CSA FAQ
What is a CSA?
A “Campus Security Authority” (or CSA) a Clery-Specific term that encompasses individuals and organizations with an institution:
- A campus police or security dept
- An individual or group with responsibility for campus safety
- An individual or unit that institutional materials indicate to whom student 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 the duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution.
For example, an employee who oversees student housing, a student center, or student extra-curricular activities has significant responsibility for student and campus activities. Similarly, a director of athletics, team coach, and faculty advisor to a student group also have significant responsibility for student and campus activities. Any employees with the following roles and duties also are included:
- Significant interaction with student and/or campus activities
- Informal or unofficial mentors to students
- Member in an office or of a committee to whom students are instructed and informed to report or discuss crimes, alleged crimes, or other troubling situations.
- Oversee disciplinary processes or procedures
Who is not a CSA? A physician in a campus health center or a counselor in a counseling center whose only responsibility is to provide care to students are unlikely to have significant responsibility for student and campus activities. Also, clerical staff are unlikely to have significant responsibility for student and campus activities.
What if I don’t want to be a CSA? It doesn’t matter if CSA responsibilities aren’t in your job description. Being a CSA is dependent on your job function. If your job function involves a significant responsibility for student and campus activities, you’re a CSA per federal law and have to follow the requirements for CSAs.
When do I report a crime?
You should report the crime as soon as it is reported to you. CSAs must notify the CCO in writing of all reports of Clery Act crimes. Such notice should be made orally where circumstances demand but shall be followed with written notice. CSAs who are unsure whether an incident is a Clery Act crime should report it. CSAs are not responsible for determining authoritatively whether a crime took place. Additionally, CSAs are not responsible for reporting crimes they learn about in an indirect manner, i.e. overhearing a conversation in a hallway or something mentioned during an in-class discussion, speech or other presentation.
I think a crime was reported to the police. Do I still need to report it?
Yes. Please fill out a CSA REPORTING FORM, even if you believe the crime has been reported. If there are duplicate reports, the CCO will be able to ensure it is in the statistics. We would hate to miss reporting because someone thought it had already been done.
What are my responsibilities?
If a CSA receives the crime information, he/she should document it as a crime report. What you must disclose are statistics from reports of alleged criminal incidents. It is not necessary for the crime to have been investigated by the police or a campus security authority, nor must a finding of guilt or responsibility be made to disclose the statistic.
Who is the Clery Compliance Officer for Boise State?
Val Uranga is the Clery Compliance Officer for Boise State University. She works in the Boise State University Department of Public Safety and compiles the annual security statistics for the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. If you have any questions or concerns, if you would like more information, or if you need training for you or your department on Clery, please reach out at valuranga@boisestate.edu.
How do I get training on being a CSA?
Please contact Val Uranga at valuranga@boisestate.edu for more information about CSA training.