Campus Security Authorities (CSAs)

Per the Clery Act a CSA fits any of the following descriptions:

1. A campus police department or a campus security department. All individuals who work for these departments are CSAs.
2. Any individual(s) 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 to University property.)  For example, individuals who provide security at a campus parking kiosk, act as event security, or escort students around campus after dark.
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. 
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.  An official is defined as any person who has the authority and the duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution.

All CSAs at the University of Kentucky are identified and notified of their designation based on their university responsibilities on an annual basis. The Division of Crisis Management (CMP) works closely with departments, divisions, and special groups university-wide to identify those individuals who fall into the above categories. There are, in fact, over 3,000 identified CSAs at the University. Identified CSAs are assigned mandatory training that details their obligation to report criminal incidents and allegations of such incidents to the University of Kentucky Police Department, Division of Crisis Management (CMP) immediately.

It is not the responsibility of a CSA to determine if a crime took place. Doing so may not be safe. CSAs should not attempt to engage with alleged offenders. This is the role of law enforcement. CSAs are to report criminal incidents and allegations of such incidents to University of Kentucky Police Department, Division of Crisis Management (CMP) immediately. Further, CSAs cannot demand that victims contact law enforcement. That decision lies with the victim. However, CSAs are to report appropriately as part of their responsibilities. 

If you have been identified as a CSA by your department/division leadership you will be notified by CMP and assigned annual training which will guide you through your responsibilities. Annual training may be in-person or on-line. CMP welcomes questions regarding CSA training at (859) 257-9567 or cmp@uky.edu.

CSAs may explain to victims that they are required to submit a crime report for statistical purposes, but the report may be submitted without the inclusion of the personally identifying information of the victim. While CSA reports are used by the University to compile Clery Act statistics and to help determine if a serious or continuing threat to the campus community exists, the report does not automatically result in a police investigation.

It is important to note that licensed pastoral or professional mental health counselors acting in their professional capacity are not CSAs. Under the Clery Act, these counselors are under no obligation to report information they learn about through client interactions and services.  Per the Clery Act, while this exemption is designed to protect the client/provider relationship it should be noted there may be situations in which providers may be legally obligated to report a crime.