOs and Escort Drivers in The Department of Safety
- Fitness Center Staff