clery act

The concerns of college parents about the well-being and safety of their students has a paramount issue for college families.  As a result, we are pleased to recognize and thank the Clery Center for the 30 years of dedicated service to the schools, students and families.

College families and their students are wise to consider some practical questions about campus safety.

While your child may be eager to visit colleges to check out the dorms, the study and athletic facilities, the food and the social atmosphere, what shouldn't be overlooked is the level of security provided on campus. Most high school students would not rate this as one of their primary concerns when considering which college to attend, which is why it is often up to their parents to ask important questions about the safety of where their children may be spending the next several years.

Despite the requirement to disclose accurate crime statistics and potential fines of $35,000 per report violation, it appears that 30 years after the death of Jeanne Clery colleges and universities continue to struggle to comply with providing accurate crime reports. In fact, this past November the American Association of University Women (AAUW) published an alarming report that concludes that ninety-one percent of the nation’s colleges have told the federal government there were no rapes reported on their campuses in 2014. In contrast to other reports that indicate sexual assault rates of women may reach as high as 21%, AAUW correctly concludes that this analysis of campus reported data “defies reality.”

  safety first by flickr user alex (svoalex), cc license Today's Columbus Dispatch reveals deeply problematic issues in the substance of crime reports. When even the national director of campus safety reports reveals that college self-reporting is inaccurate, parents are left wondering what data they can rely on.

   safety first by flickr user alex (svoalex), cc license After a very big spring in Clery Act and campus sexual assault news (including this White House Task Force report & this campus map), the past two weeks have provided plenty more in Clery Act-related stories. Catch up on this important campus safety news below.