2022-2023 Compass Student Handbook and Resource Guide 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Compass Student Handbook and Resource Guide [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Timely Warning Policy


Effective Date

July 1, 2019

Office of Primary Responsibility

Office of Public Safety

Summary of Policy

This policy provides detail regarding the mandated issuance of timely warnings for campus crime.

Reason for Policy

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the issuance of timely warnings regarding crimes posing a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community. This policy complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) by establishing procedures for the College regarding the circumstances and delivery of warnings of serious or ongoing threats.

Policy Statement

Timely warnings are provided to notify students, faculty, and staff of certain crimes that may represent a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community and to heighten safety awareness. Timely warnings include information about the crime that triggered the warning, but do not include personally identifiable information about the victim of the crime. The content and amount of information varies depending on the nature of the threat, the amount of information available to first responders, the risk of compromising law enforcement efforts, and other factors.

Timely warnings are made only in response to the occurrence of crimes specified in the Clery Act. Decisions to issue a warning are made on a case-by-case basis considering the nature and circumstances of the crime and the danger posed to the community. A warning is only required when the reported crime occurred on campus, public property bordering campus, or property controlled by Allegheny College. In the event that a situation arises either on or off campus that, in the judgment of the Dean of Students in consultation with the President and/or Vice President(s) constitutes an ongoing threat, a campus wide “timely warning” may be issued.

Timely warnings typically are made by the Allegheny Public Safety staff. Warnings may also be issued by the Vice President for Student Affairs or for warnings arising from crimes not involving students. The Vice President consults with the Public Safety staff or local police and, for crimes occurring off campus, the College official with responsibility for the property or program at the location where the crime occurred. Timely warnings typically are made through campus wide e-mails sent to students and employees.