Hazing

1. Purpose

The University of Florida (UF) is committed to maintaining an environment that promotes the health and safety of its students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors. UF prohibits Hazing in any form by members of the University Community and complies with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, commonly known as the Clery Act, including the 2024 amendment known as the Stop Campus Hazing Act (Public Law 118–173). This Policy defines hazing, outlines reporting protocols and investigatory procedures, details prevention and awareness programming, explains the purpose and maintenance of the Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR), identifies points of contact for questions, and provides resources for support.

2. Applicability

This Policy applies to UF, including its Direct Support Organizations (DSOs) and affiliated legal entities. This policy excludes UF Health and its affiliated legal entities.

3. Definitions

3.1 Federal Definitions

Hazing (as defined under the Stop Campus Hazing Act) means 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—
   • • 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.

Student Organization (as defined under the Stop Campus Hazing Act) means 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. This definition will only apply to reporting for Clery purposes and may not necessarily include Student Organizations that are officially recognized by UF. See Student Organization as defined by UF Regulation 4.040, the Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code.

3.2 State Definitions

Hazing (as defined in Section 1006.63, Florida Statutes) means any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to:

1. Initiation into any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution;
2. Admission into any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution;
3. Affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution; or
4. The perpetuation or furtherance of a tradition or ritual of any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution.

The term includes, but is not limited to, pressuring or coercing the student into violating state or federal law; any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student; or any activity that would subject the student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the student. The term does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions or any activity or conduct that furthers a legal and legitimate objective.

3.3 University Definitions

Hazing (as defined by UF Regulation 4.040) means any action or series of actions that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental health, physical health or safety of a Student for any purpose, including but not limited to initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or the perpetuation or furtherance of a tradition or ritual of any Student group or Organization. Hazing occurs if a person or group:

1. Causes or attempts to cause physical injury or other harm to a Student, including but not limited to emotional distress, or engages in any conduct that presents a threat to the Student’s health or safety. Hazing includes but is not limited to any physical brutality, such as whipping; beating; branding; exposure to the elements; forced consumption of any food, alcohol, drug or other substance; or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health, mental health or safety of any Student and any activity that would subject the Student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced sexual conduct or forced exclusion from social contact.
2. Engages in an action or activity that has a tendency to or is intended to demean, disgrace, humiliate or degrade a Student. This includes, but is not limited to, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, requiring servitude, or other forced activity that is considered Hazing under Florida law and could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the Student.
3. Conduct that by design, intent or recklessness causes a Student to be reasonably unable to pursue, interferes with, or attempts to interfere with a Student’s academic schedule or performance; or
4. Causes, induces, pressures, coerces or requires a Student to violate the law or any UF Regulation.
5. In response to allegations of Hazing under this Regulation, it is not a defense that:
   1. The affected person gave consent.
   2. The conduct was not part of an official organizational event or sanctioned or approved by the organization.
   3. The conduct was not done as a condition of membership in the organization.

Student Organization (as defined under UF Regulation 4.040) means an association or group of persons that has complied with the formal requirements for recognition or is in the formal process of obtaining recognition. Under UF Regulation 4.040, the term “Student” is interchangeable with “Student Organization” when the term “Student Organization” is not directly specified.

University Community (as defined under UF Regulation 4.040) means University Officials, faculty, other employees, Students, and other people or entities who participate in any UF activity or program.

University Official (as defined under UF Regulation 4.040) means any person UF employs, contracts, or appoints to perform assigned teaching, research, administrative, professional, or other responsibilities.

Retaliation means no person may intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any individual for good faith reporting of Hazing allegations. Retaliation includes threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, violence, or any other conduct that would discourage a reasonable person from engaging in activity protected under this Policy. Activity protected under this Policy may include an individual’s right to make a report and/or file a complaint, an individual’s ability to participate in the investigation process, and/or an individual’s good faith effort to intervene as a bystander.

4. Reporting Process

4.1 University Reporting Process

In the case of an emergency, members of the University Community are urged to contact 9-1-1 immediately. Hazing allegations may be reported through the Institutional Hazing Report Form which is automatically routed to Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (SCCR) as well as UF Compliance and Ethics for review. All reported allegations, whether through the form or other reporting channels, will be reviewed for potential violations of this Policy.

4.2 Law Enforcement Reporting Process

Hazing incidents may be reported to the University of Florida Police Department (UFPD) in person, by phone or email, or through the GatorSafe app. Incidents occurring outside UFPD’s jurisdiction will be referred to the agency having jurisdiction for the investigation. Incidents occurring within UFPD’s jurisdiction will be recorded in the Computer Aided Dispatch system to ensure a permanent record and will be dispatched to a law enforcement officer for response and an initial report. All reports of Hazing received by UFPD will be forwarded to UF Compliance and Ethics and the Dean of Students Office in accordance with UFPD’s internal procedures.

5. Investigatory Process

5.1 University Investigatory Process

Once a report of alleged Hazing is received, the Dean of Students or designee determines if an interim restriction is warranted as outlined in Section (12) of UF Regulation 4.040, Interim Restrictions for Student Organizations, or Section (11) of UF Regulation 4.040, Interim Restrictions for Students.

The Director of SCCR or designee will review the report of alleged Hazing and determine if an investigation is warranted. If an investigation is warranted, the Director of SCCR or designee will determine the format of investigation based on the nature of the allegation and information available.

As outlined in UF Regulation 4.040, the Director of SCCR or designee can convene one or more trained volunteer University Officials or request that UFPD conduct an investigation.

5.1.1. Possible Sanctions
UF reserves the right to issue sanctions for any individual and/or organization found responsible for violating this Policy. Sanctions that may be issued to Students and Student Organizations are listed in UF Regulation 4.040. Faculty or staff found responsible for Hazing may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, in accordance with applicable UF Regulations and collective bargaining agreements.

5.2 Law Enforcement Investigatory Process

Law enforcement officers dispatched to a Hazing-related call for service will complete a case report and take appropriate action, which may include forwarding the case to the UFPD Criminal Investigations Division (CID) for follow-up investigation. UFPD CID will assist the Dean of Students Office in their investigation as permissible by law. UFPD will conduct a law enforcement investigation based on allegations of Hazing as defined by Florida State Statutes. In some cases, UFPD may be asked to assist in a Hazing allegation investigation that does not fall within the scope of a formal law enforcement investigation.

6. Prevention and Awareness Programming

6.1 Training

UF’s Hazing prevention module is assigned to all new and transfer undergraduate students during their first semester. Completion of this training is required. Additionally, Students who register for Fraternity and Sorority Recruitment or hold leadership roles within Student Organizations are assigned specialized Hazing prevention training. This training is also mandatory.

Faculty and staff identified as Campus Security Authorities are required to complete annual Hazing prevention training as a part of their responsibilities.

UF’s Hazing prevention programming training for students, faculty, and staff includes:

• • An overview of UF’s current Hazing policies
• • Instructions on how to report Hazing incidents to UF
• • A summary of UF’s Hazing investigation process
• • Information on applicable local and state Hazing laws
• • Hazing prevention strategies, which may include bystander intervention, ethical leadership, and methods for fostering group cohesion without Hazing

6.2 Outreach

The Division of Student Life offers Hazing prevention and awareness programming during new member orientation workshops and upon request throughout the academic year. These programs may include activities such as UF’s involvement in National Hazing Prevention Week and other strategies to promote educational events and campus-wide awareness initiatives.

7. Hazing Amnesty

Under sections 1006.63(11)-(12), Florida Statutes, commonly known as Andrew’s Law, individuals may be protected from prosecution for Hazing, as defined under Andrew’s Law, if all of the following are established:

1. That he or she was present at an event where, as a result of Hazing, a person appeared to be in need of immediate medical assistance.
2. That he or she was the first person to call 911 or campus security to report the need for immediate medical assistance.
3. That he or she provided his or her own name, the address where immediate medical assistance was needed, and a description of the medical issue to the 911 operator or campus security at the time of the call.
4. That he or she remained at the scene with the person in need of immediate medical assistance until such medical assistance, law enforcement, or campus security arrived and that he or she cooperated with such personnel on the scene.

Under Andrew’s Law, notwithstanding the above, a person is immune from prosecution under this section if the person establishes that, before medical assistance, law enforcement, or campus security arrived on the scene of a Hazing event, the person rendered aid to the Hazing victim. For purposes of this provision, “aid” includes, but is not limited to, rendering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the victim, clearing an airway for the victim to breathe, using a defibrillator to assist the victim, or rendering any other assistance to the victim which the person intended in good faith to stabilize or improve the victim’s condition while waiting for medical assistance, law enforcement, or campus security to arrive.

8. Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR)

On a biannual basis, UF will publish and distribute the CHTR. This report will include summarized findings for any Student Organization, as defined by UF, found responsible for violating UF’s Student Code of Conduct in connection with Hazing. Each report will include the following details for each Hazing incident involving a Student Organization for which a finding of responsibility has been issued:

• • The name of the Student Organization
• • A general description of the violation, including whether it involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs
• • The investigatory findings
• • Any sanctions imposed by UF
• • Key dates, including the date the incident was alleged to have occurred, the date the investigation was initiated, the date the investigation ended with a finding of responsibility, and the date notice of the Hazing violation was provided to the Student Organization.

The CHTR includes information about Student Organizations that have either met the formal requirements for recognition or are in the process of obtaining recognition, and have been found responsible for violating UF Regulation 4.040 as it relates to Hazing. This report is updated twice annually and includes violations that have occurred both on and off campus.

In addition, the Clery Act requires institutions to collect and publish statistics for certain crimes occurring within Clery geography. This information is published in UF’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASR). Beginning in Fall 2026, UF’s ASR will also include Hazing statistics.

Unlike the CHTR, the ASR will include all reported instances of Hazing that meet the Clery Act definition and have occurred within Clery geography. It will also include incidents that may not result in sanctions and may include Student Organizations that have not met the formal UF requirements for recognition.

9. References and Related Information

Procedures:

• • Institutional Hazing Report Form
• • Campus Security Authority Report Form

Policies:

• • Student Honor Code and Student Code of Conduct
• • Institutional Clery Act Policy
• • Prohibition of Hazing; Procedures and Penalties

References:

• • Florida Statute 1006.63
• • Board of Governors Regulation 6.021
• • Public Law 118-173

Safety:

• • Victim Resources
• • GatorSafe App

Regulation Background:

In 2024, the Stop Campus Hazing Act amended and renamed the Clery Act to the “Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act”. Under this amendment, institutions have obligations to prevent, address, and report incidents of Hazing. It requires institutions to begin including in their annual security reports Hazing incidents that were reported to Campus Security Authorities or local police agencies. Additionally, it requires institutions to publish a CHTR biannually.

History