Policies Pose Problems for Many Institutions
Although designating a Clery officer and Title IX coordinator are critical steps to becoming compliant, they are only the beginning. These individuals, along with the appropriate staff and campus administrators listed above, must receive training.
One of the biggest challenges, however, is understanding the policy statements that must be published in a college’s Clery Act annual security report.
“Often I find that they are missing a significant number of the required policy statements because they don’t understand the nuances of what the Department of Education is expecting,” says Stafford, who conducts two to four audits of colleges per month. “You can’t really read the handbook and understand completely how to comply with Clery. If you don’t have any background in it or any context for what you are reading, often you will miss the boat on what their expectations are.”
Policies are the weakest links with Title IX as well.
Related Article: “Dear Colleague” Letter
“I’ve seen campuses with as many as eight different policies: student on student; if a faculty member is the complainant against a student; if a faculty member is the complainant against other faculty member, etc.,” she says. “Often, none of them are in compliance. They are missing various components.”
Training, Association Membership Can Help
Fortunately for campuses, two associations can assist Clery compliance officers and Title IX administrators and provide them with professional development.
Stafford has just founded the National Association for Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals. Visit them at www.naccop.org.
Visit the Association of Title IX Administrators at www.atixa.rog for assistant with Title IX issues.
Additionally, the Clery Center for Security On Campus will soon be providing online Clery and Title IX training. For more information, visit www.clerycenter.org.
Related Articles:
- How the Campus SaVE Act Will Affect Clery Compliance
- How to Investigate Campus Sexual Assaults
- Abuse: The Dark Side of Dating on Campus
- April 2011 ‘Dear Colleague’ Letter on Sex Crime Protocol
- Clery Act Fines Increased to $35K Per Violation
- Clery Reporting: Whose Job Is It Anyway?
- Clery Center: Incident Reporting Has Improved but Could Be Better
- Additional Clery Compliance Guidance
- Specific guidelines on emergency notification, emergency response policies and testing.
- Specific guidelines on missing students.
- Specific guidelines on the new fire incident reporting requirements.
