The Story Behind the Clery Act and the Annual Security Report (ASR)
Every October, colleges and universities across the country are to share an Annual Security Report, or ASR, with their campus communities. It may sound like just another required report, but there is an important story behind why it exists—and why students should know what is in it.
The Clery Act is named in memory of Jeanne Clery, a Lehigh University student who was sexually assaulted and murdered in her campus dorm room in 1986. Following Jeanne’s death, her parents became advocates for increased transparency about crime and safety reports to improve security measures across college campuses.
Their advocacy contributed to the passage of the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, which required colleges and universities participating in federal student aid programs to disclose certain campus crime statistics and security information. In 1998, the law was renamed in Jeanne Clery’s memory. The purpose behind the law is straightforward: students, employees, families, and prospective campus community members of a college should have access to meaningful information about campus safety.
This is where the Annual Security Report comes in. The Annual Security Report provides important information about campus safety and security, including institutional policies and procedures, crime prevention and response resources, and statistics related to certain crimes reported on campus during the previous three calendar years.
The report also includes information about topics such as reporting crimes and emergencies, emergency notifications and timely warnings, campus security procedures, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking policies, alcohol and drug policies, and other safety-related resources and programs.
The federal requirements are designed not simply to publish numbers, but to give campus communities information about both reported crime and the institution's approach to safety. So, think of the Annual Security Report as a campus safety reference guide because it is one of the primary ways colleges share safety information with the campus community.
The Clery Act, and the reason for its inception, reminds us that transparency matters. Colleges and universities have responsibilities under federal law to collect, disclose, and communicate certain campus safety information. Students and employees also play an important role by knowing how to report concerns, paying attention to campus safety communications, and looking out for one another.
We encourage every member of our community—whether you are beginning your first semester or have been here for years—to take a few minutes to become familiar with the Annual Security Report and campus safety resources.
You may contact the University of Arkansas Police Department or the Title IX Office with questions regarding the Annual Security Report or the Clery Act.