Health & Safety

The Jeanne Clery Act

The Clery Act requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to publish and distribute an annual security report (ASR) to current and prospective employees and students by October 1 each year. The ASR must include three previous calendar years’ worth of Clery crime statistics plus details about efforts taken to improve campus safety. It must also include policy statements regarding crime reporting, campus facility security and access, law enforcement authority, alerting the campus community of potential ongoing threats or immediate health or safety concerns, incidence of alcohol and drug use, and the prevention of/response to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS). It also requires that crime data be collected, reported and disseminated to campus. Crime data is disseminated in a separate publication to all students and employees.

Campus Security Authorities Responsibilities and Resources

As part of the Clery Act, qualifying incidents reported to University Police, from various sources including Campus Security Authorities, are required to be annually published and made available to the campus community. One purpose of the Clery Act is to encourage the reporting and collection of accurate campus crime statistics to promote crime awareness and enhance campus safety. The intent of including non-law enforcement personnel in the Campus Security Authority (CSA) role is to acknowledge that some community members and students in particular may be hesitant about reporting crimes to the police, but may be more inclined to report incidents to other campus-affiliated individuals.

Who must report qualifying crimes?

CSAs include members of the campus police department or campus security department of an institution, any person(s) who has the authority and the duty to act or respond to particular issues on behalf of the college/university, any individual(s) who has significant responsibility for students and campus activities.

At D&E, the following individuals are designated as Campus Security Authorities:

• Vice Presidents, Department/Division chairs, Directors and Coaches
• Any faculty member responsible for supervising any activities or programs that include direct contact with students outside of the classroom (includes all faculty advisors to student groups and organizations)
• Any staff member whose primary job description includes providing academic advice to students
• Residence hall staff
• Office of Student Life staff

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 is considered a CSA. College CSAs have an obligation to promptly report allegations of Clery Act defined incidents which occurred on campus, on public property bordering campus and in non-campus areas which the College leases or otherwise controls.

These incidents include:

• murder and non-negligent manslaughter
• negligent manslaughter
• robbery
• aggravated assault
• burglary
• motor vehicle theft
• arson
• hazing
• sexual offenses (report this offense to the Title IX coordinator)
• domestic violence (report this offense to the Title IX coordinator)
• dating violence (report this offense to the Title IX coordinator)
• stalking (report this offense to the Title IX coordinator)
• persons arrested or referred for campus disciplinary action for liquor law violations, drug-related violations and illegal weapons possession violations

In addition, the Clery Act requires institutions to report statistics for certain hate crimes (bias-motivated incidents).

Crime Reporting Process

If a Clery Act qualifying crime or an incident that may be a crime is reported to a CSA, the CSA is obligated to record the information using the CSA Incident Report Form. The reporting CSA should ensure that he/she completes all information on the form based on the information in their possession. CSAs completing the CSA Incident Report Form should not include any personal identifying information of the reporting party or other individuals in the report. CSAs should not investigate the crime or attempt to determine whether a crime, in fact, took place. D&E Office of Public Safety personnel may later contact the reporting CSA to gather additional information if needed. When in doubt a report should be completed and submitted. Do not assume someone else will file a report.

Crime/Emergency and Non-Emergency Reporting

Regardless of your status (CSA or non-CSA), all community members are encouraged to promptly report all campus related criminal incidents and other public safety related emergencies to the Office of Public Safety. For incidents requiring immediate attention, dial 911, then contact the Office of Public Safety.

Emergency Response and Safety Planning
D&E provides the protocols, evacuation procedures and key actors with contact information in the event of an emergency, and similar to the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report, this guide is disseminated to the campus community annually.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program Biennial Review

The Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations (34 CFR Part 86) of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) require an institution of higher education (IHE) such as Davis & Elkins College (D&E) to certify that it has implemented programs to prevent the abuse of alcohol and use or distribution of illicit drugs both by D&E students and employees on its premises and/or as any part of its activities.

Pursuant to the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, Davis & Elkins College has a drug and alcohol prevention program for its students and employees. The College’s program is reviewed biennially by the Office of Student Life and Human Resources to determine its effectiveness and to implement changes (if needed) to ensure that the College’s disciplinary sanctions are consistently enforced. Davis & Elkins College is subject to the laws of the state of West Virginia, Randolph County and the city of Elkins.

Medical – Dial 911 or visit the Davis Medical Center Emergency Room at 812 Gorman Ave. Elkins, WV 26241

Mental Health (after hours) – Dial 304-636-3232, available 24/7 at the Appalachian Community Health Center

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault – Dial 304-636-8433, available 24/7 or visit Centers Against Violence in Elkins

D&E Office of Public Safety – Dial 304-704-9111, available 24/7

Community Care of West Virginia offers services by appointment from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Walk-in appointments are based on availability.

The content of the meetings with a professionally credentialed counselor will be kept confidential. Information shared will not be given to individuals without the student’s knowledge and written permission. There are some exceptions arising from ethical and legal requirements such as imminent harm to a student or someone else (including child abuse or elder abuse) and certain legal situations, which require disclosure. These limitations will be discussed at the first appointment.

Professional, licensed counselors and pastoral counselors who provide mental health counseling to members of the College community (including those who act in that role under the supervision of a licensed counselor) are not required to report any information about a Sexual or Gender-Based Misconduct incident to the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinators without the Reported Victim’s written permission. Please visit the College’s Gender-based Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy for information regarding confidentiality and sexual offenses.

The College psychologists/counselors are not considered “campus security authorities” and are, therefore, not required to report crimes for inclusion into the College’s annual disclosure of crime statistics without the client’s express consent.

Prevent Suicide West Virginia

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – West Virginia

The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+)

Veterans Crisis Line

The Jed Foundation

Active Minds

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

National Alliance on Mental Illness

American Psychological Association

Anxiety and Depression Association of America

SuicideLifeguard

CalmHarm

Virtual Hope Box

MoodTools

Depression and suicide are serious public health problems that cause immeasurable pain, suffering and loss to individuals, families and communities nationwide. Davis & Elkins College is committed to working with its state and federal partners, public and private organizations, community partners and others to provide the assistance and prevention resources needed.

West Virginia House Bill 2535, or “Jamie’s Law,” was passed during the 2015 Regular Legislative Session. Jamie’s Law requires public middle and high school administrators to disseminate and provide opportunities to discuss suicide prevention awareness information to all middle and high school students; requires each public and private institution of higher education to develop and implement a policy to advise students and staff on suicide prevention programs available on and off campus; requires each public and private institution of higher education to provide all incoming students with information about depression and suicide prevention resources available to students; requires the posting of certain information on the website of the public and private institutions of higher education, the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education; and requires the Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities to post on its website suicide prevention awareness information.

Depression is a debilitating mental illness that can cause an individual to feel persistently sad or hopeless, experience decreased energy, to lose interest in activities he or she used to enjoy, feel irritable, experience difficulties with sleep, have trouble concentrating, experience changes in appetite, and/or feel unexplained aches and pains. In some cases, individuals may think about death or suicide.

These warning signs may indicate that someone is thinking about suicide:

• They talk about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves.
• They look for ways or means to kill themselves, such as searching online.
• They are isolating themselves or withdrawing from others.
• They are sleeping too much or too little.
• They say they feel “hopeless” or that they have “no reason to live.”
• They say they feel “stuck,” “trapped” or “in unbearable pain.”
• They say that they feel like they are a burden to others.
• They are behaving more recklessly or engaging in more risk-taking behaviors.
• They are using an increased amount of alcohol or drugs.
• They demonstrate unusual changes in mood or behavior.
• They are act anxious, irritable or aggressively.
• They are giving away important or treasured possessions.
• They are visiting, calling, or writing messages to people to say goodbye.