By Erin Swann
Director, Office of University Compliance
The failures at Michigan State create an important opportunity to reiterate Clemson University’s commitment to providing a safe environment for all visitors. On any given day, Clemson hosts minors on our campus and facilities throughout the state for a variety of activities, from field trips to mentoring programs to summer camps. If you receive any information or observe any conduct that gives you reason to believe that a child has been or may be abused or neglected, please take the following steps immediately:
FIRST, call the Police. If the child is in imminent danger, call 911. If the child is not in imminent danger, contact your local law enforcement agency. If you are on the Clemson University campus, contact CUPD at 864-656-2222. Otherwise, contact the local law enforcement agency for the city or county you or the child are in.
Then, notify anyone else that needs to know within the University. This may be your dean, supervisor or program director. Further, you can contact Clemson’s Office of Pre-Collegiate Programs, Office of University Compliance or Office of General Counsel for additional support after you have reported your concern to law enforcement.
South Carolina law allows the identity of any person who reports abuse or neglect to be kept confidential. In addition, persons who make reports in good faith are immune from civil and criminal liability. South Carolina law also protects persons who make good faith reports from adverse employment action.
When you have reason to believe that a child is the victim of abuse or neglect, reporting is always the right thing to do. For additional information, please click here.
