Campus Security Authority

Key Aspects of Campus Security Authority Policy and Procedures

Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are individuals designated by federal law (Clery Act) to report alleged incidents reported to them in good faith, or personally witnessed, to campus security or designated university officials. CSAs must report incidents promptly for statistical inclusion and potential safety alerts, focusing on detailed reporting without investigating, determining guilt, or requiring victim identification.                         

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Definition of a Campus Security Authority 

These individuals typically fall under one of the following categories:

1. A member of a campus security department. Example: University Security Department.
2. Individuals having responsibility for campus security in some capacity but are not members of a campus security department. Example: an individual who is responsible for monitoring the entrance to University property.
3. People or offices that are not members of a campus security department, but where policy directs individuals to report criminal offenses to them or their office. Examples: Residence Life, Athletic Department, Student Engagement Office etc.
4. Officials having significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including but not limited to, student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings.  Examples: Athletic Directors, Athletic Coaches, Faculty advisors to student organizations, Resident Assistants, Coordinators of Greek Affairs.

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Clarification of CSAs

• The CSAs status of all employees (including student employees) is reevaluated on at least an annual basis and document the rationale of the determinations.

The following positions have been identified as Campus Security Authorities by the Department of Education:

• All security staff
• Resident Assistants, Resident Directors, and Community Assistants
• Dean of Students Office (Leaders in Student Affairs and Housing)
• Athletic Directors and Coaches (including Assistant ADs and Assistant Coaches)
• Faculty or Staff Advisors to Student Organizations on Campus
• Access Monitors (any professional or student staff members who monitor access into campus buildings, including residential facilities, academic/administrative facilities or parking facilities)
• Contract Security Officers
• Event Security Officers
• Staff who provide safety escorts on campus (professional and student staff)
• Staff in the Student Activities Office (handling co-curricular activities)
• Coordinator of Greek Affairs (or related positions)
• Administrators at Branch/Satellite/Separate Campuses
• Study Abroad Coordinators
• Off Site Trip Coordinators
• Title IX Coordinator(s)
• Director of the Student Health Center
• A physician in a campus health center, a counselor in a campus counseling center, or a victim advocate in a campus rape crisis center if they are identified by your school as someone to whom crimes should be reported or if they have significant responsibility for student and campus activities.

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Who are NOT CSAs?

• When acting within the scope of the official responsibilities, Pastoral Counselors and Professional Counselors are not CSAs.  
• Individuals who do not have significant responsibility for student and campus activities are not CSAs. Examples: faculty members not responsible for student and campus activities beyond the classroom, and clerical or cafeteria staff.
• What to Report: Crimes under the Clery Act, including murder, manslaughter, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, hate crimes, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, as well as arrests and disciplinary referrals for drug, liquor, and weapons law violations.

Reporting Procedures:

When to Report: A CSA must promptly report an alleged Clery Act crime when the information is reported to the individual in their capacity as a CSA. The CSA should report the information even if they are uncertain whether the incident constitutes a Clery Act crime or whether the location falls within the University’s Clery geography.

Prompt Reporting: Report incidents immediately to the designated campus security department (973-290-4090). Maintain both hard copy and electronic documentation of all CSAs-reported crimes and make sure more than one person knows where documentation is kept. (2016 Handbook, P. 4-10)

Documentation: Complete the University Campus Security Authority Crime Report Form with as much detail as possible (date, location, incident description).

Confidentiality: If a victim requests to remain anonymous, the CSAs must submit the report to the university without including the victim’s personally identifiable information.

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CSAs Responsibilities (What NOT to do):

• Do not investigate crimes or interview witnesses.
• Do not determine if a crime actually took place or meets a legal definition.
• Do not attempt to identify the perpetrator.
• Do not pressure victims to report to law enforcement if they do not wish to.

Campus Geography: Crimes must be reported if they occur on campus, in on-campus student housing, on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus, or in non-campus buildings owned/controlled by the institution. 

CSAs are mandated reporters and failure to report can lead to significant Clery Act violations for the institution. 

• How to Access CSA Training
  Persons designated by the University as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) are required to complete annual training. Training is available online and for those individuals that complete their training online, the training includes a post-test, which the individual must pass with a score of 80% to earn a Certificate of Completion. If you have any trouble accessing the training, please contact Human Resources at (973) 290-4451.

Clery Act Campus Security Authorities Responsibilities Cheat Sheet