Campus Security Authorities

Role & Responsibilities

What is a Campus Security Authority (CSA)?

A CSA is a person referred to as a Campus Security Authority by the Clery Act.  CSAs are a vital part of data collection for the annual safety and security report.

The Clery Act requires the University of Memphis to provide an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.  In addition to input from law enforcement, certain staff positions are designated as Campus Security Authorities (CSA) for the purpose of providing information for this report. CSAs are usually found in departments responsible for, but not limited to, student and campus activities, safety/security, discipline, housing, athletics, human resources, or judicial proceedings. This designation also includes any individual who has been specified by University of Memphis to receive and report offenses.

CSAs are responsible for reporting the number of crimes and incidents as described in the Clery Act that occur in their department to the University of Memphis Police Department. These numbers are then included in the federally mandated Clery Report, which is distributed every year by September 30th..

What makes you a CSA?  

The law defines four categories of CSAs:

1. University Police Services Sworn Personnel and Department Administrators.
   
   
2. Non-police people or offices responsible for campus security. These CSAs have security presence or access control authority on university property, including, but not limited to:
   • Security Guards
   • Student Patrol Officers
     
     
3. The Officials with significant responsibility for student and campus activities category is defined broadly to ensure complete coverage and thorough reporting of crimes. An Official is defined as any person who has the authority and the duty to act or respond to issues on behalf of the University. If someone has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, s/he is a CSA. Examples of CSAs in this category include, but are not limited to:
   • Athletic Director/Assistant Directors
   • Coaches
   • Deans/Assistant Deans
   • Faculty/Staff Advisers to Student Organizations
   • Resident Assistants (RA)
   • Student Activities Coordinators
   • Student Affairs Professionals·    
   • Victim Advocates/Advocacy Services
     
     
4.  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 (Primarily University Police Services).

While the University has identified a number of CSAs, it has officially designated the following offices as places where campus community members can also report crimes:

CSA Training

CSAs are required by law to receive annual training and resources from the Department of Police Services and/or the Clery Coordinator. Each year, before Sept. 30th, CSAs must review a training video and complete testing.

Learn more about CSA Training >