A Message from Texas State University President Denise M. Trauth Regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s Program Review

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff, 

Texas State University was notified yesterday that the U. S. Department of Education’s Clery Act Compliance Division (the Department) will be conducting an off-site campus crime program review to evaluate the university’s compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and the Department’s regulations.  

Texas State has been working with the Department since May 2019 to correct deficiencies identified in the university’s prior Annual Security Reports (ASR). We have been preparing for this possible next step in the process and are fully cooperating with the Department’s program review team to continue to improve campus safety and Clery compliance.   

Since February 2019, the university has taken specific actions to address Clery compliance, including hiring University Police Chief Laurie Clouse who has an extensive background in university law enforcement and Clery compliance. Chief Clouse formed an internal inter-disciplinary Clery Compliance Committee which first met on March 6, 2019 and continues to meet monthly to update and maintain our Clery Act required policies and statistics. In addition, the university joined the national Clery Center which helps identify best practices and provides an external review of the university’s ASR; is working with Margolis Healy, a nationally known Clery consultant that has advised other universities on similar program reviews; and is hiring two full-time positions, a Director of Institutional Compliance, and a Clery Act Compliance Coordinator to support our efforts.  

As we continue through this review, I will keep you informed of the progress and outcomes. Our guiding priorities at Texas State are the safety, security and well-being of our university community. Through this process, we will continue to examine ways we can fulfill that goal.   

Sincerely,

Denise M. Trauth
President