SLT Profile: Clery Compliance

The GRCC Clery Compliance Committee includes:

• Chief Rebecca Whitman, GRCC Police Department
• Clery Compliance Officer Robin Kritzman, GRCC Police Department
• Cathy Kubiak,  Human Resourses
• Billy Firn, Atheltics
• Kathy Keating, General Counsel
• Michael Shavey, Study Abroad
• Eric Mullen, Enrollment Management and Financial Aid
• Laurie Chesley, Provost
• Jennifer Batten, Tina Hoxie, Dan Clark, Pam Miller, John Cowles, Tracy Hilty and David Selmon, Academic and Student Affairs
• Lina Blair, Student Conduct
• Jim Peterson, Risk Management
• Kimberly Devries, Title IX

This committee is charged with ensuring GRCC students and employees receive all available information and resources required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, more commonly known as the Clery Act.

One of the ways GRCC meets our obligations is through the Annual Security Report and the Daily Crime Log, available online and in print at the GRCC Police Department, 25 Lyon St. NE.

The Clery Act is a federal law that requires colleges to report specific crimes that occur on campus, private property adjacent to campus, and on other non-campus properties as well as school safety policies. The Clery Act also requires schools to send timely warnings and or emergency notifications when there are known risks to our campus community.

“On March 7, 2013 the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) was signed into law. VAWA includes amendments to the Clery Act. These changes require institutions to disclose statistics, policies, and programs related to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking among other changes.” (The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security)

GRCC has a plethora of Clery Act compliance responsibilities which are housed in several departments on campus. The Clery Compliance Committee identifies the college departments which have a responsibility for some area relating to the Clery Act. The team then collaborates with those departments to update related policies, processes and procedures.

In the past year, this committee has:

• Introduced the Clery Act as the responsibility of the college as a whole, and not one specific department.
• Created subcommittees for sections of the college’s annual security report to place an emphasis on accurate policies and procedures, updated maps and other details.
• Identified and confirmed Campus Security Authorities (CSA’s) and coordinated the completion of CSA online training.

The committee’s goals include ongoing education on annual Clery Act requirement updates, and facilitating a comprehensive program review which will be performed by D. Stafford and Associates. This review, specifically the gaps identified, will be the committee’s focus in the coming year.

Campus Security Authorities (CSA) Training

All GRCC employees who are considered Campus Security Authorities (CSA) based on Job Description, Advisor Role, or other assigned duty must attend training in the CSA responsibility.

The training is required annually by the Clery Act (Federal Law). During the training CSA’s will be provided with definitions of Clery reportable crimes, the GRCC Clery Geography, and other information to ensure all CSA’s properly meet their federally mandated requirements. All sessions will be presented by Chief Rebecca Whitman.

Three training dates have been added to the Staff Development schedule:

• Tue Jan 20, 2015 from 9-10 AM in Room 234 Student Community Center
• Thu Jan 29, 2015 from 1-2 PM in Room 234 Student Community Center

Please register online at http://grcc.edu/staffdevelopment/currentlearningopportunitiesregistration or call Staff Development ext. 4285 if you need assistance.

Campus Security Authorities (CSA) Training

All GRCC employees who are considered Campus Security Authorities (CSA) based on Job Description, Advisor Role, or other assigned duty must attend training in the CSA responsibility.

The training is required annually by the Clery Act (Federal Law). During the training CSA’s will be provided with definitions of Clery reportable crimes, the GRCC Clery Geography, and other information to ensure all CSA’s properly meet their federally mandated requirements. All sessions will be presented by Chief Rebecca Whitman.

Three training dates have been added to the Staff Development schedule:

• Mon Dec 15 from 11 AM – 12 PM in Room 120 ATC
• Wed Dec 17 from 8-9 AM in Room 120 ATC
• Fri Dec 19 from 2-3 PM in Room 120 ATC

Please register online at http://grcc.edu/staffdevelopment/currentlearningopportunitiesregistration or call Staff Development ext. 4285 if you need assistance.

GRCC In the News, 10-20-14

Why 2012 public masturbation incident doesn’t appear in GRCC’s annual crime report

Oct. 20, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Scan through Grand Rapids Community College’s 2014 annual security report and you’ll see lots of stats on campus crime sexual assault, robbery, motor vehicle theft and aggravated assault, to name a few.

GRCC hosting forum for Board of Trustees candidates

Oct. 17, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College is hosting a forum for the four candidates seeking two seats on the school’s Board of Trustees.

Business leaders in the news

Oct. 19, 2014; The Detroit Free Press

… John Cameron Jr., a lawyer with Dickinson Wright in Grand Rapids, was installed as the public director for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, Albion College, and graduated from Wayne State University Law School. He is a former instructor at Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College. He has written several books, including “A Practitioner’s Guide to Construction Law.”

Actors’ Theatre names veteran thespian as its next managing director

Oct. 17, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Actors’ Theatre is welcoming a new managing director in November.

… Ben Boerkoel, president of Actors’ Theatre’s board, said he’s excited to put Los’ abilities and passion to work for the company that operates out of Grand Rapids Community College’s Spectrum Theatre.

GRCC In the News, 10-9-14

One man on an ArtPrize mission

Oct. 9, 2014; rapidgrowthmedia.com

When the ArtPrize winners are announced this weekend, a few talented artists will go home thousands of dollars richer, and many of those involved with the Grand Rapids arts community will, we assume, go home and take a nap. But if he plays his cards right and if venues don’t close early, foiling his carefully laid plans — one local man will go home with the satisfaction of having quietly visited every single venue for the fourth year in a row.

… “Because of my love of architecture, I love being downtown. I spend a lot of time looking up at the buildings. Back when I grew up, downtown was just a part of me,” says (Bill) Terkeurst, who was born and raised in Grand Rapids, graduated from Creston High, and attended Grand Rapids Community College and Hope College before moving to the east side of the state to teach. He returned to West Michigan in the early 90s and is now a computer programmer with Hewlett Packard.

Grand Rapids-area colleges, universities release new campus crime statistics

Oct. 9, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – New federally mandated campus crime reports show just how often Grand Rapids-area college students get caught drinking, possessing drugs, and committing acts of sexual assault and robbery on campus.

(Article does not mention GRCC, but the sidebar includes a link to GRCC’s campus security reports.)

10-year, $15M Midtown Center block renovation finally complete

Oct. 9, 2014; The Holland Sentinel

Holland, Mich. — It took 10 years, about $15 million, the work of several organizations, donations, collaborations and so much more, but now the city of Holland’s Midtown block is complete and many say the renovation was a success.

… The building adjacent to Pine Avenue opened first. It now houses several small businesses and organizations in individual suites. Grand Rapids Community College has classes there. The old gym was renovated into a rental hall complete with a stage. The renovations meant opening the expansive windows to the room, allowing in a lot of natural light.

Campus police to test emergency communication systems

In an effort to maintain proper emergency protocols and compliance with the Clery Act, Campus Police will be running tests on all GRCC emergency communication tools Tuesday, November 26th throughout the day. Tests will be run via the Code Blue Pedestals in our external spaces, the Emergency Phone Alert system in offices and classrooms, the Rave notification system to employee home and cell phones (we will not be including students in this test).

This would be a good time for all employees to make sure all personal phone information is up to date in PeopleSoft. Please remember, if you wish to receive text messages to your cell phone in the case of an emergency, you MUST indicate that number as a “mobile” number in your information. If it is listed as “main” it will not receive a text message.

After the test, if you do not receive a call or message to your home or cell phone and believe you should have, please send an email to myself or Vicki Janowiak so we can look to correct the situation. Thank you for your support.

Campus police will test emergency communications

In an effort to maintain proper emergency protocols and compliance with the Clery Act, Campus Police will be running tests on all GRCC emergency communication tools Tuesday, November 26th throughout the day. Tests will be run via the Code Blue Pedestals in our external spaces, the Emergency Phone Alert system in offices and classrooms, the Rave notification system to employee home and cell phones (we will not be including students in this test).

This would be a good time for all employees to make sure all personal phone information is up to date in PeopleSoft. Please remember, if you wish to receive text messages to your cell phone in the case of an emergency, you MUST indicate that number as a “mobile” number in your information. If it is listed as “main” it will not receive a text message.

After the test, if you do not receive a call or message to your home or cell phone and believe you should have, please send an email to myself or Vicki Janowiak so we can look to correct the situation. Thank you for your support.

GRCC In The News 5-31-12

GRCC Board of Trustees to consider request to borrow $30 million for campus repairs
Wednesday, May 30, 2012, 12:33 PM
Brian McVicar, The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees will host a special meeting next week to consider a proposal to sell approximately $30.4 million in bonds to help fund repairs for the college’s aging campus. (More)

Man accused of exposing himself to GRCC student could get life sentence if convicted
Thursday, May 31, 2012, 8:30 AM
By Brian McVicar, The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A man allegedly caught masturbating in front of a student in a Grand Rapids Community College music room is facing up to life in prison if convicted as a sexually delinquent offender. (More)

Notice of availability of Annual Security Report

A copy of GRCC’s Annual Security Report is available for review. This report is required by federal law and contains statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by GRCC; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assaults, emergency situations, and other matters.

The report is available online here. You can also request a paper copy by visiting the GRCC Campus Police Department.

Timely Notice: Bank Robbery Near GRCC Learning Corner @ Wealthy

On January 10, 2011 the Grand Rapids Police Department responded to a bank robbery at 1158 Wealthy Street SE, Huntington Bank. The suspect gave the teller a note and demanded money. The suspect entered and exited through the front doors of the bank, no weapon was ever seen. This bank is located next to GRCC’s Wealthy Learning Corner.

The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 50-55 years old, 5’10”, wearing a blue stocking cap with a white stripe. He was also wearing silver, wire rimmed prescription style glasses.

If anyone was in the area of 1158 Wealthy Street SE on January 10, 2011 from 4:45 pm to 5:15 pm, and has any information about this incident please contact Campus Police at 234-4010, the Grand Rapids Police Department at 456-3604, or Silent Observer at 774-2345.

Notice: Attempted Purse Snatchings Near Campus

A purse snatching was reported to have occurred on the corner of Lyon and Lafayette.  At approximately 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, September 25th, a woman was walking home after working at Artprize when a man came up from behind, grabbed her, and demanded her purse.  The subject fled in the direction of GRCC’s campus.  Three minutes later, a subject en route to Artprize, parked her vehicle on Fountain St., just east of the Spectrum theater.  While exiting her vehicle, a person matching the description from the first incident, approached from behind, pushed the victim to the ground and demanded her purse.

The suspect in both incidents was described as a black male, in his 20’s, 6 foot to 6 foot 3 in., wearing a red hoodie (pulled up over his head) and black jeans.

Although these incidents did not happen on campus, we would like to remind the campus community to be vigilant when walking around campus.

To protect yourself, do not walk alone.  Walk/park in well lit areas.  Have your keys ready to open your vehicle.

Grand Rapids Community College Police Department urges anyone with any information about this incident to contact them at 234-4010.