Clery Act
The Jeanne Clery Act is a Federal Statute designed for consumer protection. It was passed in 1990 and is a part of the Higher Education Act. The law requires all colleges and universities who receive federal funding to share information about crime on campus and their efforts to improve campus safety, as well as inform the public of crime in or around campus. This information is made publicly accessible through the institution's annual security report.
Campus Security Authorities
The Clery Act requires certain roles to pass along information about Clery Act crimes occurring within Clery geography to the college's designated crime collection body—most often its campus police or public safety department.
These roles are called campus security authorities or CSAs and are defined as being responsible for one or more of the following functions at an institution of higher education:
- Campus police or public safety department
- Having responsibility for campus security but not being part of a campus police or public safety department, for example, someone responsible for monitoring access to a building but not a campus police or public safety officer
- Someone identified as one to whom a crime can be reported
- Officials with significant responsibility for student or campus activities
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CSA Responsibilities
When someone tells you about a crime or an incident that might be a crime, you must report it to the Lees-91探花 Campus Police and Security Department and to the designated office or Clery compliance professional via CSA report.
- Share the information as related by the person
- Tell the person who disclosed the crime to you that you must share the information
- Help connect the person to available resources within the Campus Community
- When in doubt, report:
- Campus Police and Security: 828.260.0505
- Vice President for Student Affairs: 282.898.8797
- Senior Director of Residence Life and Housing: 828.898.3416
- Director of Student Conduct and Engagement: 828.898.8744
- Title IX Compliance/Title IX Coordinator: 828.898.8703
- Clery Compliance: 828.898.8823
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Confidentiality
There are two types of individuals who, although they may have significant responsibility for student and campus activities, are not campus security authorities under the Clery Act:
Pastoral counselor: A person who is associated with a religious order or denomination, is recognized by that religious order or denomination as someone who provides confidential counseling and is functioning within the scope of that recognition as a pastoral counselor.
Professional counselor: A person whose official responsibilities include providing mental health counseling to members of the institution’s community and who is functioning within the scope of the counselor’s license or certification. This definition applies even to professional counselors who are not employees of the institution but are under contract to provide counseling at the institution.
However, even the legally recognized privileges acknowledge some exemptions, and there may be situations in which counselors are in fact under a legal obligation to report a crime.
In most cases it is possible for a CSA to fulfill his or her responsibilities while still maintaining victim confidentiality.
The institution compiles statistics for:
- Clery Act reporting
- To determine if there is a serious threat to the safety of the campus community that would require an alert.
However, those responsibilities can usually be met without disclosing personally identifying information. If the victim does not want to pursue this action, the CSA report does not need to automatically result in a police or campus disciplinary investigation.
Annual Fire and Safety Report
By Oct. 1 of each year, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“Clery Act”), and the Violence against Women Act (VAWA), institutions must publish and distribute their to current and prospective students and employees. This report is distributed to students and employees of Lees-91探花 via email on an annual basis. Printed copies are available in the Campus Police and Security Department.
The Annual Campus Safety Report is prepared in cooperation with Campus Police and Security, Student Affairs, Title IX coordinator, local law enforcement agencies, and Marketing and Communications.
The Campus Police and Security Department records all reports of criminal activity on campus property. The campus Clery coordinator submits a formal request for crime statistics from the Campus Police and Security Department, the Banner Elk Police Department, and the Avery County Sherriff’s Department in preparation of the Annual Security Report. Crime statistics for the previous three years can be found at the end of this report.
Crime Log
The Campus Police and Security Department keeps a daily crime log of reported incidents. A list of 60 days of activity is available by request at the Campus Police and Security department during normal business hours Monday through Friday. The college does not share names of crime victims or identifiable information of victims in the Campus Crime Log. For access to the daily crime log, contact Campus Police and Security at 828.260.0505 or greerb@lmc.edu.
2023 Crime Log
Emergency Notifications
91探花 communicates with the campus community and local media in a number of ways in the event of an emergency or dangerous situation.
Emergency Alerts
The Emergency Alert System issues email and text messages to students, faculty, and staff in the event of an immediate emergency affecting the campus community. Emergency alert messages may communicate inclement weather, school closings, and/or other threats to personal safety.
Timely Warning Notification
A timely warning notification is an email sent to faculty, staff, and students when a crime has been reported on or adjacent to campus and the nature of the reported crime creates a potentially serious or continuing threat to the campus community. The purpose of the Timely Warning Notification is to alert the campus to the potential threat so appropriate personal safety steps can be taken.
Informational Communication
An informational communication is an email to the campus community in the case of an event that is not an emergency but may disrupt campus operations. An example of this type of event is a road closure that affects traffic patterns on or near campus.
Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures
Emergency Procedures
Learn procedures for campus emergencies and what you should do to keep yourself as safe as possible. Help protect yourself during an emergency by knowing what is safe and what is not during a crisis event or dangerous situation. To be prepared in the event of an emergency, view the Emergency Procedure Manual.
Building Evacuation
If an evacuation is announced, it is important that every occupant of the affected building evacuate immediately. Always comply with the instructions of emergency responders (police or firefighters) during an evacuation. In some emergency situations, building occupants will be instructed to shelter in place. In that event, it is important not to leave the building until instructed to do so by emergency responders or college officials.
At times, exit routes may be blocked by smoke, toxic or super-heated fumes, debris, human threat, or fire. At those times, or if you are physically unable to evacuate through exit routes, it is safer to call 911 to report your location and await aid.
Evacuation drills ensure the sufficient and safe use of available exits, including stairwells, corridors, and other exits. Proper drills familiarize occupants with orderly, controlled exiting, and help to prevent panic in the event of an actual emergency.
Missing Student Notifications
The Clery Act requires each institution of higher education that provides on-campus housing to establish a missing student notification policy for students who reside in on-campus housing. The policy shall:
- Inform each student that they have the option to identify an individual to be contacted by the institution, not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined missing.
- Provide each student a means to register confidential contact information in the event that the student is determined to be missing for a period of more than 24 hours.
- Advise each student who is under 18 years of age, and not an emancipated individual, that the institution is required to immediately notify a custodial parent or guardian, not later 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing.
- Inform each student that the institution will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency, not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing.
The college will establish official notification procedures for a missing student who resides in on-campus housing.
- When a student is missing for more than 12 hours the President, Provost, Dean of Students, Associate Dean of Students, and/or Campus Security Supervisor will be notified that a student is missing.
- Any official missing person report relating to a student, will be referred immediately to the President, Provost, Dean of Students, Associate Dean of Students, and/or Campus Security Supervisor.
- If, on investigation of the official report, Campus Safety or law enforcement officials determine that the student has been missing for more than 24 hours:
- The college will contact the individual identified by the student.
- If such student is under 18 years of age, and not an emancipated individual, the college will immediately contact the custodial parent or legal guardian of such student.
- If sub-clauses (a) or (b) do not apply to a student, determined to be a missing person, the college will inform the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Sex Offender Registration
Convicted sex offenders in North Carolina must register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. Information regarding sex offenders can be found by visiting the .
Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act
91探花 is commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment free from alcohol and drug abuse. The publication of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (DFSCA) report provides the campus community with information on standards of conduct, sanctions for violations, prevention programming, health risks associated with alcohol and drug use, and resources for the campus community.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Policy
91探花 provides resources to individuals impacted by sex-based harassment including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The college's appointed Title IX Coordinator provides guidance to impacted individuals to ensure they receive Title IX protections as guaranteed by law and institutional policy.
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