Department of Education Releases New Clery Handbook

The Department of Education has published an updated edition of the Clery Handbook: The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting 2016 Edition. The handbook serves as a compilation of the Department’s guidelines, and incorporates scenarios, examples and issues discussed by multiple stakeholders involved in campus safety compliance and enforcement.  

Most notably, the updated handbook includes the provisions of the reauthorized Violence Against Women Act of 2013, which require institutions to disclose statistics, policies and programs related to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, among other changes. A final rule related to the provisions contained within the Violence Against Women Act of 2013 was published in October 2014 and took the force of law on July 1, 2015. 

The handbook also dedicates considerable attention to the definitions and crime reporting requirements related to (1) “on campus,” (2) “on public property within or immediately adjacent to campus,” and (3) “in or on noncampus buildings or property that your institution owns or controls.” This particular section of the Clery Handbook has grown from 11 pages in the last iteration of the publication to 27 pages in this newest version. 

If, after consulting the Handbook, an institution has questions regarding compliance with the Clery Act, those questions should be directed to the Campus Safety Help Desk. The Help Desk can be reached by phone at (800) 435-5985 or by email at campussafetyhelp@westat.com. 

Additional information related to campus safety and security reporting, as well as supplementary resources can be found via the Department’s Campus Security Portal.

For more information, please contact:
Tim Powers