In 1990, Congress enacted the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act (Title II of Public Law 101-542), which amended the Higher Education Act of 1965 and is now known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("Clery Act").

Compliance with the Clery Act requires institutions like Oakland University to adhere to various mandates. One of those requirements involves timely notification of the campus community of certain crimes or incidents that are (a) reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies, and (b) considered by the institution to represent a serious or continuing threat to students and employees.

Dissemination of safety alerts
The OUPD is typically the first university entity to become aware of an incident or situation that may require a safety alert pursuant to the Clery Act.

The Chief of Police (or designee) will notify the Vice President for Finance and Administration of the incident or situation. The Vice President for Finance and Administration, in consultation with the President, will decide whether to issue a safety alert.

However, when an emergency situation exists, and when time is critical and immediate notification to the campus community (or a portion thereof) is necessary, the decision to implement a full or partial campus safety alert can be made by the highest ranking member of the OUPD.  

University Communications and Marketing is responsible for issuing the safety alert using one or more of the available methods of communication, as directed by the Chief of Police and/or the Vice President for Finance and Administration.