The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Branch campus.” A branch campus is a unit of an institution of higher education which is distinguished by all of the following characteristics:

“Campus police.” Employees of an institution of higher education who exercise powers of arrest under authority of law or ordinance.

“Campus security officers.” Employees of an institution of higher education, other than campus police, who are charged with maintaining the safety and security of the property of the institutions and the persons on the property.

“Community colleges.” Institutions now or hereafter created pursuant to Article XIX-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L. 30, No. 14),¹ known as the Public School Code of 1949, or the former act of August 24, 1963 (P.L. 1132, No. 484),² known as the Community College Act of 1963.

“Independent institution of higher education.” An institution of higher education which is operated not for profit, located in and incorporated or chartered by the Commonwealth, entitled to confer degrees as set forth in 24 Pa.C.S. § 6505 (relating to power to confer degrees) and entitled to apply to itself the designation “college” or “university” as provided for by standards and qualifications prescribed by the State Board of Education pursuant to 24 Pa.C.S. Ch. 65 (relating to private colleges, universities and seminaries).

“Institution of higher education.” An independent institution of higher education, a community college, a State-owned institution or a State-related institution, any of which is approved by the Department of Education.

“Investigative information.” Information that is assembled as a result of the performance of any formal or informal inquiry into a criminal incident or an allegation of criminal wrongdoing. The term may include modus operandi information.

“State-owned institutions.” Those institutions which are part of the State System of Higher Education pursuant to Article XX-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L. 30, No. 14),³ known as the Public School Code of 1949.

“State-related institutions.” The Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University and their branch campuses.

“Student housing.” All residence halls and sorority and fraternity residences owned or under the control of the institution of higher education.

“Valid complaint.” Any complaint received by a campus police or campus security department which results in an investigation or for which an entry is made in an incident report, log or blotter.