Clery and Crime Statistics
About the Jeane Clery Act
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) was named in honor of Jeanne Clery, who was tortured, raped, and murdered in her dorm room at Lehigh University in in 1986. Her parents believe Jeanne would have been more cautious if she had known about other violent crimes at Lehigh University.
The Clery Act was enacted in 1990. The Clery Act requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose statistical information about crimes and fires on and near their respective campus. This federal law requires colleges and universities to disclose certain timely and annual information about campus crime and security policies. All post-secondary institutions participating in Higher Education Act’s Title IV student financial assistance programs are required to disclose campus crime statistics and security information.
In order for Western Carolina University to comply with the Clery Act requirements the institution must:
- Collect, classify and count crime reports and crime statistics
- Issue campus alerts to provide the campus community with information necessary to make informed decisions about their health and safety
- Publish an annual security report containing safety- and security-related policy statements and crime statistics and distribute it to all current students and employees.
- Submit crime statistics to Department of Education each year by type and location
- Maintain a daily crime log of alleged criminal incidents that is open to the public
- Disclose missing student notification procedures that pertain to students residing in those residence hall facilities
- Keep a fire log that is open to public inspection.
- Publish an annual fire safety report containing policy statements as well as fire statistics associated with each on-campus student housing facility
- Submit fire statistics to Department of Education each fall in the Web-based data collection.The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act final rule of November 1, 1999 designates certain members of the university community as Campus Security Authorities
VAWA Amendments to Clery
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) amendments to the Clery Act expand the rights afforded to campus survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Read the complete VAWA Amendments
Visit the Clery Center for Security on Campus
Criminal Offenses Which Require Reporting
The criminal offenses that we are required to report are murder/non-negligent manslaughter, negligent manslaughter, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, liquor law violations, drug violations, and/or illegal weapons possession. We are required to report offenses that occur on campus, in residence facilities, in non-campus property utilized by the institution and on public property adjacent to the campus. Clery criminal offenses may not have the same meaning as state criminal offenses.
Crime Definitions Used For This Reporting Program
The willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another. NOTE: deaths caused by negligence, attempts to kill, assaults to kill, suicides, accidental deaths, and justifiable homicides are excluded.
The killing of another person through gross negligence.
The taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.
An unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault usually is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. It is not necessary that injury result from an aggravated assault when a gun, knife or other weapon is used which could or probably would result in a serious potential injury if the crime were successfully completed.
The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft. For reporting purposes this definition includes: unlawful entry with intent to commit a larceny or a felony: breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny; housebreaking; safe cracking; and all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned.
The theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. (Classify as motor vehicle theft all cases where automobiles are taken by persons not having lawful access, even though the vehicles are later abandoned, including joy riding.)
The willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, or personal property of another kind.
RAPE: the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus, with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. This offense includes the rape of both males and females.
FONDLING: the touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental incapacity.
INCEST: sexual intercouse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.
STATUTORY RAPE: sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent. (The age of consent in North Carolina is 16.)
The crimes noted above and also Larceny/Theft, Simple Assault, Intimidation, and damage or vandalism of property or other crimes involving bodily injury in which the victim is intentionally selected because of the actual or perceived race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability of victim shall be reported according to the category of prejudice.
Campus Security Authorities are required by federal law to report the above listed crimes that they have direct knowledge of or have been informed about. The information is for statistical purposes.
It is the policy of Western Carolina University and the Western Carolina University Police Department to endeavor to be in compliance with all federal, state, county, and local laws, rules, and regulations. In accordance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, Western Carolina University, through these reports, is making available information regarding campus security policies and procedures as well as crime statistics reported to law enforcement agencies for the area where Western Carolina University is located.
Daily Crime and Fire Log and Annual Crime Stats
We all share the goal of providing an environment where our students can pursue their college experience in a safe and secure environment. Our most important partnership, however, is with the campus community. Without their support, engagement, and effort we could not be successful. A truly safe campus can only be achieved through the cooperation of everyone. It is up to each one of us to help foster a secure and supportive environment at Western Carolina University, an environment where individuals can feel safe to visit, learn, work and live.
The Daily Activity Reports log any and all alleged criminal incidents that are reported to the University Police Department, which is maintained by the University Police and is subject to public inspection.
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is a collaborative effort between the Western Carolina University Police Department, Division of Student Affairs, Department of Emergency Services, and the Safety & Risk Management Department. It contains information regarding statistical data, policies, Timely Warnings, Emergency Notifications, informational links, and other relevant information. While Western Carolina University statistics illustrate a very low crime rate, it is important for everyone to remember that we are not immune from criminal activity. As a community we are all responsible for and to each other to keep our campus community safe. Please feel free to contact
Timely Warnings and Notifications
Clery Center
Request CSA (Campus Security Authority) Training
A CSA is defined 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." Western Carolina University has identified our officials who meet these criteria and has informed them of their responsibilities.