Campus Security Authorities
Campus Security Authorities (CSA) are individuals who by virtue of their responsibilities at WPI and under the Clery Act are designated to receive and report criminal incidents to the WPI Police Department so that they may be included and published in the university’s Annual Security Report.
Who Is a Campus Security Authority (CSA)?
The Clery Act defines a Campus Security Authority (CSA) as someone whose job responsibility fits into any of the following categories:
- Group 1: WPI Police Department personnel
- Group 2: Individuals responsible for security that includes students and/or professional employees
- Group 3: Any 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
- Group 4: 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.
- “Official” is defined as any person who has the authority and duty to take action and respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution.
Examples of CSAs:
- Public safety/police department officers
- Title IX coordinators
- Student conduct officers
- Human resources personnel
- Student affairs staff
- Response teams – bias/SART/behavioral threat assessment teams
- Student activities/fraternity and sorority life (organization advisors)
- Residential life and housing staff (RAs, CAs)
- Counseling center director/health services director
- Athletics director/athletics coaches/athletics trainers
- Teaching assistants/community advisors/part-time grad assistants
- Student organizations advisors (faculty or staff)
- Study abroad coordinators and off-site trip coordinators
- Senior institutional leaders
Examples of those who are not CSAs:
- Faculty member without responsibility for student and campus activity beyond theclassroom
- Physicians/nurses/counselors in the WPI Health Center/Student DevelopmentCounseling Center who only provide care for students.
- Clerical or administrative support staff
- Dining hall staff
- Facilities/housekeeping staff
- Information resources staff (e.g., Campus Center information desk)
- Professional mental health counselors are exempt from reporting obligations.
- This includes individuals who are unlicensed and uncertified but acting under the supervision of an exempt counselor, e.g., a graduate student doing an internship
- Religious or pastoral counselors are exempt from reporting obligations.
- These positions are exempt only when acting within the scope of their duties as counselors or trainees
Under the Jeanne Clery Act and Title IX, pastoral and professional counselors are exempt from reporting, although they are able to share non-personally identifiable information if the survivor wishes to share the information and there is a voluntary confidential reporting policy at the institution. Under Title IX, institutions may designate other individuals on campus (such as advocates who do not have privilege within their state) as confidential; however, these reporters must share non-personally identifiable information for the purposes of the Clery Act.
Under both Title IX and the Clery Act, an institution must provide information in writing to both the complainant and the respondent about the outcome of a sexual violence complaint. This information must also include the sanctions imposed.