§ 49-7-2203 — Reporting of crime statistics

(a) Each institution of higher education shall report to the Tennessee bureau of investigation, on an annual basis, crime statistics for crimes occurring on the campus and in student housing, if applicable, of the institution for publication in an annual report on forms and in the format required by the bureau pursuant to this part. Each report must be certified by the president or the chancellor of the respective institution of higher education, or the president's or chancellor's designee. It is the duty of the director of the Tennessee bureau of investigation to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations prescribing the form, general content, time and manner of submission of the crime statistics. The rules so adopted and promulgated shall be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, and shall have the force and effect of law. (b) Each institution of higher education shall publish, in accordance with the rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the state publications committee, a report that shall be updated annually, and that shall include the crime statistics as reported under subsection (a) for the most recent three-year period. Crime rates shall also be included in the report. The crime rates reported shall be based on the numbers and categories of crimes reported under subsection (a) and the number of full-time equivalent undergraduate and graduate students and full-time equivalent employees at the institution of higher education. Upon request, the institution shall provide the report to every person who submits an application for admission to the institution and to each new employee at the time of employment. In its acknowledgment of receipt of the formal application of admission, the institution shall notify the applicant of the availability of the information. Upon request, the institution shall also provide the report to any student or employee of the institution. Institutions with more than one (1) campus shall provide the required information on a campus-by-campus basis. (c) Upon the request of any applicant for admission or any new employee, each institution of higher education shall provide information regarding the institution's security policies and procedures. In its acknowledgment of receipt of an application for admission or in pre-admission materials, the institution shall notify the applicant of the availability of the information. Upon request, the institution shall also provide the information to any student or employee of the institution. The institution shall post public notices stating that the information described in this subsection (c) is available and explaining how it may be obtained. Institutions with more than one (1) campus shall provide the information on a campus-by-campus basis. The information for the most recent school year shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) The number of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled; (2) The number of undergraduate and graduate students living in student housing; (3) The total number of nonstudent employees working on the campus; (4) The administrative office responsible for security on the campus; (5) A description of the type and number of security personnel utilized by the institution, including a description of their training; (6) The enforcement authority of security personnel, including their working relationship with state and local law enforcement agencies; (7) Policy on reporting criminal incidents to state and local law enforcement agencies; (8) Policy regarding access to institutional facilities and programs by students, employees, guests and other individuals; (9) Procedures and facilities for students and others to report criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on campus and policies concerning the institution's response to the reports; (10) A statement of policy regarding the possession, use and sale of alcoholic beverages; (11) A statement of policy regarding the possession, use and sale of illegal drugs; (12) A statement of policy regarding the possession and use of weapons by security personnel and any other person; (13) Any policy regarding students or employees with criminal records; (14) Security considerations used in the maintenance of campus facilities, including landscaping, groundskeeping and outdoor lighting; and (15) A description of the communication media used to inform the campus community about security matters as well as the frequency with which the information is usually provided. (d) Institutions that maintain student housing facilities shall include in the information described in subsection (c) the following: (1) Types of student housing available, such as on-campus, off-campus; single room, double, group; single sex, coed; undergraduate, graduate, married, or other types of student housing; (2) Policies on housing assignments and requests by students for assignment changes; (3) Policies concerning the identification and admission of visitors in student housing facilities; (4) Measures to secure entrances to student housing facilities; (5) Standard security features used to secure doors and windows in students' rooms; (6) A description of the type and number of employees, including security personnel, assigned to the student housing facilities, which shall include a description of their security training; (7) The type and frequency of programs designed to inform student housing residents about housing security and enforcement procedures; (8) Policy and any special security procedures for housing students during low-occupancy periods such as holidays and vacation periods; and (9) Policy on the housing of guests and others not assigned to the student housing or not regularly associated with the institution of higher education.

Legislative History

Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 958, s 1, eff. 4/29/2022. Acts 1989, ch. 317, § 3; 1990, ch. 1024, § 26; 2006, ch. 757, § 2.