University of Pennsylvania
3451 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
DATES OF REVIEW: June 30, 1997 October 10, 1997
YEARS REVIEWED: 1994, 1995, and 1996
OPE ID #: 00337800
KIN #: 1231352685A1
TYPE AND CONTROL: Private/Four Year
ACCREDITATION: Middle States Association of Colleges
and Schools
METHOD OF FUNDING: Advance Payment
ED REVIEWERS: Mr. John Loreng
Ms. Nancy Della Vecchia
Mr. James Moore
Ms. Suzanne Wood
INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIALS CONTACTED:
Ms. Brenda Fraser, Associate General Counsel
Ms. Shelley Green, General Counsel
Mr. John Fry, Executive Vice President
Mr. Thomas Seamon, Managing Director of the Division of Public Safety
Lt. Joseph Weaver, Administrative Manager for the Division of Public
Safety
Mr. George Clisby, Director of Administration
Ms. Susan Hawkins, Director of Victim Support and Special Services
Ms. Maureen Rush, Chief of Police Operations
Lt. Susan Holmes, Victim Support and Special Services
Ms. Linda Koons, Executive Assistant to the Provost
Ms. Ellie DiLapi, Director of the Women's Center
Ms. Michelle Goldfarb, Director of the Office of Student Conduct
Mr. Scott Letterman, Treasurer
Ms. Karen Winkler, Records Unit
Ms. Sheniqua Green, Records Unit
INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND
The University of Pennsylvania (the University) currently enrolls nearly
22,000 students in 16 undergraduate and graduate schools. The University
and its programs are fully accredited by the Middle States Association
of Colleges and Schools. Situated on 262 acres, the University's urban
campus consists of more than 120 buildings located throughout West Philadelphia.
B. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In early October 1996, The Philadelphia Inquirer published the first
in a series of articles which discussed issues involving campus crime reporting
and student safety at the University of Pennsylvania. The Crime Awareness
and Campus Security Act of 1990 requires participating Title IV, HEA institutions
to publish complete and accurate campus crime statistics to students, parents
and employees. On November 25, 1996, The Philadelphia Inquirer published
a front page article entitled "How Safe is Penn? Depends On Whose
Tally" which focused on the University's interpretation of "campus"
and its impact on Federal campus crime reporting.
Specifically, the November 25, 1996 article disclosed that an internal
printout obtained by the newspaper from the University's Police database
showed 181 robberies occurring within its patrol area during 1995. In contrast,
the University's Federal Campus Security Report (CSR) showed only 18 robberies
on campus during that year. The implication of the article was that the
tenfold difference was the result of a narrow application of the term "campus''
by the University.
The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) is responsible for
conducting oversight of the administration of the Title IV, HEA programs
at participating institutions. This responsibility includes the monitoring
of an institution's compliance with the requirements of the Crime Awareness
and Campus Security Act (the Act). Thus, when information of this nature
comes to the attention of the Department, it is Department practice to
make an inquiry and a determination regarding appropriate action. In this
instance, the Department determined that a focused program review of the
University of Pennsylvania's compliance with the Act was appropriate.
C. SCOPE OF REVIEW
An onsite review was conducted at the University between June 30, 1997
and October 10, 1997, and at the regional office in Philadelphia prior
to June 30, 1997, to examine the University's compliance with the Student
Right to Know and Campus Security Act of 1990. The review consisted of
an examination of the University's policies and procedures relative to
the annual Campus Security Report required by law. The review team examined
the University's Campus Security Reports for 1995 and 1996, covering statistics
reported for 1994, 1995, and 1996, the supporting documentation for the
statistics and policies presented in this report, as well as other relevant
documentation held by the University's Police Department. University officials
were interviewed during the onsite review.
In light of The Philadelphia Inquirer article referenced above, this
review examined whether the University defined "campus" narrowly
so as to exclude from its Campus Security Reports crimes known to the campus
Police Department. Under the Campus Security Act, institutions are obligated
to report statistics "concerning the occurrence on campus" of
specified crimes. 34 CFR 668.47(a)(6). Campus is as any 'property owned
or controlled by an institution within the same reasonably contiguous geographic
area and used by the institution in direct support of, or in a manner related
to, the institution's educational purposes." 34 CFR 668.47(f).
As part of the review, the review team asked for a printout of all
robberies recorded by the University Police Department for 1995. The printout
disclosed a total of 204 robberies for 1995 (17 of these were classified
as oncampus), rather than 181 (18 on-campus) as reported by The Philadelphia
Inquirer. University officials explained that the different numbers reflected
investigations completed by the University's Police Department since the
time the newspaper had obtained its copy of the robbery printout.
The review team determined that the robbery printout included robberies
for the entire area patrolled by the University Police Department. The
patrol area is from the Schuylkill River west to 43rd Street, and from
Market Street south to Baltimore and University Avenues. This patrol area,
however, encompasses a territory larger than the University's "campus"
as that term is defined under the Campus Security Act regulation. It was
confirmed in interviews that for the purpose of reporting crime statistics
in the Federal Campus Security Report (CSR), the University used the definition
of "campus" as required by regulation. Upon further review of
the robbery report, the team identified no instances of noncompliance with
the Campus Security disclosure requirements as a result of the University's
application of the Federal definition of "campus" to the 204
robberies reported for the entire patrol area.
During the visit, some areas of noncompliance were noted. Findings
of noncompliance are referenced to the applicable statutes and regulations
and specify the actions to be taken by the University to come into compliance
with the requirements of the Act and the regulations.
Although this review of the University's implementation of the requirements
of the Act was thorough, it cannot be assumed to be allinclusive. The absence
of statements in the report concerning the institution's specific practices
and procedures must not be construed as acceptance, approval, or endorsement
of those specific practices and procedures. Furthermore, it does not relieve
the University of Pennsylvania of its obligation to comply with all of
the statutory or regulatory provisions governing the Act or the Title IV,
HEA programs.
D. FINDINGS AND REQUIREMENTS
Finding # 1: Hate Crime Statistics Not Included In Campus Security
The University of Pennsylvania's Campus Security Report for 1995 and
1996 did not include the number of biasrelated crime incidents.
20 U.S.C. § 1092(f)(6) and 34 CFR § 668.47(a)(6)(ii) require
that an institution's annual campus security report include statistics
of Part l crimes as defined by the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system
that meet the criteria prescribed by the Hate Crime Statistics Act. 28
USC § 534. Statistics concerning the criminal offenses of murder,
forcible rape, and aggravated assault that manifest evidence of prejudice
based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity must be classified
as hate crimes.
Failure to collect and distribute accurate and complete campus security
statistics and failure to distribute its campus security policies to current
and prospective students and employees deprives the campus community of
important security information.
Reference
Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101542, 20
U.S.C. § 1092(f), as amended. Hate Crime Statistics Act, Pub. L. 101
275, 20 U.S.C. § 534, as amended. 34 CFR § 668.47(a)(6)(ii)(1997).
Requirement
As a result of this finding, the University is required to amend its
Campus Security Report due September l, 1997 for the requisite three calendar
years to include those incidents that meet the regulatory definition of
a "hate crime." After correcting the statistics, the University
is required to distribute the amended report to all current students and
employees. The University must also provide the amended report to all prospective
students and employees who request such information. In addition, the University
must provide this office with a copy of the amended report with its response
to this program review report.
Finding # 2: Failure To Report Specific Incidents
A. The University did not include in its 1994 statistics, a rape which
was reported to the Director of Victim Support and Special Services, on
November 20, 1994. The Director's handwritten notes, dated November 20,
1994, show that the reported rape occurred on November 18, 1994, in a University
of Pennsylvania dormitory. However, the University's Campus Security Report
shows zero rapes as occurring on campus during calendar year 1994.
Federal regulations require that institutions publish statistics concerning
the occurrence on campus 1 of the following criminal offenses reported
to local police agencies or to any official of the institution who has
significant responsibility for student and campus activities: murder, rape,
robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motorvehicle theft. 34 CFR §
668.47(a)(6)(i).
Prior to the commencement of the exit interview on September 24, 1997,
the review team was advised that the University decided during the summer
1997-that the reported November 18, 1994 incident should have been included
in the 1994 crime statistics and that the Campus Security Report would
be altered to include the incident.
Previously in correspondence dated January 14, 1997, the University
indicated to the Department that its practice is to publish the Campus
Security Report due by September 1 in March of that same year. The review
team later confirmed this practice with Associate General Counsel. However,
the institution's practice of publishing its report early does not relieve
the University of the regulatory responsibility to publish and distribute
accurate crime statistics to its students and employees, in accordance
with the timeframes established under 34 CFR § 668.47(a). Although
the University determined during the summer of 1997 that the rape which
occurred on November 18, 1994, should have been included in the 1994 crime
statistics, the institution offered no indication that it has taken corrective
action to ensure that it met its regulatory obligation to publish and distribute
a Campus Security Report containing accurate crime statistics by September
1, 1997.
The University has posted the above mentioned March 1, 1997 report
on its web site at https://almanac.upenn.edu/archive/v43/n31/safety.html. In
correspondence to the Department dated November 26, 1997, the University
represents the Internet site as a means of providing the campus security
report to both current and prospective students and employees. The web
site has not been updated to include the November 18, 1994 rape.
On January 7, 1998, the University provided to the review team a copy
of an amended Campus Security Report which is revised to include the reported
November 18, 1994 incident. However, as of the date of this report, the
University has not indicated it has or will properly redistribute the corrected
Campus Security Report. See Findings Nos. 5 and 6 on proper distribution.
Hence, the Department is forced to conclude that although the University
is fully aware that the crime statistics contained in its 1997 report are
inaccurate, it has not completed requisite corrective action.
B. The University did not include eight separate liquor law violations
which occurred on campus in April 1996. In each of these instances, the
Liquor Control Enforcement (LCE) Board, a division of the Pennsylvania
State Police, issued a citation to the offender and each of these violations
is documented in the University's Division of Public Safety. However? the
University 's 1996 Campus Security Report does not include the following
incidents:
Liquor Control Enforcement (LCE) Citations (OnCampus)
Date Incident Number Location Description
96/04/20 11925 3900 Locust St LCE cited underage
96/04/19 11811 Dining Commons LCE cited underage
96/04/19 11824 Sigma Phi Epsilon LCE cited student
96/04/19 11830 3900 Blk Locust St LCE person cited underage no affil
96/04/19 11834 3900 Blk Locust St LCE underage drinking cited
96/04/20 11837 37th & Locust St LCE cited 2 underage
96/04/20 11844 3900 Locust St LCE issued citation for underage drink
96/04/18 11678 3700 Locust St inv/under age/citation issued
During an interview on July 8, 1997, the Executive Vice President had
previously explained to the review team that the University had "invited"
the Liquor Control Enforcement Board on campus to help the University Police
deal with the oncampus drinking which traditionally occurs during "Spring
Fling." During that time period LCE issued eight citations for underage
drinking on campus which are maintained in the University's database as
shown above.
The University's Managing Director of the Division of Public Safety
confirmed on two separate occasions, September 24, 1997 and October 10,
1997, that a citation constitutes an arrest.
Federal regulations require that an institution include in its annual
Campus Security Report statistics concerning the number of arrests for
liquor law violations, drug abuse violations, and weapons possessions occurring
on campus. 34 CFR § 668.47(a)(8)(i).
However, despite the University's recognition that drinking on campus
is a problem, as evidenced by its invitation to LCE; the University's awareness
of the specific incidents, as evidenced by the inclusion in its database;
and the professional opinion of the individual charged with ultimate responsibility
for the accuracy of the Campus Security Reports, which holds that a citation
constitutes an arrest; the University did not incorporate these liquor
law violations into its annual Campus Security Report.
Reference
Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, Public Law 101542,
20 U.S.C. § 1092(f), as amended. 34 CFR § 668.47(a)(8)(i)(1997)
Requirement
Federal regulations require that institutions publish accurate statistics
concerning the occurrence on campus of the following criminal offenses
reported to focal police agencies or to any official of the institution
who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities: murder,
rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. 34
CFR § 668.47(a)(6)(i).
The University is required to amend the Campus Security report which
was due September 1, 1997, to include the November 18, 1994 rape, as well
as the various 1996 liquor law violations and any Hate Crimes responsive
to Finding No. l. However, in addition to correcting the statistics, the
University is required to reissue the amended report to all current students
and employees. The University must provide the amended report to all prospective
students and employees who request one. In addition, the University must
provide the Department with a copy of the amended report along with its
response to this program review report.
Finding # 3: Failure To Complete Separate Statistics For Separate Campuses
The University did not complete nor publish separate campus security
statistics for its noncontiguous geographic locations.
Federal regulation requires that an institution comply separately with
the requirements of 34 CFR § 668.47 for each campus. A branch, school,
or administrative division within an institution which is not within a
reasonably contiguous geographic area with the institution's main campus
is considered to be a separate campus. 34 CFR § 668.47(c).
Both the Morris Arboretum and the New Bolton Center are sites of the
University, which are not reasonably contiguous to the main campus but
are used for educational purposes.
A University memorandum, dated January 8, 1993,3 states that its Campus
Security Report will include crime statistics for the Morris Arboretum
and New Bolton Center. Based upon an analysis of institutional records
and interviews with institutional officials, this practice was confirmed
one Campus Security Report is compiled without distinguishing between
different locations including the noncontiguous sites.
However, these sites meet the Federal regulatory definition of a separate
campus, and as such, the University should report separate statistics for
these locations.
Reference
Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101542, 20
U.S.C. § 1092(f), as amended. 34 § 668.47(c)(1997).
Requirement
Federal regulation requires that an institution comply separately with
the requirements of 34 CFR § 668.47 for each campus. A branch, school,
or administrative division within an institution which is not within a
reasonably contiguous geographic area with the institution's main campus
is considered to be a separate campus. 34 CFR § 668.47(c).
The University must report separate campus security statistics, which
include all reportable categories for all noncontiguous locations. In addition,
the report must separately identify each location and separately identify
the crime statistics by location. In all other aspects the report must
comply fully with the requirements of 34 CFR § 668.47. The University
must complete this report for 1997 and provide this report to all current
students and employees, as well as to all prospective students and employees
who request a copy. The University must provide a copy of this report with
its response to this program review report.
Finding # 4: Failure To Include Statistics For All Campus Locations
The University of Pennsylvania's Campus Security Report does not include
statistics for all campus locations. Specifically, the University's report
does not include statistics for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
(HUP). A review of the University's Records Unit's database shows numerous
incidents of crime which occurred at HUP during calendar years 1994, 1995,
and 1996. These incidents are consistently coded as "offcampus"
and are not included in its Campus Security Report.
Federal regulations require that institutions report statistics concerning
the occurrence on campus of specific crimes. 34 CFR § 668.47(a)(6)(i).
Federal regulations further define a campus to be any building or property
owned or controlled by an institution within the same reasonably contiguous
geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or in
a manner related to, the institution's educational purposes. 34 CFR §
668.47(f).
HUP is owned by the University; it is contiguous to other areas of
the campus and it is used by the University in direct support of its educational
purpose. The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 199697 Bulletin
states: "The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) was
the first hospital in the country specifically built by a university to
provide bedside teaching for its medical school. Since the first patient
was admitted in 1874, the Hospital has provided the medical students with
their chief source of clinical experience. Activities of the Hospital and
the School of Medicine have remained closely integrated throughout the
years and the physicians on the Hospital staff are members of the School's
faculty."
The University memorandum dated January 8, 1993, previously referenced
on page 6, states: "Crime statistics will include the Morris Arboretum,
New Bolton Center, and the West Philadelphia campus, including the Hospital."
However, based on an analysis of the University's database and interviews
with University officials, the statistics for HUP are not included in the
Campus Security Report.
Reference
Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101542, 20
U.S.C. § 1092(f), as amended. 34 CFR § 668.47(f)(1)(1997).
Requirement
Federal regulations require that institutions report statistics concerning
the occurrence on campus of specific crimes. 34 CFR § 668.47(a)(6)(i).
Federal regulations further define a campus to be any building or property
owned or controlled by an institution within the same reasonably contiguous
geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or in
a manner related to, the institution's educational purposes. 34 CFR §
668.47(f).
The University is required to amend its Campus Security Report, which
was due September l, 1997, to show accurate statistics for the three requisite
calendar years, including those incidents which occurred at HUP. After
correcting the statistics, the University is required to reissue the amended
report to all current students and employees. The University must provide
the amended report to all prospective students and employees who request
one. In addition, the University must provide the Department with a copy
of the amended report along with its response to this program review report.
Finding # 5: Failure To Notify All Prospective Students Of The Availability
Of The Campus Security Report
The University did not distribute the Campus Security Report to all
prospective students.
Federal regulations require that institutions inform prospective students
and employees of the availability of its annual campus security reports,
give a summary of its contents, give those individuals an opportunity to
request the report, and provide a copy of the report, upon request. 34
CFR § 668.47(b)(2).
On February 4, 1997, the University submitted its supplemental response
to the Department's December 12, 1996 letter. Enclosed with the February
4, 1997 letter was a copy of an internal University of Pennsylvania memorandum
dated January 8, 1993, from the Executive Assistant to the Provost. The
January 8, 1993 memo states "New students and applicantswill receive
the reports in their admissions application materials". In an effort
to verify this practice the review team requested an application package.
The application package which was provided to the review team on July 3.
1997, did not contain any mention of the existence of or the availability
of the Campus Security Report.
Subsequently, the review team requested from the University a statement
defining how it meets the requirements of 34 CFR § 668.47(b), which
requires an institution to notify all prospective students regarding the
availability of the Campus Security Report. In response, the University
provided the requested statements from the following schools: Undergraduate
Admissions, the Graduate Division, the School of Dental Medicine, the Law
School, the Medical Center, the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the
Wharton School.
The School of Dental Medicine, the Law School, the Medical Center,
the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Wharton School all stated that
the primary means of notifying prospective students is by various school
web sites. In addition, each of the schools stated that it intends to include
a notification statement in its future publications. However, posting notification
regarding the availability of the Campus Security Report to a web site
does not constitute active notice to prospective students. Federal regulations
clearly place this burden on the institution by requiring that prospective
students be directly informed. Furthermore, there are certainly students
who contact the University through channels other than the web site. The
University did not provide the Department with documentation addressing
how it ensures that these students are also notified of the availability
of the Campus Security Report. This lack of information coupled with the
statement from each school that it intends to include such a statement
in future publications, forces the Department to conclude that these schools
do not currently have a policy in place which assures that all prospective
students who contact the University for information regarding admissions,
regardless of the means by which they contact the University, receive notification
of the availability of the Campus Security Report.
Reference
Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101542, 20
U.S.C. § 1092(f), as amended. 34 CFR § 668.47(b)(2)(1997).
Requirement
Federal regulations require that institutions inform prospective students
and employees of the availability of the annual Campus Security Report,
give a summary of its contents, give those individuals an opportunity to
request the report, and provide a copy of the report, upon request. 34
CFR § 668.47(b)(2).
The University is required to add the notification statement to its
other publications as anticipated in the correspondence provided to the
Department on November 26. 1997. The University provide copies of these
documents with the statement incorporated to this office with its response
to this program review report.
Finding # 6: Failure To Provide Campus Security Report To All Current
Students
The University did not provide a copy of the annual Campus Security
Report to all current students.
Federal regulations require that institutions distribute the annual
Campus Security Report to all current students and employees through direct
mailings to each individual through the U.S. Postal Service, campus mail,
or computer network, or through publications provided directly to each
individual. 34 CFR § 668.47(b)(1).
The January 8, 1993 memorandum states: "In order to reach current
faculty, staff, and students, the March 1 report and future September 1
reports will be published in The Daily Pennsylvanian, HUPDate, and Almanac."
Based on interviews with institutional officials, the review team was advised
that the report was distributed to current students through the Almanac,
inserts in The Daily Pennsylvanian, and was available on the Internet.
In addition, copies of the report are available in various campus buildings.
However, each of the aforementioned methods relies on the initiative of
the student in obtaining a copy of the report; none constitutes a direct
and active distribution to each individual. Federal regulations clearly
place this burden on the institution by requiring a direct distribution
to each individual, to ensure that every student receives a copy of the
Campus Security Report.
Reference
Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101542, 20
U.S.C. § 1092(f), as amended. 34 CFR § 668.47(b)(1)(1997)
Requirement
Federal regulations require that institutions distribute the annual
Campus Security Report to all current students and employees through direct
mailings to each individual through the U.S. Postal Service, campus mail,
or computer network, or through publications provided directly to each
individual. 34 CFR § 668.47(b)(1).
The University is required to develop a policy and procedure which
will ensure a direct delivery of the Campus Security Report to all current
students and employees. The University must provide the Department with
a copy of this policy. In addition, the University must designate an appropriate
University official to ensure that all current students and employees have
received a copy of the report due September 1, 1997, corrected as required
under Findings Nos. 14, and to provide a statement certifying to that effect
to the Department with its response to this program review report.
1 The Federal definition of "campus" is any building or property
owned or controlled by an institution within the same reasonably contiguous
geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or in
a manner related to, the institution's educational purposes.
2 Before the exit interview on September 24, 1997, Associate General
Counsel explained to the review team that the University had decided "over
this past summer" that the statistic should have been included.
3 This memo was provided to the Department under a cover letter dated
February 4, 1997. This letter was provided by the University as a supplement
to the institution's original response to the Department's December 12,
1996, inquiry regarding the University's implementation of the Campus Security
Act.