The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) is a consumer protection law that federally mandates all institutions of higher education who participate in the federal student financial aid program to disclose campus crime statistics and other safety information to current and prospective students and employees. The Clery Act affects virtually all public and private institutions of higher education and is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Campuses that fail to comply with the act can be penalized with large fines and may be suspended from participating in the federal financial aid program.
Requirements under the Clery Act
Publish an annual report by October 1st, containing three most recent years of campus crime statistics, information regarding campus safety and security policies, and resources to current and prospective students and employees.
Identify, notify, and train Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) of their obligations under the Clery Act.
Comprehensively collect, classify, count, document, and disclose accurate statistics and crime reports received from all designated sources of information.
Identify geographic properties on which the occurrences of Clery Act crimes will initiate responsibilities under the Clery Act.
Provide timely warning notices of crimes which have occurred and pose an ongoing or serious threat to the safety of students or employees.
Disclose in a public crime log all crimes and alleged crimes which occurred on campus or within the patrol jurisdiction of campus police reported to the campus police.
Daily Crime LogSubmit collected crime statistics to the U.S. Department of Education.
Annual Security Report
In accordance with the guidelines established by Forsyth Tech, and pursuant to the federal law identified as the Clery Act, all currently enrolled students, campus employees, and all prospective students and prospective employees are entitled to request and receive a copy of the Annual Security Report.
The Annual Security Report contains policy statements pertaining to campus security, crime or emergency reporting options, emergency response information, crime prevention, and crime statistics for the College.
This report includes statistics for the three most recent years concerning crimes reported to the Campus Police Department and other CSAs that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property, and on public property adjacent to and accessible from campus. The report also includes alcohol, drug, and weapons policies; sexual violence prevention and response policies and procedures; and other campus safety topics.
Campus safety is a collaborative effort that involves the entire community. The College encourages victims, witnesses, and community members who are made aware of crimes to report all incidents to the Forsyth Tech Campus Police Department at (336) 734-7243.
A hard copy of this report is available upon request by contacting the Forsyth Tech Campus Police Department at (336) 734-7243 or visiting the Forsyth Building located on Main Campus during normal business hours, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday.
Annual Safety ReportDaily Crime Log
The Daily Crime Log (DCL) provides details about crimes that have been reported to the Forsyth Tech Campus Police Department. The purpose of the DCL is to record all criminal incidents and alleged criminal incidents that are reported to Campus Police. Therefore, not all incidents listed on the DCL are included in Clery statistics.
Incidents are posted in the DCL within two business days of the information being reported to Campus Police. A business day is Monday through Friday, except for days when the institution is closed (e.g., holidays or other scheduled breaks).
Crimes that list “CSA” in the “Case Number” section involve information received from college personnel that do not work for the Campus Police Department, but who are designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) under the Clery Act. These CSAs share non-identifying information with Campus Police when a crime is disclosed to them, as required by the Clery Act. These incidents are reported to Campus Police for statistical purposes and are posted to the DCL when the information is received. Therefore, it is important to note that a CSA report is not a report to the Campus Police Department. Since these reports are not official reports to Campus Police, campus law enforcement is unable to conduct an investigation unless extenuating circumstances exist. Forsyth Tech strongly encourages all members of its community to report any crimes to Campus Police.
To request a printed copy, please visit the Campus Police Department located at the Forsyth Building on Main Campus during normal business hours, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday.
Daily Crime Log
Timely Warnings & Emergency Notifications
Forsyth Tech is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for its faculty, staff, students, and visitors. The TechAlert system was created to enhance and promote safety on campus by providing the campus community with timely access to important information. The system sends two types of communications to the campus community, “Timely Warnings” and “Emergency Notifications,” as required by the Clery Act.
Timely Warnings are issued when a report is received of certain crimes (see Clery Crime Definitions) on Forsyth Tech-associated property (see Clery Geography), and the reported incident represents a serious or continuing threat to the campus community. A timely warning must be issued as soon as pertinent information is available. In addition to warning community members, these alerts can aid in crime prevention. The decision to issue a timely warning is made on a case-by-case basis, considering the facts surrounding a crime to include, but not limited to the nature of the crime, the continuing danger or threat to the campus community, whether the identity of the offender(s) is known and is in custody, and the possible risk of compromising law enforcement efforts. A timely warning may also be issued for other crimes it deems pose an ongoing threat to the safety of students or employees, regardless of whether it is a Clery reportable crime. Additionally, crimes that are reported to have occurred off campus, but pose an ongoing threat to the safety of students or employees, may result in the issuance of a timely warning.
Emergency Notifications are issued for any significant emergency or dangerous situations occurring on campus that involves an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees. The types of emergencies that may initiate a TechAlert include but are not limited to: an approaching hurricane or other extreme weather condition; a structure fire; an outbreak of a serious contagious illness; a natural disaster; gas leak; active shooter or armed intruder; a bomb threat; civil unrest or rioting; an explosion; a terrorist incident; a nearby chemical or hazardous materials spill; or a significant impact power outage. The purpose of emergency notifications is to provide life-saving information and instructions during an active emergency situation.
Campus Security Authorities
In compliance with the Clery Act, Forsyth Tech is required to identify key personnel and offices who are responsible for campus safety and/or have significant responsibility for student and campus activities. Individuals in these roles, known as Campus Security Authorities (CSAs), are likely to receive reports of crime and thus, are mandated reporters under the Clery Act.
The function of a CSA is to report to Campus Police any allegations of Clery Act crimes or attempts at Clery Act crimes that they receive which have occurred on campus property or public property that is within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from campus. The CSA must offer assistance to the victim/survivor by connecting them with the appropriate office(s), which may include Student Services, Title IX, Human Resources, or Campus Police.
CSAs have been broadly defined by the U.S. Department of Education to encompass the following four groups:
- A campus police department or a campus security department of an institution.
- Any individual or individuals who have responsibility for campus security but who do not constitute a campus police department or a campus security department (e.g., an individual who is responsible for monitoring the entrance into institutional property).
- An individual or organization specified in an institution’s statement of campus security policy as an individual or organization to which students and employees should report criminal offenses.
- An official of an institution who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to, student housing, student discipline, and campus judicial proceedings. An official is defined as any person who has the authority and duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution.
CSAs are determined by criteria established in the U.S. Department of Education’s The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting. Individuals who do not meet the CSA criteria include licensed professional or pastoral counselors, when working in their counseling roles.
Campus Security Report Form
Clery Crime Definitions
Criminal Offenses
The Willful (non-negligent) killing of a human being by another.
The killing of another person through gross negligence.
Any sexual act directed against another person, without consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.
- Rape: Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus, with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.
- Fondling: Touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental capacity.
- Incest: Sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.
- Statutory Rape: Sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.
The taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.
An unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. (Includes attempts, and whether or not an injury occurred). This type of assault usually is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
The unlawful entry of (or attempt to enter) a structure to commit a felony or theft. (Excludes thefts from a motor vehicle, shoplifting, and thefts from open areas).
The theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle.
The willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without the intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc.
Hate Crimes
A hate crime is a criminal offense that manifests evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s vias against the victim. Categories of bias are race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, and disability. Hate crimes include all Criminal Offenses listed above as well as Larceny-Theft, Simple Assault, Intimidation, Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property.
The unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another.
An unlawful physical attack by one person upon another where neither the offender displays a weapon, nor the victim suffers obvious severe or aggravated bodily injury involving apparent broken bones, loss of teeth, possible internal injury, severe laceration, or loss of consciousness.
To unlawfully place another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words and/or other conduct, but without displaying a weapon or subjecting the victim to actual physical attack.
Willfully or maliciously destroy, damage, deface, or otherwise injure real or personal property without the consent of the owner or the person having custody or control of it.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA) OFFENSES
Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of:
- The length of the relationship,
- The type of relationship, and
- The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
A felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by:
- A current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;
- A person with whom the victim shares a child in common;
- A person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner;
- A person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred; or
- Any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from the person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.
Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.
Clery Geography
Clery geography is defined by a unique set of definitions as defined by the Clery Act. It is important to note that Forsyth Tech does not operate residence halls nor maintain lists of available or approved housing. Students are responsible for their own housing arrangements. Forsyth Tech does not have property owned or controlled by student organizations.
On-Campus Buildings or Property
- Any building or property owned or controlled by the college within the same reasonable contiguous geographic area and used by the college in direct support of, or in a manner related to, the college’s educational purposes; and
- Any building or property owned or controlled by a college, that has an organized program of study and at least one person assigned in an administrative capacity.
Public Property
- All public property, including thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking facilities, that is within the campus, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.
Non-Campus Buildings or Property
- Any building or property owned or controlled by the college that is used in direct support of, or in relation to, the college’s educational purposes, is frequently used by students, and is not within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the college. These are locations associated with the college’s campuses (as defined by Clery).
- Non-campus locations do not have a public property reporting requirement.
Options for Reporting
Forsyth Tech is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for its faculty, staff, students, and visitors. All community members and visitors are strongly encouraged to immediately report all criminal activity, emergencies, or other public safety related incidents to the Forsyth Tech Campus Police Department. Crimes occurring off campus should be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency with jurisdiction where that crime occurred. Forsyth Tech encourages accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes to law enforcement when a victim requests help making a report or is unable to make a report without assistance.
Forsyth Tech understands that not everyone is comfortable speaking with law enforcement and there are other avenues to report crimes and seek assistance. Some individuals may want to pursue justice through the legal system, while others are interested in personal restoration. You have options for reporting, and you are not required to select just one as each option may offer a different type of resolution.
If this is an emergency, dial 9-1-1 and your call will be transferred to the nearest communications department. Callers should immediately identify their location to make sure they are connected to the correct law enforcement agency.
The emergency line for Forsyth Tech Campus Police can be reached by calling (336) 734-7911 or by dialing 7-9-1-1 from an office phone or landline service. For non-emergency situations on campus, please call (336) 734-7243 to speak with an officer. For more information, please visit the Campus Safety webpage .
If you do not wish to file a report with law enforcement, you are encouraged to file a report with Forsyth Tech. Forsyth Tech will offer a variety of options to assist you. A report to Forsyth Tech also allows for the initiation of interim protective measures such as academic accommodations and changes to class or work schedules.
Forsyth Tech is committed to providing its faculty, staff, and students with an education and workplace environment free from any form of unlawful discrimination. The Forsyth Tech community is dedicated to fostering and supporting a culture of mutual respect and communication.
Forsyth Tech does not tolerate and prohibits discrimination or harassment of students and employees based on, or related to, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), race, national origin, religion, age, disability, or other protected categories, classes, or characteristics. Discriminatory behavior is prohibited regardless of the manner in which it is exhibited, whether verbally, in writing, or electronically displayed or conveyed. Individuals who violate these policies and laws are subject to disciplinary action.
You can report an incident of sexual misconduct/harassment, or discrimination online , or by contacting one of the Title IX administrators who can be found here.
The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) is responsible for helping to provide a safe learning environment in partnership with various campus departments. OSC encourages students to be engaged in their overall development by proactively providing information to the campus community. OSC meets with students to address potential violations of the Code of Student Conduct and encourages students to be ethical, independent, and well-rounded individuals. The Office of Student Conduct is located at room 2416 of the Robert L. Strickland Center on Main Campus and can be contacted by dialing (336) 757-3431.
If you are a victim of a crime and do not want to pursue action within the college system or the criminal justice system, you may still consider making a confidential report. Forsyth Tech provides an option to anonymously report campus crime through a confidential reporting form. The crime victim or a third-party reporting on behalf of a victim can utilize the Silent Witness Reporting Form to submit information about a crime or suspicious activity. The purpose of a confidential report is to comply with your wish to keep the matter confidential while taking steps to enhance your future safety and the safety of others.
Students may also make confidential reports to licensed professional counselors assigned to the Counseling Services Center. Professional counselors, in their capacity and function, do not make identifiable reports of incidents unless the student specifically requests them to do so or if a student presents a danger to themselves or others. Forsyth Tech Counseling Services is located in the Shugart Women’s Center and can be reached by calling (336) 757-3629. For more information, please visit the Counseling Services webpage . Employees may also make a confidential report to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by calling (800) 633-3353.