Hazing Policy

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is committed to providing a safe educational environment for everyone and does not tolerate hazing by any group or individual affiliated with the University. The University expects that all students and organizations will observe and fully comply with state law, University regulations, and administrative rules associated with the prohibition of hazing.

Hazing is defined as any activity without reasonable or legitimate educational value expected of someone for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization that humiliates, degrades, or creates unreasonable risks for emotional, psychological, and/or physical harm, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.

Where can I report hazing?

  • Submit a referral at www.inform.uconn.edu
  • Office of Community Standards 
  • Department of Student Activities 
  • Athletics Department 
  • UConn Recreation 
  • For emergency matters please contact: 

                Campus Hazing Transparency Report

                For information regarding hazing incidents, including descriptions of violations, and sanctions imposed, please review our Transparency Report: Campus Hazing Transparency Report (24-25).xlsx

                Resources and Prevention

                 

                How to Identify Hazing

                What constitutes hazing? 

                • Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body or similar activity;  
                • Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;  
                • Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;  
                • Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;  
                • Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
                • Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and  
                • 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. 

                The Spectrum of Hazing

                 

                Citation: (Allan, 2005; Allan & Kerschner, 2020; [Adapted from Bringing in the Bystander®], The Spectrum of Hazing™) 

                What occurs when a report containing hazing allegations is submitted?

                Referral

                The Office of Community Standards (OCS) receives a referral alleging behaviors that, if true, may be a violation of The Student Code.

                Review of Referral/Information Gathering

                OCS will review the submitted referral and, if necessary, gather additional information regarding the alleged behavior. This can include meeting with the referring party and/or complainant, as well as collecting evidence.

                Notice of Investigation

                If OCS determines that the alleged behavior is a potential violation of The Student Code, a case manager will be assigned to investigate the matter. The case manager will contact the president of the student organization/group to notify them of the investigation and request a meeting to review the student conduct process. 

                Based on the reported alleged behavior, OCS may issue interim measures (e.g., cease of operations) while the matter is being investigated to maintain the health and safety of the individuals involved. 

                Investigation

                The case manager will reach out to members of the student organization/group who may have relevant information to request a meeting. Not all members may be asked to participate in the investigation, and each member has the right to choose whether or not to participate. The case manager may also request and independently gather evidence/documentation relevant to the investigation. 

                Findings and Recommendations/Sanctions

                After the completion of the investigation, the case manager will meet with the president of the student organization/group to review the findings and, if applicable, any recommendations. The case manager may provide recommendations for the student organization/group even if there are no findings of a violation of The Student Code. 

                Resolution Options

                After receiving the investigation findings and resolution recommendations, the president of the student organization/group will have the option to agree to the proposed findings and recommendations (administrative agreement) or request an administrative hearing to resolve the student conduct matter. 

                • If an organization resolves the matter via an administrative agreement, the recommended sanction(s) are immediately imposed, the process is concluded, and there is no opportunity to appeal. 

                Administrative Hearing

                If the student organization/group does not agree with the findings and/or the recommended sanctions, an administrative hearing will be scheduled to resolve the student conduct matter.  An administrative hearing is typically scheduled within 15 business days of the request. All hearing-related communication will be sent directly to the president of the student organization/group. At the conclusion of the administrative hearing, the organization will receive an outcome regarding the findings and recommended sanctions, if applicable. 

                Please review The Student Code for more information about the administrative hearing process. 

                Appeal

                Following the completion of the administrative hearing, the organization will have five (5) business days to appeal the hearing outcome.  All communication regarding the appeal process will be sent to the president of the organization. 

                Report Hazing