Hazing Regulation 709
Regulation 709 | Approved: June 6, 2025 |
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Hazing Regulation 709 |
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Source of Authority: |
Stop Campus Hazing Act (S.2901, H.R. 5646) Public Law 118–173 NCGS §14-35. Hazing; definition and punishment NCGS §14-38. Witnesses in hazing trials; no indictment to be founded on self-criminating testimony |
Revision Authority: | Chancellor |
History: | First Issued: June 6, 2025 |
Related Policies: | Code of Conduct and Discipline Regulation 802 Grievance (SAAO-II and other EHRA) Policy 614 Grievance (SHRA) Policy 615 UNCSA Faculty Manual Facilities Use Policy 402 Improper Activities Reporting Regulation 114 Alcohol Regulation 102 Illegal Drugs Policy 702 Workplace Violence Regulation 706 Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct Regulation 121 |
Responsible Offices: |
Chancellor |
Effective Date: | June 6, 2025 |
I. Purpose
This regulation is intended to inform all members of UNCSA that the university prohibits any form of hazing of its students, faculty, or staff at any time, or any location on or off campus, including University owned or leased property, private residences, or public property. The University will respond swiftly to investigate reports of hazing received from any source and will promptly determine whether to proceed with campus disciplinary action, to forward a report to appropriate law enforcement officials for prosecution as a criminal matter, or both. University students, faculty or staff who voluntarily consent to hazing, as well as those who inflict it, are subject to such action.
II. Scope
This regulation applies to any acts of hazing, both on and off campus, involving all UNCSA students, faculty, and staff. It applies equally to recognized, unrecognized, and inactive student organizations. An organization’s lack of formal University recognition or current active status does not exempt the group or its members from accountability under this regulation.
III. Definitions
A. 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 the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; 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), of physical or psychological injury including
i. whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
ii. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
iii. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
iv. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
v. any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
vi. any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
vii. 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.
B. Student Organization- 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.
V. Revision History
A. June 6, 2025 - Approved by the Chancellor and the Executive Leadership Team
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
Hazing Procedures
Regulation 709
I. Reporting Incident of Hazing
Students, faculty, and staff who witness physical or psychological abuse, or intentional public humiliation of any student should immediately report the incident to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards or University Police. Victims of such behavior are also encouraged to report the matter to these offices, which are responsible for taking appropriate action.
Students, faculty, and staff who are aware of or suspect hazing are strongly encouraged to report it. Individuals who receive reports of hazing are also encouraged to use the appropriate reporting channels. Reports can be made confidentially through the following methods: (a) submitting a detailed description online via the Concern Report form or the Campus Security Authority Reporting form, (b) contacting the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards, (c) reaching out to local law enforcement or University Police. Anonymous reports may also be submitted to University Police by phone at 336-770-1414 or through the online form.
II. Investigative Process
The Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards will investigate all student-reported allegations in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct shall govern all proceedings and sanctions related to such a complaint.
Violations of this policy by faculty and staff are subject to discipline in accordance with the University policies and procedures governing employee misconduct. Violations by faculty and staff can be reported to the University Police or Human Resources for referral to an investigation by the appropriate administrator(s) or supervisor(s).
Any violation involving a crime, an emergency, or an imminent threat to the health or safety of any person should be reported immediately to the University Police or by dialing 9-1-1 to reach local law enforcement officials.
III. Violation and Sanctions
Any student(s), student group(s), or student club(s)/ organization(s)which are affiliated with the University, on campus or off-campus, that are found responsible for hazing will be subject to appropriate sanctions by the University, which may include, but not be limited to the following and other appropriate sanctions as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct:
• community service,
• loss of privileges,
• behavioral contract,
• educational outcome,
• counseling,
• disciplinary probation,
• suspension,
• suspension of organization
• restrictions on member recruitment and/or group activity,
• removal of the offending individual from the group,
• rescission of permission for the University sanctioned group to operate on campus
• individual probation, suspension or expulsion.
All sanctions imposed by the University do not absolve the student(s), group(s) of students, or student club(s)/organization(s) from any penalty imposed for violation of criminal laws of the State of North Carolina. It shall not be a defense that the consent of the victim to participate was obtained, the conduct or activity that resulted was not part of an official University organizational event or was not otherwise sanctioned or approved by the University organization or the conduct or activity that resulted was not done as a condition of membership to a University organization.
Any employee found to be knowledgeable about hazing who did not report hazing or played any active role in facilitating or participating in hazing will be subject to administrative action, including up to termination and referral for criminal prosecution under state law.
IV. Violation of the North Carolina State Hazing Law (§ 14‑35) will be treated as a criminal offense and prosecuted accordingly.
The North Carolina Hazing law states that it is unlawful for any student in attendance at any university, college, or school in this State to engage in hazing, or to aid or abet any other student in the commission of this offense. For the purposes of this section hazing is defined as follows: "to subject another student to physical injury as part of an initiation, or as a prerequisite to membership, into any organized school group, including any society, athletic team, fraternity or sorority, or other similar group." Any violation of this section shall constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor.
V. Campus Hazing Transparency Report
The University publishes a Campus Hazing Transparency Report that provides a general description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility, including whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs, the findings of the institution, and any sanctions placed on the student organization by the institution, as applicable; and the dates on which:
1. the incident was alleged to have occurred;
2. the investigation into the incident was initiated;
3. the investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred; and
4. the institution provided notice to the student organization that the incident resulted
in a hazing violation.
The report does not include any personally identifiable information, in compliance with Section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974).
The Campus Hazing Transparency Report is publicly accessible on the institution’s Clery Act Compliance website and is updated twice annually. The website will include a statement notifying the public of the annual availability of hazing statistics, institutional policies related to hazing, and applicable local, state, and tribal laws. Additionally, it will provide all the information required for the Campus Hazing Transparency Report. This information will be maintained and made available for a period of five calendar years from the date of each publication.
VI. Hazing Prevention and Awareness Programs
UNCSA is committed to fostering a safe and respectful campus environment by educating students, faculty, and staff about hazing, its warning signs, prevention methods, and resolution steps. To support this commitment, we implement proactive prevention strategies aimed at stopping hazing before it occurs. These efforts include:
• Annual online training for students focused on identifying hazing behaviors and effective prevention strategies, followed by assessments to ensure accountability.
• Educational programs presented during new student orientation, student organization interest meetings, and outreach sessions with student leaders and peer leaders.
• Interactive awareness initiatives, such as tabling events and presentations during new employee orientation.
• Regular policy reviews and updates as part of our annual awareness efforts.
Through these initiatives, we strive to cultivate a culture of accountability, safety, and respect throughout the UNCSA community.