Administrative Policies

AD98 Anti-Hazing Policy

Policy Status
Active
Subject Matter Expert
Danny Shaha, 814-863-4926, jds49@psu.edu
Policy Steward
Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff

Contents

Purpose

To establish The Pennsylvania State University’s (“University”) Anti-Hazing Policy; identify how the University will enforce this Policy; comply with state and federal law; and identify resources for reporting violations of this Policy.

Policy Statement

The Pennsylvania State University does not tolerate hazing. Organizations or individuals found responsible for hazing under this Policy, whether occurring on or off campus, may be subject to disciplinary action by the University, and may also face criminal charges under state or other applicable laws, including The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, 18. Pa. C.S. § 2801.

For the purposes of this Policy, it shall not be a defense that the consent of the minor or student was sought or obtained or that the conduct was sanctioned or approved by the organization.

Prohibited Conduct 

Hazing is prohibited. Hazing occurs when (a) a person or (b) an organization (sponsored or recognized), as defined in this policy:

  1. intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a minor or student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a minor or student’s membership or status in an organization, causes, coerces or forces a minor or student to violate Federal, State, or Municipal law or University policy or procedure,
  2. engages in hazing as that term is defined by Federal law, or
  3. engages in hazing, aggravated hazing or organizational hazing, as those terms are defined by State law.

Federal and State Law Definitions of Hazing

Federal law definition of hazing (Stop Campus Hazing Act)

Hazing: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that 

  1. is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or maintenance of membership in an organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.; and
  2. causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), or physical or psychological injury including –
    1. whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
    2. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
    3. causing coercing, or otherwise inducing a person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
    4. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
    5. any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
    6. any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
    7. any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.

State law definition of hazing (Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law)

Hazing: A person commits the offense of hazing if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a minor or student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a minor or student’s membership or status in an organization, causes, coerces or forces a minor or student to do any of the following: 

  1. violate Federal, State, or Municipal law or University policy or procedure;
  2. consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the minor or student to a risk of emotional or physical harm;
  3. endure brutality of a physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure to the elements;
  4. endure brutality of a mental nature, including activity adversely affecting the mental health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment;
  5. endure brutality of a sexual nature; or
  6. endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the minor or student.

Hazing shall NOT include reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement or military training, contests, competitions or events.

Aggravated Hazing: when a person commits a violation of hazing that results in serious bodily injury or death to the minor or student; and

  1. the person acts with reckless indifference to the health and safety of the minor or students; or
  2. the person causes, coerces or forces the consumption of an alcoholic liquid or drug by the minor or student.

Organizational Hazing: when an organization intentionally, knowingly or recklessly promotes or facilitates a violation of hazing or aggravated hazing.

Policy definitions

Minor: Regardless of student status, a minor is any person under the age of eighteen (18).

Organization (sponsored or recognized): For purposes of this Policy only, an organization (sponsored or recognized) shall mean any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by the University, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Organizations recognized by the University as Recognized Student Organizations, including Registered Student Organizations, Affiliate Organizations and Sponsored Organizations.
  • Any sports team recognized or sponsored in any way by the University.
  • Band, choral or other groups affiliated with a University college or campus, whether or not separately recognized as a Recognized Student Organization.
  • University-operated youth programs, activities and services.
  • University-operated youth service organizations.
  • Any other organization, planning team, committee or group affiliated with University departments, offices or colleges.

Student: For purposes of this Policy only, an individual who attends or has applied to attend or has been admitted to the University. 

Reporting Violations of this Policy

Individuals who are Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are required to report hazing as defined by Federal law (Stop Campus Hazing Act) via a Campus Security Authority Incident Report Form. 

The University strongly encourages all other members of the University community who believe they have witnessed, experienced, or are aware of conduct that constitutes hazing to report the conduct to the Office of Ethics and Compliance, the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, Human Resources, and/or the appropriate police agency. 

Non-CSAs may submit anonymous reports. This Policy and reports made pursuant to this Policy do not supersede or replace other reporting obligations mandated by law or University policy (e.g., University Policy AD 72, Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and University Policy AD 85, Sexual and/or Gender-Based harassment and Misconduct). 

Any person may report hazing (whether or not the individual reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute hazing) online, in person, by mail, by telephone, or by email at any time, including during non-business hours, using the contact information listed below.

For any hazing related concerns:

The Office of Ethics and Compliance
Rider Building
227 West Beaver Avenue, Suite 212
State College, PA 16801
Hotline (anonymous reporting):                

Phone: 814-867-5088
Email: psoec@psu.edu
Website: https://universityethics.psu.edu

For concerns related to students and/or student organizations:

The Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response
120 Boucke Building
325 Pollock Road
State College, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-0342
Online report: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?PennState&layout_id=0
Email: studentaccountability@psu.edu 
Website: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/student-accountability 
 

For concerns related to employees:

PSU Human Resources- Labor and Employee Relations
331 Building, 2nd Floor
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-867-0041     

Reports to Law Enforcement

If you, or someone else, is in immediate danger, or if you believe there could be an ongoing threat to you, another individual, or the community, please call 911. 

University community members are encouraged to directly report violations of criminal laws, including The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, 18. Pa. C.S. § 2801, et seq. to law enforcement. Reports can be made by dialing 911 or contacting the local police agency in the jurisdiction in which the alleged incident occurred. 

Enforcement 

Allegations of hazing reported to the University will be investigated by the University, and, if violations are found, individuals and those organizations that are sanctioned or recognized by the University will be held accountable by the relevant University entity that has authority over the individual or organization (e.g., Student Accountability and Conflict Response or University /Unit Leadership).

Violations may result in disciplinary actions for individuals or those organizations that are sanctioned or recognized by the University, which can include, but are not limited to, written warnings, probation, fines, loss of privileges, loss of recognition, mandatory training or education, loss of salary increase, administrative leave, suspension, expulsion, revocation of tenure, discontinued participation in youth programming, and/or termination of employment. Such penalties shall be in addition to any other penalties imposed for violating state criminal law or any other University rule or policy. The University may take immediate interim action pending the outcome of an investigation.

University’s Campus Hazing Transparency Report

The University will maintain a report of all findings of violations of the institution's antihazing policy or Federal or State laws for five (5) previous consecutive years related to hazing that are reported to the institution. The University will update the report biannually on January 1st and August 1st and will publish the report on the Office of Ethics and Compliance website. A single report will be utilized to comply with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act and the state law.

CROSS REFERENCES

Other Policies in this manual should also be referenced, especially the following:

AC70 - Dismissal Procedure for Tenured and Tenure-Eligible Faculty Members

AD39 - Minors Involved in University-Sponsored Programs or Programs Held at the University and/or Housed in University Facilities 

AD67 - Disclosure of Wrongful Conduct and Protection From Retaliation

AD72 - Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

AD74 - Compliance With Clery Act

AD85 - Sexual And/or Gender-Based Harassment and Misconduct (Including Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Related Inappropriate Conduct)

AD88 - Code of Responsible Conduct

AD91 - Discrimination and Harassment and Related Inappropriate Conduct

HR78 - Staff Employee Failure to Meet Acceptable Standards of Performance

Revision History (and effective dates):

  • July 9, 2025 - Updated to incorporate the recently passed federal Stop Campus Hazing Act definitions and expectations.
  • May 31, 2019 - New policy.
Date Approved
Date Published
Effective Date