Clery Act - The Right-To-Know Act and Campus Security Act

Your Right to Know

The Jeanne Clery Act, previously known as The Students Right to Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, is the landmark federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose information about crime on and around their campus. The "Clery Act" is named in memory of Jeanne Ann Clery, a 19-year-old Lehigh University freshman who was sexually assaulted and murdered in her residence hall room on April 5, 1986.

The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio is committed to assisting the health science center community in providing for its own safety and security. Information regarding campus security, personal safety, crime prevention, university police law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, crime statistics for the most recent three-year period, and disciplinary procedures is available on the health science center Police Department website.

If you would like a paper copy of this information, you may contact the University Police Department at 210-567-2800.

Crime Statistics

The University Police Department compiles statistics of crimes occurring on the campus. Reports of these statistics are forwarded to the Office of the Director of Police of The University of Texas System, to the Texas Department of Public Safety, and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Statistics are provided to meet compliance requirements established in the Clery Act. Persons with questions about the information may contact the Chief of Police at (210) 450-8382. Information is available upon request.

Crime Reporting

Numerous efforts are made to advise members of the campus community about campus crime and crime-related problems.

  1. Annual Report: A comprehensive annual report of crime-related information is compiled, published, and made available for distribution. This report is available to the media and any member of the campus community or members of their immediate family.
  2. Special Crime Alerts: If circumstances warrant, special crime bulletins can be printed and distributed throughout the campus.
  3. Emergency Notifications/Timely Warnings: When crimes occur on or near the campus property that pose a continuing threat to the safety or health of the campus community, immediate notifications will be made utilizing the HSC Alert text message notification system.
  4. Electronic Mail: In extreme situations, crime bulletins can be prepared and disseminated, utilizing the campus electronic mail system.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Campus

“(i) Any building or property owned or controlled by the institution of higher education within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or related to, its educational purposes; or (ii) any building or property owned or controlled by student organizations recognized by the institution.”

Contained herein, “campus” and/or “The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio” refers to the Health Science Center and the 8403 Floyd Curl Campus, inclusive.

Branch campuses, schools, or divisions that are not within a reasonable contiguous geographic area are considered separate campuses for the reporting requirements.

In most cases, fraternity, sorority, and other organizational housing units will be considered part of the campus regardless of location and ownership. Other areas that may be included are recreation/camp sites, research facilities, teaching hospitals, and foreign campuses.

Crimes

While not defined in the law, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Inc. (NASPA) suggests that a crime is “reported” when a campus police officer investigating an incident determines that a crime has occurred or a local police agency notifies a component that it has documented a report of a criminal offense that has occurred “on campus” as defined by this Act.

For the purposes of the Act, the offenses for which statistics must be reported are to be defined in accordance with the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR) system, as modified by the Hate Crimes Statistics Act.

Arrest

“A person is arrested when he/she has actually been placed under restraint or taken into custody by an officer or person executing a warrant of arrest, or by an officer or person arresting without a warrant.” Article 15.22, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (located under “Texas Statutes”).

Student

While not defined in the law, for this policy, all persons who are registered during the current semester, on a leave of absence, or in a break in enrollment may be considered “students.”

Employees

Full-time and part-time employees of the component with regularly scheduled hours of employment should be considered “employees.”

False Alarms and False Reports

Under House Bill 1284, students must be made aware that making a false alarm or report of an emergency involving UT Health San Antonio is a state jail felony, and students committing such an offense may be penalized accordingly under Section 42.06 of the Penal Code.

Security Awareness and Crime Prevention/Community Policing Programs

Preventing crimes from occurring, rather than reacting after the fact, is the philosophy of UT Health San Antonio. A primary vehicle for accomplishing this goal is the University Police Department’s comprehensive crime prevention program. It is based upon the dual concepts of eliminating or minimizing criminal opportunities, whenever possible, and encouraging students and employees to share the responsibility for their own security and that of others around them. Below is a listing of crime prevention programs and projects supported and employed by UT Health San Antonio.

  1. Emergency Intercom System: All emergency telephones and intercoms (interior, exterior, late-entry doors, and elevators) throughout the campuses are directly linked to the University Police Department Communications Center. Once activated, they must be deactivated by a University Police officer, Public Safety Officers, or communications officer.
  2. Closed-Circuit Television. Surveillance: Numerous closed-circuit television cameras are employed throughout the campuses, including parking lots and public areas, and are monitored by the University Police Department.
  3. Electronic Security Alarm Systems: A sophisticated computer-based electronic monitoring system located at the University Police Department Communications Center monitors a comprehensive network of intrusion detection and duress alarm systems.
  4. Crime Prevention Presentations: Numerous crime prevention presentations are made annually to campus faculty, staff, and students.
  5. Printed Crime Prevention Materials: Printed crime prevention brochures, posters, and newsletters related to theft prevention, motor vehicle security, bicycle security, personal security, and escort security are widely distributed at crime prevention presentations and made available at the University Police Building.

  6. Daily Crime Logs: The University Police Department maintains a Daily Crime Log for incidents within the most recent 60-day period. The daily crime log is available on the university police website and can also be viewed or copied at the university police department.

  7. Operation Identification: The engraving of driver’s license numbers or other owner-recognized numbers on items of value and the cataloging of these items is an ongoing program.
  8. Sexual Assault Awareness, Education, and Prevention: Programs are presented throughout the year to the campus community. This includes RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) courses.
  9. Security Surveys: Comprehensive security surveys or audits are made for a number of campus departments and facilities each year.
  10. Facilities Surveys: Comprehensive annual surveys of exterior lighting, doors, and grounds are conducted by the University Police Department’s crime prevention specialists.
  11. Architectural Design: Crime prevention specialists of the University Police Department make significant input into the design of all new and renovated campus facilities as it relates to physical and electronic security systems.
  12. Key Control: The University Police Department is the custodian of all campus building interior and exterior door keys/cardkeys. Cores are not changed and keys are not issued except in those instances that conform to established university policy.
  13. Area Crime Analysis: On a quarterly basis, a report is compiled using the information furnished by the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County Sheriff’s Department, which reflect all Part I Crime occurring within a one-mile radius of the main campus as well as satellite locations. This information is available to campus community members upon request.
  14. Shuttle Service: The Shuttle Bus Service operates an East and West route between 7703 and 8403 Floyd Curl Drive campuses. The shuttle buses can seat 32 passengers and are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. No off-route or non-scheduled stops will be made. Riders should have their student or employee identification card available to be shown, upon request, to the officer driving the bus. For shuttle schedules, visit the Health Science Center Police website.

HSC Alert and Emergency Information

Important Numbers

Emergencies

911 (from a campus “land line” phone = UT Police)

911 (from a cell phone on campus = San Antonio Police.)

24-hour Message

210-567-7669 (567-SNOW)

Buildings/Utilities

210-567-2885

After Hours

210-567-2947

Computing Resources

210-567-2069

Environmental Health and Safety

210-567-2955

Network/Phones

210-567-2061

Police Non-emergency

Laredo: 956-523-7414

San Antonio: 210-567-2800

Emergency Information Outlets

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety shows emergency exits in campus buildings and lists procedures for emergency response.

The National Hurricane Center describes how to prepare for the hazards of a hurricane.

The Department of Homeland Security rates the risk of a terrorist attack based on the government’s five-color security advisory system. The Homeland Security Advisory System is designed to guide our protective measures when specific information to a particular sector or geographic region is received. It combines threat information with vulnerability assessments and provides communications to public safety officials and the public.

TxDOT provides roadway and travel information around-the-clock, and reports on road closures in times of emergency.

The State of Texas publishes information about homeland security threat levels in Texas and what Texans can do to be prepared and involved.