The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, codified at 20 USC 1092 (f) as a part of the Higher Education Act of 1965, is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose certain timely and annual information about campus crime and security policies. All public and private institutions of postsecondary education participating in federal student aid programs are subject to it.

The Clery Act, originally enacted by the Congress and signed into law by President George Bush in 1990 as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, was championed by Howard & Connie Clery after their daughter Jeanne was murdered at Lehigh University in 1986. They also founded the non-profit Security On Campus, Inc. in 1987. Amendments to the Act in 1998 renamed it in memory of Jeanne Clery.

CSM College Security Office

The College of San Mateo campus has security coverage 24 hours a day, every day (holidays excepted) provided by CSM Security Officers and Safety Assistants. College Security Staff have received extensive professional training in accordance with the standards established by the State of California and provide public safety assistance to the CSM campus. All permanent officers have completed security training, under Section 7583.45 of the California Business and Professions Code and 38001.5 & 72330.5 of the California Education Code.

College Security Officers enforce all applicable local, state, and federal laws, with special emphasis on laws involving alcohol, controlled substances, and weapons. They also provide response to medical and fire emergencies. The College Security Department coordinates all criminal incidents with the San Mateo Police Department.

Incident Reporting

CSM endorses a reporting policy that strongly encourages victims and witnesses to immediately report all crimes and suspicious activity to the Campus Security Office. It is important that all such activity be immediately reported to ensure that the appropriate action can be taken and future actions of a similar nature are deterred.

Campus Crime Watch signs have been erected around the campus. They request that suspicious activity be reported. They also reflect the telephone numbers of Campus Security (574-6415) and San Mateo Police Department (522-7700).

NON-EMERGENCY calls for assistance can be made by dialing CSM Campus Security at 574-6415. Calls on the campus telephone system can be made by dialing ext. 6415. EMERGENCIES requiring police, fire, or medical aid can be reported in person or by dialing 9-1-1 from any white telephone on campus or any public telephone.

Members of the CSM community are encouraged to immediately report any suspicious activity to the College Security Office. Crimes can be averted by the prompt reporting of suspicious activity. If suspicious or out-of-character activity is observed, the College Security Office should be called immediately. Reports of physical hazards should also be made to the Security Office so corrective action can be taken. The College Security Office is located in Building 1, Room 267.

Campus Facilities Access

CSM is situated on 153 aces of land with four entrances. The nature of the studies and activities conducted at CSM require that many of the campus building are accessible until late into the evening. CSM community members are encouraged to be alert and aware of their surroundings. Common sense safety precautions should be exercised at all times and places on campus.

Substance Abuse Policies

CSM has been designated a drug- and alcohol-free campus and under no condition is the consumption of illegal drugs or alcohol permitted. In keeping with its educational mission, the College assumes the responsibility to continuously inform the CSM community about alcohol and substance abuse. As a reminder to students and others, it is unlawful to sell, furnish or provide alcohol to a person under the age of 21. The possession of alcohol by anyone under 21 years of age in a public place or a place open to the public is a crime punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both.

The sale, manufacture, distribution or possession of any controlled substance is illegal under both State and Federal laws. Such laws are strictly enforced by the CSM College Security Office. Student violators are subject to College disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fine, and imprisonment. College employee violators are similarly subject to disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fine, and imprisonment.

Persons seeking further information concerning this policy or the health risks associated with alcohol, narcotics, or other dangerous drugs should contact the Health Center, Building 1, Room 226 (574-6396). CSM recognizes that drug and alcohol dependency are treatable conditions. Prevention, education, intervention, and referral services are also available from the Health Center.

Sexual Assault Policy

It is the policy of the San Mateo County Community College District and the College of San Mateo to educate all students, faculty, and staff on the prevention of sexual assault. The District and CSM will provide information to all faculty, staff, and registered students on the definition of sexual assault, how to prevent it, and how to report it if assaulted.

“Sexual assault” includes but is not limited to rape, forced sodomy, forced oral copulation, rape by a foreign object, sexual battery, or threat of sexual assault.

Any sexual assault or physical abuse, including, but not limited to, rape, as defined by California law, whether committed by a student, faculty, staff, administrator, visitor, or invitee of College of San Mateo, occurring on College property, or on an off-campus site or facility maintained by the College, or on grounds or facilities maintained by a student organization, is a violation of College policies and regulations, and is subject to all applicable punishment, including criminal procedures and employee or student discipline procedures.

Information and literature is available in the office of the Vice President, Student Services, the Health Center and the Security Office.

Any faculty, staff member, or student who has been sexually assaulted should immediately contact the Health Center, 574-6396, or the Security Office, 574-6415.

Crime Statistics

In compliance with the Federal Public Law 101-542, the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, all colleges and universities across the nation are required to publicly report campus crime statistics to students and staff members. The following data presents crime statistics on the property of the College of San Mateo. 

Crime Statistics of College of San Mateo (1991-2007)

Above file is in PDF format Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to read it.

As the above figures indicate, CSM is a very safe campus.  Should a threatening incident occur on campus or in the campus vicinity, this information will be reported to the campus community.  The safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff is a top priority at CSM.  There is a continuous effort to keep the campus safe and secure.  However, a truly safe campus can only be achieved through cooperation of all students, faculty, and staff.  Please read this document carefully and use the information to help maintain a safe environment on the CSM campus.