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Campus Security Authorities

CSA Training

What is a Campus Security Authority?

Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are people who are responsible for:

  • Accurately reporting crime information to the correct people in a timely manner.
  • Supporting the individual sharing their experiences in addition to providing them with options and resources.

The Clery Act defines these individuals, among other individuals, as "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 a person who has the authority and the duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution.

The following groups of individuals have been identified as CSAs at K-State:

    • University Police: Any commissioned police officer employed by the university.
    • Individuals with Campus Security Responsibility: Any individuals who have responsibility for campus security but do not constitute a campus police. Examples of this category are campus security officers.
    • Officials who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities: 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.
    • University President and members of the President’s cabinet that have significant responsibility for student and campus activities
    • Faculty or staff advisors to registered student organizations
    • Department/Unit Heads and Program Directors
    • Athletic directors (ADs) including executive and associate athletic directors.
    • Athletic coaches including assistant coaches
    • Staff across student affairs and housing
      • Vice President for Student Life and Deans of Students
      • Director of Student Life-Crisis Management
      • Director of New Student Services
      • Director of Community Standards
      • Associate/Assistant Director of Housing and Dining
      • Full-time housing staff
      • Resident Assistants (RAs)
      • Community Assistants (CAs) who monitor access to resident halls
      • Residential Learning Assistants (RLAs)
    • Faculty and other employees who travel abroad with students
    • University employees, volunteers and third-parties participating in university programs who may interact with individuals under 18 years of age
    • Academic deans, associate deans, assistant deans and department chairs
    • Title IX Coordinator
    • Administrators at branch campuses

This list of campus security authorities is subject to modification and is not intended to be all inclusive, due to changes in responsibilities within the university and varying job titles across campuses. Whether or not an individual is paid by the institution is not a factor in determining if that individual is a CSA.

Many victims of crimes do not report the crime directly to the police. Instead, he or she may decide to tell a colleague, trusted friend, mentor, or advisor.

You may be that person for a crime victim.

Therefore, CSAs are an integral part in the reporting process aimed at supporting victims and protecting the overall campus community.

CSAs are not responsible for determining if a crime took place, convincing the victim to contact law enforcement, investigating the alleged crime, or finding and/or arresting the alleged perpetrator.

The following officials are exempt from reporting when they are acting as pastoral or professional counsels:

  • Pastoral Counselor: a person who is associated with a religious order or denomination, is recognized by the religious order or denomination as someone who provides confidential counseling, and is functioning within the scope of that recognition as a pastoral counselor.
  • Professional Counselor: a person whose official responsibilities including providing mental health counseling to members of the institution's community and who is functioning within the scope of his or her license or certification.

The pastoral or professional counselor exemption is intended to ensure that these individuals can provide appropriate counseling services without an obligation to report crimes they may have learned about. This exemption is intended to protect the counselor-client role. However, even the legally recognized privileges acknowledge some exemptions, and there may be situations in which counselors are in fact under a legal obligation to report a crime.