With the start of the fall semester, our community has experienced many changes to our ways of living and learning. Despite these changes, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s commitment to the safety and security of our Volunteer community remains the same.
The Clery Act was established to ensure campus communities are provided with information related to crime in the area and resources to manage their personal safety. Through Clery Act initiatives, UT empowers our community members to make the most informed decisions for their safety and the safety of others.
There are a number of campus safety resources available to you. During your time on and around campus, please review and become familiar with these valuable resources that were created with you in mind.
The Daily Crime Log
The Daily Crime Log lists any crime or alleged crime reported to campus police or the Clery Coordinator. The Crime Log is available on the university’s Clery website, UT Police Department website, in-person at the UTPD lobby, or via the campus mobile safety app LiveSafe. The Crime Log is updated every business day (unless there is no crime or alleged crime to report from the previous day(s)).
Safety Notices and UT Alerts
The university is required to send out alerts and notifications when Clery Act crimes are reported that pose a serious or continuing threat to campus safety. As it is easy to assume all crime would pose a threat to campus, there is a process involving checklists and discussions among university officials to make the proper determination. If an incident falls under Clery Act regulations for immediate or timely notification, the campus will be notified of the incident via a Safety Notice or UT Alert.
Not every crime, sexual assault, or Clery report results in a formal notification. Alerts and notices are reserved for when there is knowledge of a present risk to the community and we want you to take action to keep yourself safe. However, even if a Safety Notice or UT Alert isn’t issued, the incident will still be listed on the Daily Crime Log, included in our annual crime statistics, and reported to the Department of Education. For more information on Safety Notices you can visit the Clery website, or the Clery Act FAQ.
Information and Notification Related to COVID-19
The university is closely monitoring COVID-19 on campus, and providing updated information to keep you informed. This information is available on the university’s COVID-19 information and support page. For specific information on the campus’ latest COVID-19 data report see the Data Monitoring and Contingency Options guide under the Guides tab. Please pay close attention to the COVID-19 clusters section. Notice of a cluster may be sent to members of the campus community by email or UT Alert if the identification of a cluster results in the need for potentially affected students or employees to take action. If campus officials, working closely with the Knox County Health Department are able to successfully conduct contact tracing of a cluster, a notification will generally not be communicated. All clusters identified within the last 14 days, along with start date and determined point of origin will be documented on the Data Monitoring and Contingency Options guide.
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
The university releases an annual report addressing a wide range of safety information every fall. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains three years of campus crime statistics, as well as information on how to report crime, crime prevention and awareness programming, fire safety, a university police overview, emergency response, disciplinary procedures, and other matters of importance related to security and safety on campus.
The 2020 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report will be released in the coming weeks, and a notification will be sent to you when it is available.
The LiveSafe App
Though not a Clery requirement, the university’s mobile safety app LiveSafe is a great way to keep yourself informed. The LiveSafe Mobile App is a free download available to students, employees, and visitors of the Knoxville campus. LiveSafe offers a variety of tools and safety features such as the ability to send tips and incidents to UTPD and other departments on campus. Other features include the SafeWalk application to ensure friends arrive at their destination safely, as well as easy access to campus and local resources. Download and install the LiveSafe app from either Google Play or the Apple App Store. For more information go to https://prepare.utk.edu/app.
Clery compliance and the safety of our community is a campus-wide initiative. We all work to make sure Rocky Top is a safe and welcoming place for everyone. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with these tools and resources, and play an active role in your safety and the safety of others. If you have any questions regarding the Clery Act or university’s compliance with this federal law, please do not hesitate to contact me at clery@utk.edu or 865-974-3114.
Thank you for your time and commitment to our campus,
Jillian Paciello
UT Clery Compliance Coordinator