The Clery Act

What is the Clery Act?

Signed into law in 1990, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose certain timely and annual information about campus crime and security policies. All postsecondary public and private institutions participating in federal student aid programs must adhere to these regulations. The Clery Act was championed by Howard & Connie Clery after their daughter Jeanne was murdered at Lehigh University in 1986.

History of the Jeanne Clery Act

In April 1986, Jeanne Clery's life ended tragically when another student raped and murdered her in her residence hall room. Alarmed at the lack of transparency around crime and violence on college campuses, Jeanne's parents, Connie and Howard, committed themselves to create enduring change.

To ensure compliance with the Clery Act, UCCS must meet obligations in the following three broad categories: (1) Policy disclosure; (2) Records collection and retention; and (3) Information dissemination. 

  • Policy Disclosure - UCCS must provide the campus community and the public with accurate statements of current policies and practices regarding procedures for students and others to report criminal actions or other emergencies on campus; security of and access to campus facilities; and campus law enforcement.
  • Records Collection and Retention - UCCS is required to keep campus records of crimes reported on campus to campus related authorities; must make a reasonable good faith effort to obtain certain crime statistics from appropriate law enforcement agencies to include in the annual security report; and must keep a daily crime log open for public inspection. Note: Specific case requests must be made in writing and a five dollar fee for processing paid prior to release of records. Please allow one to two business days for processing. The daily crime log is available upon request with no fee associated.
  • Information Dissemination - To provide the campus community with the information needed to make informed decisions UCCS must provide a "timely warning" of any Clery Act crime that represents an ongoing threat to the safety of students and employees, ensure access to the crime log during normal business hours, publish an annual security report and make the information available to all current students and employees, inform the campus community where to obtain information on registered sex offenders; and submit annual crime statistics to the US Department of Education.
  • Criminal homicide (Murder, Non-negligent Manslaughter and Manslaughter by Negligence)
  • Sexual Assault (Rape, Fondling, Incest and Statutory Rape)
  • Robbery
  • Aggravated Assault
  • Burglary
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
  • Arson
  • Hate crimes (race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin and disability)  
  • Domestic Violence
  • Dating Violence
  • Stalking

UCCS publishes our Annual Security Report and Fire Safety Report.  The Annual Security Report contains a summary of campus crime statistics, responsibilities to report, campus safety and crime prevention programs, emergency notification systems and process, and other safety information. Additionally, pursuant to C.R.S. 18-3-412.5 the report contains information regarding persons who are required by Colorado law to register as sex offenders. The Annual Fire Safety Report includes information about Housing fire notifications, fire statistics, drills and evacuation procedures, fire alarm systems and fire education and training. This report can be read in full on the internet at: Report

If you cannot access the report on the internet, please call (719) 255-3111 or report in person at the UCCS Police Department located on the UCCS campus.

Campus Security Authorities are those individuals, offices or departments whose functions involve significant responsibility with students and campus activities.

To assist in the identification and reporting of crime on campus, the Clery Act regulations define a campus security authority as:

  • University Police
  • Non-police security staff responsible for monitoring university property
  • People/offices designated under university policy as those to whom/which crimes should be reported
  • University officials with significant responsibility for student and campus activities

The function of a Campus Security Authority is to document and report, to UCCS Police, allegations of  Clery Act crimes that he or she concludes were made in good faith.

Campus Security Authorities are to use the  UCCS Crime Statistics Reporting Form to report crimes.