Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish the university’s policies and procedures regarding the accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes and emergencies that take place on and around the university’s campus that pose a threat to the safety of the university community.
Policy
Prompt and accurate reporting of criminal offenses assists the university in providing timely response and timely warning notices on-campus and aids in compiling accurate crime statistics. There are a number of ways for members of the university community and visitors to report crimes, serious incidents, and other emergencies to appropriate Lynn University officials. While the university encourages all community members to promptly report all crimes and other emergencies directly to Campus Safety, it recognizes that some may prefer to report to other individuals or university offices. A list of each person or office to which members of the university may report criminal activities and other emergencies is set forth below. The names of victims will be kept confidential to the extent possible by the university.
Definitions
Campus security authority (CSA)—a Lynn University employee who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, and as such is trained by the college to report certain crimes occurring on campus or at a college sanctioned event to Campus Safety for inclusion in the Annual Security and Fire report. See Procedures/Guidelines section of the policy for a listing of the university’s CSAs.
Procedures/Guidelines
I. Reporting to Campus Safety
All persons are strongly encouraged to accurately and promptly report all crimes or emergencies to the Campus Safety at +1 561-237-7226/7227, or by speaking directly with a Campus Safety Officer on campus or by reporting the incident at the Campus Communication Center. Any suspicious activity or person seen in the parking lots or loitering around vehicles, inside buildings or around the residence halls should be immediately reported to Campus Safety. When Campus Safety receives a report of an urgent situation, it will dispatch officers to the scene to lend assistance, investigate, prepare a report and conduct follow-up as needed. When appropriate, Campus Safety will notify the Boca Raton Police or Fire/Rescue Department depending on the circumstance of the incident. Reporting an incident to Campus Safety will ensure a prompt and effective investigation and appropriate follow-up actions, including the issuance of a timely warning designed to help prevent crime or an emergency notification to inform the campus of life threatening emergencies.
Reports to Campus Safety may be made as follows:
In writing: Any member of the university community may file a complaint, in writing, against an individual or group who violates university regulations, policies, and/or is breaking the law. The complainant should file the written report with the Campus Communication Center (CCC) located between Freiburger and E.M. Lynn Residence Hall, which is manned 24 hours per day, seven days per week, or by speaking directly with a Campus Safety Officer. If the allegation is presented in writing, it should include:
- A statement of the policy, rule or regulation that is alleged to have been violated;
- A statement of the facts and evidence in support of the claim, made with sufficient clarity to disclose the time and place of the occurrence and the actions or behavior of the respondent;
- A statement naming witnesses to the alleged violation (if any).
In Person; Any member of the university community may also file a verbal complaint, in person, against an individual or group who violates university regulations, policies and/or is breaking the law. The complainant should visit the Campus Communication Center (CCC) located between Freiburger and E.M. Lynn Residence Hall, which is manned 24 hours per day, seven days per week, or by speaking directly with a Campus Safety Officer.
Voluntary confidential reporting: Any victim or witness can also report crimes on a confidential basis by calling the Lynn TIP line at +1 561-237-7800. Only the Chief of Campus Safety and the Assistant Chief have access to the Lynn TIP Line.
II. Reporting crimes to campus security authorities
While the university encourages members of the community to immediately report all crimes and other emergencies directly to Campus Safety, it also recognizes that some may prefer to report to other individuals or university offices. The Clery Act, is a federal law requiring institutions of higher education to collect and report statistics on certain crimes in an Annual Security Report, recognizes certain university officials and offices as ‘Campus Security Authorities’ (CSA) and members of the university community may report any crime or emergency occurring on campus or at a University-sanctioned event to them.
At Lynn University, the following individuals, as defined by the Clery Act, have been designated as CSA’s: all Campus Safety staff; deans (or other senior student administrative personnel); all coaches; all directors; all vice presidents; the Office of Student Wellness; the Dean of Students; the Director of Auxiliary Services; all Center for Student Involvement (OSI) staff; all Housing and Residence Life staff; all faculty advisers, overseers and advisors to student clubs and organizations; and other campus officials who have ‘significant responsibility for student and campus activities,’ such as, but not limited to, the Department of Student Affairs. Others designated as CSAs include; all advisors to student groups, clubs and organizations; and all non-counselors (staff mentors and peer mentors).
The Clery Act requires CSAs to promptly report incidents of a Clery crime occurring on campus or at a university sanctioned event to Campus Safety. In this way, CSAs facilitate timely warnings and help ensure accurate statistics for the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
Student Health and Counseling Services professionals are exempt from the reporting requirement while working within the scope of a license or certification.
III. Reporting to Local Law Enforcement
Members of the University community may report all crimes occurring on campus or at a university-sanctioned event or activity to the Boca Raton Police Department:
- Emergency: 911
- Non-emergency: +1 561-368-6201
IV. Reporting to counseling and health center professionals
Lynn University students who are victims of a crime may also choose to discuss the incident with professionals who are mandated by law to protect the confidentiality of a disclosure. On campus, these professionals include the counselors in Counseling Services, or any physician or nurse in Student Health. Reports of crimes shared with these individuals may be made on a confidential basis to the extent possible by the law. This means that personally identifiable information shared with a professional at the centers are not part of students’ education record and will not be reported to other university personnel (including the Title IX Coordinator) or to others unless the disclosing individual gives his or her consent to the disclosure or the law requires it (as may be the case with alleged sexual and gender-based misconduct involving a minor or under conditions involving imminent harm to one or more members of the university community, for example)). The University has no policy encouraging professional counselors to notify those whom they are counseling of the voluntary, confidential reporting options available to them.
To learn more about this policy or the supporting procedures, please contact Campus Safety.