Universities report mixed Clery trends; regents hear rise in micro‑mobility thefts and reporting
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Summary
Public‑safety leaders from the three regent universities reported Clery Act statistics and trends—some categories up because of improved reporting (fondling, stalking), motor‑vehicle thefts rose driven by e‑scooter thefts, and several universities flagged repeat offenders behind burglary spikes.
University public‑safety leaders briefed the Board’s Free Speech & Student Affairs Committee on Clery Act statistics and campus safety trends for 2024 and recent 2025 activity.
Michael Newton (Iowa State) cautioned that low base numbers can create large percentage swings: fondling reports rose from five in 2023 to 12 in 2024, which looks large in percentage terms though absolute totals remain small. He said micro‑mobility thefts—electric scooters and similar devices—are recorded as motor‑vehicle thefts under Clery rules and accounted for a marked rise in that category on campus. He also pointed to a pattern of repeat offenders driving burglary totals: arrests of one individual who committed multiple burglaries were responsible for a disproportionate share of reported burglaries.
University of Iowa and UNI public‑safety officials reported similar patterns: modest declines in some assault categories, increases in stalking and liquor‑law violation counts tied to intensified stadium enforcement, and a continued emphasis on outreach and prevention (active‑threat drills, mental‑health outreach, and student ambassador/patrol programs). UIHC noted several incidents that do not appear in the Clery report (e.g., thwarted threats, swatting) but that have required focused response.
Why it matters: Clery statistics inform campus safety planning, parental and student information, and public transparency. Public‑safety leaders emphasized that increased reporting can reflect improved trust rather than a rising incidence of all crime types.
What’s next: Universities will continue outreach, data‑driven prevention programs and pursue targeted enforcement where repeat offenders are identified. Regents asked for continued monitoring of reporting trends and public dashboards that provide timelier context than annual Clery publications.