The federal bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act, an amendment to the Jeanne Clery Act, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on December 24, 2024.
The Clery Act already requires institutions of higher education—colleges and universities—that participate in federal student aid programs to annually report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publicly state the policies and procedures they have implemented to improve safety on campus. In particular, the Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disseminate a public annual security report (ASR) to its employees and students on October 1st of every year. The ASR must include campus crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and detail efforts undertaken to improve campus safety. As well, ASRs must provide data on incidents of alcohol and drug use and the prevention of, and response to, sexual assault, domestic/dating violence and stalking.
Now, with the Stop Campus Hazing Act amendment, colleges and universities also must disclose any hazing incidents that were reported to campus security authorities or local police in their annual ASRs. The Act defines hazing as “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person against a student” that “causes or is likely to contribute to a substantial risk…of physical injury, mental harm, or degradation.” Hazing in this context applies to acts committed in connection to a student’s affiliation with campus organizations, including Greek organizations (fraternities and sororities), extracurricular clubs and athletics.
Colleges and universities also must now include in their ASRs a policy statement that outlines (1) a comprehensive program to prevent hazing, which must specify information on hazing awareness and hazing prevention; and (2) current campus policies on hazing, which must include procedures that comply with specified collection and reporting requirements.
