Annual Security Report

• General Campus Security & Crime Reporting
• Emergency Response & Community Alerts
• Drug & Alcohol Prevention Program
• Sexual Misconduct & VAWA Disclosures
• Clery Act Crime Statistics

General Campus Security & Crime Reporting

Preparation and Disclosure Information

The Director of Federal Compliance and Reporting, in coordination with CSU Security, collects crime data from local law enforcement agencies and internal Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) to prepare this Annual Security Report (ASR). This report is published by October 1st each year and is distributed to all current students and employees via university email notification and made available to prospective students and staff on the university careers portal and official website.

Institutional Scope and Excluded Disclosures

As a higher education institution dedicated exclusively to online distance learning, Columbia Southern University maintains administrative and operational facilities in Orange Beach but operates no on-campus student housing. Consequently, federal provisions designed specifically for residential campuses, including Missing Student Notification procedures (34 CFR 668.46(h)) and Annual Fire Safety Reports (34 CFR 668.49), do not apply to CSU's learning model. All non-residential Clery Act safety policies, emergency notifications, and statistical disclosures remain fully addressed within this report.

Notice of Availability: Annual Security Report (ASR):

By October 1 of each year, all current students, faculty, and staff receive an electronic notification via university email containing a brief description of CSU campus safety policies, crime statistics, the exact web address where the ASR can be accessed, and instructions for requesting a paper copy. Columbia Southern University notifies prospective students and prospective employees of the availability of the ASR at the time of application through the CSU Careers portal, admissions application process, and initial enrollment communications. For external parties utilizing campus facilities, the NOA is provided during the contracting process.

A paper copy of the Annual Security Report will be provided upon request by contacting the Director of Federal Compliance and Reporting at Jennifer.leehooper@columbiasouthern.edu.

Authority and Jurisdiction

CSU Security personnel have the authority to ask persons for identification to determine whether individuals have lawful business at CSU and may grant or deny access to the campus. CSU Security officers do not possess arrest power. Criminal incidents are referred to local law enforcement agencies, which have primary jurisdiction over CSU's physical locations. The Security team at CSU maintains a working relationship with the Orange Beach Police Department and the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.

General Crime Reporting Procedures

All threats of or actual violence and suspicious activities should be reported immediately to CSU Security (ext 2222) or any designated Campus Security Authority (CSA).

In emergencies, dial 9-1-1 first, then notify a CSA as soon as it is safe to do so. Prompt reporting ensures that the university can provide timely disclosure of crime statistics and issue Timely Warning notices when a threat to the campus community exists.

The Campus Security Authorities (CSAs):

The Clery Act identifies certain categories of individuals as Campus Security Authorities (CSAs). These individuals have a federally mandated responsibility to report Clery-reportable crimes that are brought to their attention.

At CSU, CSAs include:

• CSU Security Personnel
• The Dean of Students
• The Title IX Coordinator
• The Director of Human Resources

The primary role of a CSA is to document the details of an incident as reported, promptly forward the information to the Director of Federal Compliance and Reporting for statistical inclusion and Timely Warning evaluation, and advise the victim of their option to file a report with local law enforcement. CSAs are not investigators and are not responsible for determining if a crime actually occurred.

Note: For general criminal offenses, suspicious activity, or physical safety hazards, reports should be submitted as outlined in this section. For incidents involving sex-based discrimination, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual harassment, detailed reporting procedures, confidential resources, victim rights, and Title IX Coordinator contact information are outlined in Section 4: Sexual Misconduct & VAWA Disclosures.

Policy on Confidential Reporting

CSU encourages all victims and witnesses to report crimes accurately and promptly to CSU Security or local law enforcement. CSU does not currently have a formal policy or procedure that allows for the voluntary, confidential reporting of crimes for the purpose of the Annual Security Report.

While the university protects individual privacy to the greatest extent possible under the law, Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are required by federal law to report Clery-reportable crimes. Names of victims are not included in the publicly disclosed statistics.

Note: CSU does not employ pastoral or professional counselors; therefore, it has no procedures for such individuals to encourage confidential reporting.

Daily Crime Log

CSU Security and Human Resources maintain a Daily Crime Log for the Orange Beach Main Campus and the Joseph A. Manjone Center for Continuing Education (CE Building). Once a CSA or security officer receives notification of an alleged crime, circumstances are recorded in the log within two business days. Each entry includes the nature of the crime, date and time occurred, date and time reported, general location, and current disposition. The log for the most recent 60-day period is open to public inspection during regular business hours at the CSU Security Office, and any portion older than 60 days is made available within two business days of a request. Information may be withheld only if clear evidence demonstrates that release would jeopardize an ongoing investigation, individual safety, or victim confidentiality.

Physical Campus Security and Facility Maintenance (Orange Beach Locations)

Columbia Southern University is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all members of the campus community across its Orange Beach Main Campus, the Joseph A. Manjone Center for Continuing Education (CE Building) and the Bookstore.

The university manages facility access through electronic locking systems on all exterior doors. All guests, contractors, and maintenance personnel are required to sign in at the receptionist desk to receive a visitor's pass and must be escorted by a CSU employee while inside campus facilities. The Director of Maintenance provides continuous oversight and repair of campus infrastructure, ensuring the timely remediation of defective doors, locking mechanisms, and other safety equipment.

All CSU community members are encouraged to report any known physical hazards or maintenance concerns directly to the Director of Maintenance to ensure potential risks are addressed promptly.

Exterior doors and parking lots are monitored through video surveillance, and CSU Security personnel conduct regular internal and external patrols during scheduled business hours. In addition to routine patrols conducted by the Orange Beach Police Department, the university maintains a contract with a third-party security monitoring service to ensure 24/7 oversight of all campus facilities. Employees and on-site visitors are urged to stay vigilant, immediately report unbadged or unauthorized individuals to CSU Security, and utilize "buddy travel" or request a security escort when exiting campus buildings after dark.

Emergency Response & Community Alerts

Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications

Columbia Southern University maintains two separate notification protocols to alert the campus community to potential safety hazards: Emergency Notifications and Timely Warnings. While both protocols utilize electronic delivery channels, the triggering events, decision-making authorities, message developers, and distribution responsibilities for each are distinct.

As Columbia Southern University operates primarily as an online institution, the term "Campus Community" in the context of these alerts refers primarily to the faculty and staff located at the Orange Beach facilities. The university also extends these notification protocols to any students or guests who may be physically present on-site at the time of an incident.

Emergency Notifications are issued upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on the campus. This broad category includes both criminal incidents, such as an active shooter, and non-criminal threats, such as fires, extreme weather events, or hazardous material leaks. The CSU Emergency Response Team, which consists of the Office of the President, the Human Resources Department, and the Security Department, is responsible for confirming the existence of such a threat. Once confirmed, the Manager of Security, acting as Incident Commander and in consultation with the Emergency Response Team, develops and determines the specific content of the emergency message. The Manager of Security or an authorized designee then distributes the message without delay through the university mass text system, campus-wide email, and/or CSU global chat. Guests or visitors on campus who may not have access to electronic alerts will be warned verbally by security personnel or provided with printed instructions. Notifications are issued without delay unless doing so would, in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or mitigate the emergency. A follow-up or "All Clear" notice will be issued once the emergency has been resolved.

Timely Warning Notices are issued specifically in response to reported Clery Act crimes that occur within the university's defined Clery geography and are determined to represent a serious or ongoing threat to students and employees. Unlike Emergency Notifications, which focus on immediate life safety, Timely Warnings are designed to aid in the prevention of similar occurrences by providing the community with information to protect themselves. The Director of Federal Compliance and Reporting, in coordination with the Manager of Security, evaluates the incident and develops the specific wording and content of the warning, ensuring pertinent details are provided while strictly withholding victim names to maintain confidentiality. The Director of Federal Compliance and Reporting or the Manager of Security then distributes the finalized Timely Warning to the campus community via university email and official portal postings. If an Emergency Notification has already been issued for an active incident, the university is not required to issue a duplicate Timely Warning for the same event, provided all necessary safety information was disclosed in the initial alert.

Emergency Operations Plan and Active Threat Protocols

Columbia Southern University maintains a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) to direct institutional response during physical campus emergencies.

Operational command during a physical campus threat is managed by the Incident Commander (Security Manager) in coordination with local emergency response authorities, including the Orange Beach Police Department.

Upon receipt of an emergency report, the Incident Commander, in coordination with executive leadership and local emergency response authorities, evaluates the situation to confirm whether a significant emergency or dangerous situation exists on campus. Upon confirmation of an active threat or immediate danger to health or safety, the Incident Commander or authorized designee determines the notification content and immediately issues an Emergency Notification without delay, unless doing so would compromise efforts to contain or mitigate the emergency. Notifications are distributed across multi-channel communication systems, including mass text messages, university email, and direct verbal directions from security personnel.

In the event of an active threat or active shooter on campus, community members should follow the nationally recognized Run-Hide-Fight protocol by evacuating if a safe path exists, hiding and barricading in place if evacuation is impossible, or taking physical action as a last resort when life is in imminent danger. In compliance with Clery Act regulations, CSU conducts at least one documented test of its emergency response and evacuation procedures each calendar year, logging the date, time, description, and whether the exercise was announced or unannounced.

Drug & Alcohol Prevention Program

Standards of Conduct and Institutional Compliance

In accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, Columbia Southern University has adopted and implemented a comprehensive program to prevent the abuse of alcohol and the use of illicit drugs by students and employees. This program applies to all institutional premises and any university-sponsored activities. Columbia Southern University strictly prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students, employees, and guests on its premises or as part of any university activity. All members of the university community are expected to comply with federal, state, and local laws regarding alcohol and controlled substances. Violations of these laws will be reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities, and individuals may also face institutional disciplinary sanctions up to and including student dismissal or termination of employment. To maintain full regulatory compliance, the university distributes its written drug and alcohol policy annually to every student and employee, and conducts a biennial review to measure program effectiveness, evaluate the consistency of disciplinary enforcement, and document any drug- or alcohol-related violations and fatalities.

Legal Sanctions Under State and Federal Law

The legal drinking age in the United States is 21. Columbia Southern University enforces all Alabama state laws concerning the illicit possession, use, and distribution of alcohol and illegal drugs. Detailed statutory penalties and legal sanctions under Alabama law govern alcohol-related offenses under Alabama Code Title 28, drug offenses under Alabama Code Title 13A (Chapter 12, Article 5), public intoxication under Alabama Code Section 13A-11-10, and driving under the influence under Alabama Code Section 32-5A-191.

Under federal law, 21 U.S.C. § 812 establishes classifications for controlled substances, while 21 U.S.C. § 841 outlines prohibited acts including the manufacture, distribution, or possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The full text and corresponding penalties are available at the U.S. House of Representatives Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Comprehensive federal trafficking penalty charts, including mandatory minimum sentences and fine structures, are maintained by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Health Risks, Prevention Education, and Treatment Resources:

Abuse of illicit drugs and alcohol is a significant health concern that can lead to severe physical and mental health consequences, including dependency, heart and liver damage, and impaired cognitive function.

Detailed information regarding the health effects of specific substances and the science of addiction is maintained by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and can be accessed at: NIDA.NIH.GOV | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

To support health awareness and risk reduction across the community, Columbia Southern University provides access to the eCHECKUP TO GO software, an interactive program that delivers personalized feedback regarding alcohol and substance use patterns.

Operating primarily as a virtual institution, Columbia Southern University does not maintain on-site clinical counseling or medical treatment facilities. However, the university actively encourages students and employees seeking assistance with recovery to utilize national and state resources.

University employees have access to confidential support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Additional confidential treatment referrals and recovery assistance are available 24/7 through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or online at samhsa.gov. Additional support and recovery programs are available through Alcoholics Anonymous (aa.org), Narcotics Anonymous (na.org), and the Alabama Department of Public Health (adph.org).

Sexual Misconduct & VAWA Disclosures

Policy Statement and Institutional Scope

Columbia Southern University (CSU) is committed to creating and maintaining a community where students, faculty, and staff can work and learn in an atmosphere free from all forms of harassment, exploitation, or intimidation.

Columbia Southern University (CSU) strictly prohibits all forms of sex-based discrimination and sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual harassment within its educational programs, activities, and online learning environments.

Statutory Definitions

In compliance with Clery Act regulations (34 CFR 668.46) and Section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)), CSU incorporates the following definitions:

• Sexual Assault: Non-consensual sexual offenses prohibited by federal, state, or local law, including rape, fondling, incest, and statutory rape.
• Domestic Violence: A felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under domestic or family violence laws, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim protected under domestic or family violence laws.
• Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim, where the existence of such a relationship is determined based on the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved.
• Stalking: Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress.

For institutional policy purposes, CSU defines consent as knowing, voluntary, and clear permission by word or action to engage in mutually agreed-upon sexual activity. Silence, passivity, or a lack of resistance does not constitute consent, and consent may be withdrawn at any time. Prior consent or a current or previous dating relationship does not imply consent for future sexual activity.

Reporting, Mandated Reporters, and Victim Rights

All university employees, including faculty, staff, and administrators, are classified as Mandated Reporters and are required to report actual or suspected sexual misconduct, harassment, or retaliation to the Title IX Coordinator or their direct supervisor. Reports may be submitted directly to the Title IX Coordinator at csu-title-ix@columbiasouthern.edu, local law enforcement by dialing 9-1-1, or CSU Security at 800.977.8449 ext 2222. University personnel will assist victims in notifying law enforcement upon request, though victims reserve the right to decline police notification.

Regardless of whether a formal complaint is filed, CSU offers non-punitive supportive measures to complainants and respondents, including academic and workplace accommodations, no-contact orders, and referrals to counseling or the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Confidential, 24/7 crisis support is also available through RAINN at 1-800-656-4673 or rainn.org, and the local Rape Crisis Center at 251-473-7273.

Preservation of Physical Evidence

Victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking are strongly urged to preserve physical evidence that may assist in proving that the alleged criminal offense occurred or in obtaining a protective order. Victims should avoid changing clothing, showering, bathing, washing, brushing teeth, eating, drinking, or disturbing the incident scene prior to a medical examination or rape kit collection.

Grievance Process, Disciplinary Proceedings, and Appeals

Institutional grievance procedures for alleged sexual misconduct provide a prompt, fair, and impartial investigation and resolution process conducted by credentialed third-party investigators. Findings of responsibility are determined using the preponderance of the evidence standard. Both the complainant and the respondent are entitled to the same opportunities to have an advisor of their choice present during any meeting or proceeding. Both parties receive simultaneous written notice of the outcome, findings, and any imposed sanctions or remedies. Either party may appeal the final determination to the Vice Provost of Institutional Effectiveness, Planning, and Compliance on regulatorily defined grounds. Institutional sanctions may include suspension, expulsion, or termination of employment. CSU Security and Human Resources also assist in enforcing civil, criminal, or tribal orders of protection or restraining orders.

Sex Offender Registry Disclosure:

In accordance with federal law, information regarding registered sex offenders is accessible through local law enforcement registry portals http://www.icrimewatch.net/?AgencyID=53992 or the National Sex Offender Public Website at https://www.nsopw.gov.

Clery Act Crime Statistics

Columbia Southern University (CSU) participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs and provides the following annual crime statistics in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.

The statistics represented below reflect reports of criminal activity occurring within the university's defined Clery geography. For Columbia Southern University, Clery geography is strictly limited to the physical premises of the Orange Beach Main Campus and Joseph A. Manjone Center for Continuing Education (On-Campus) and the immediately adjacent sidewalks and roadways (Public Property). The university does not maintain on-campus student housing facilities, nor does it recognize off-campus student organizations. Criminal allegations are classified and counted regardless of whether the individuals involved were affiliated with the university or whether formal charges were filed.

Clery Act Crime Statistics: 2023-2025

The following table summarizes the criminal offenses, VAWA offenses, and disciplinary referrals reported to Campus Security Authorities or local law enforcement for the three most recent calendar years.

Hate Crimes and Hazing

There were no reported hate crimes or incidents of hazing for the 2023, 2024 or 2025 calendar years. Hate crimes include the offenses listed in the statistics table, as well as larceny-theft, simple assault, intimidation, and destruction, damage, or vandalism of property, where the victim was intentionally selected based on actual or perceived race, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, or disability.

Unfounded Crimes Disclosure

If a reported crime is thoroughly investigated by sworn law enforcement authorities and determined to be false or baseless, it is classified as "unfounded" and removed from statutory totals. Only commissioned law enforcement officers may unfound a crime. Columbia Southern University had zero unfounded crimes during the 2023, 2024, and 2025 calendar years.

Stop Campus Hazing Act Disclosure

In accordance with federal reporting mandates under the Stop Campus Hazing Act, hazing incidents are included in statutory disclosures beginning with the 2025 calendar year. Columbia Southern University reported zero incidents of hazing across all physical locations for 2025.