The University Policy Committee and President Sarah Mangelsdorf have approved three University-wide policies required under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, the federal law governing how universities track campus crime, warn their communities about danger, and prevent hazing.
Together they define how the University reports campus crime, when and how the community is notified about safety situations, and how hazing is prevented, reported, and investigated.
Crimes and safety concerns should be reported to University Public Safety by calling or texting the 24/7 number (585) 275-3333. This includes sex offenses, domestic and dating violence, stalking, hate crimes, hazing, violent crimes against a person, property crimes, and weapons, drug, liquor law violations and more. No one making a report is expected to classify an incident or judge whether a location is covered. Those determinations are made by Public Safety. If there is any question about the crime or the location, the report should be made.
Hazing Policy
This policy defines hazing, explains how to report concerns, outlines the University’s investigation processes, and describes hazing prevention and awareness efforts. It applies to all University students and student organizations, and to employees at all University locations. The University is committed to preventing hazing through education, awareness, and intervention, and to addressing concerns promptly.
What it means for you: The policy reaches employees as well as students, at every University location. Report a concern at https://www.rochester.edu/care/reports.html
Clery Act Compliance Policy
This policy establishes the University’s approach to meeting its obligations under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act and related federal requirements. It outlines responsibilities for Clery crime reporting, campus safety and fire safety reporting, Campus Security Authority reporting and training, emergency notifications and timely warnings, hazing transparency, and the publication of required reports. Campus Security Authorities must report certain incidents to University Public Safety.
What it means for you: Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) play an important role in keeping our campus community safe and supporting Clery Act compliance. CSAs are individuals who, because of their role or responsibilities, may be someone students or employees turn to when reporting a crime or safety concern. Roles may include public safety personnel, residence life staff, athletic staff, student affairs professionals, and others on any University campus, with significant responsibility for student or campus activities. Being a CSA does not mean you are responsible for investigating an incident or determining whether it is a Clery crime, it simply means you have a responsibility to share reports with University Public Safety so they can be properly addressed and included in Clery reporting when required.
The CSA working group is currently identifying CSAs across the University. Anyone designated as a CSA will be notified directly and will receive further information at that time. Send general questions about CSAs to Public Safety.
Clery Notifications Policy
This policy establishes when and how information is shared with the campus community, providing a framework for three types of notifications: Emergency Notifications, Timely Warnings, and Public Safety Advisories. Each serves a different purpose depending on the nature of the situation and its potential impact. The goal is to give you timely, relevant information so you can make informed decisions about your safety.
What it means for you: Verify your contact information in UR Mobile https://alert.rochester.edu so alerts reach you. Remember to sign up to receive emergency notifications by text—text messaging is the fastest way to get critical alerts directly to your phone when an emergency occurs. These are not routine announcements. When one arrives, act on it.
Our hospitals and healthcare facilities are part of the University community and, as teaching hospitals and clinical education locations, certain facilities fall within the University’s Clery Act responsibilities. Emergencies on or near these locations can impact employees, students, patients, visitors, and operations. Signing up for emergency text alerts is the fastest way to receive important information directly on your phone about emergencies and other situations that may affect your safety or ability to access our facilities.
Reporting at the Medical Center
Filing a patient safety event or compliance report does not reach Clery reporting; a crime or safety concern also needs to go to Public Safety by calling or texting the 24/7 number (585) 275-3333. Clery-covered locations are not always obvious, and uncertainty about a site, or about whether an incident counts, is never a reason to withhold a report. If in doubt, report it and let Public Safety sort it out.
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) does not prevent a University employee from fulfilling Clery reporting responsibilities. Reports should not include medical details, diagnoses, treatment information, or other protected health information, only the basic facts of what happened, when, and where. Public Safety will then determine what must be included in Clery notifications or statistics.