URBANA, Illinois – The Division of Public Safety is congratulating Kate Kaput for receiving Clery Compliance Officer certification through the National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals (NACCOP).

Kaput is the Clery Compliance Coordinator in the Division of Public Safety, and the certification adds to her credentials as an expert in compiling crime statistics and disclosing information about public safety issues to the campus community.

Kaput began working as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Clery Compliance Coordinator in October 2021. She is responsible for a wide array of the department’s and the university’s responsibilities under the federal Clery Act and Violence Against Women Act.

Those requirements include notifying the campus community of significant crimes and crime statistics to keep students, faculty, staff and visitors informed of ongoing public safety issues. A Clery compliance officer also identifies and trains Campus Security Authorities, who are required to report certain crimes that occur on or immediately adjacent to campus – again, with the goal of keeping community members informed.

“We always say that an informed campus is a safer campus,” said U. of I. Police Chief Alice Cary. “This is a monumental effort, and these laws are changing and evolving every year. Kate’s efforts to educate herself ensures that our university is up to date on best practices and doing everything we can to keep people safe.”

The NACCOP certification program requires months of coursework, research and writing, and culminated with an exam Kaput passed during the national conference in July.