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Policy Number: 4.6.3
Effective Date: June 13, 2025
Revision History: None
Policy Contact: Associate Vice President for Facilities/Chief of Police; Dean of Students
I. Purpose and Policy Statement
This policy outlines Georgia Gwinnett College’s (“GGC”) stance on hazing, delineates prohibited behaviors, and establishes processes for reporting and addressing hazing incidents, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (“Clery Act”), federal law, state law, and University System of Georgia and Georgia Gwinnett College policies. Hazing is prohibited at Georgia Gwinnett College. No student, employee, or school organization, whether recognized by the college or not, shall engage in hazing activities, solicit, encourage, direct, aid, or attempt to aid another in hazing, or knowingly permit, condone, or tolerate hazing. This prohibition applies to behavior that occurs both on- and off-campus.
II. Scope
This policy applies to all students, faculty, staff, and affiliated organizations, including recognized and unrecognized school organizations.
III. Definitions
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 person’s willingness to participate in such activity, that (1) is committed in connection with or as a condition or precondition of gaining acceptance, membership, office, or other status in a school organization; and (2) endangers or is likely to endanger the physical or mental health or safety of the person, and such risk is above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in GGC or the student organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team). Hazing includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:
- Coercing a person through the use of social or physical pressure to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to a likely risk of vomiting, intoxication, or unconsciousness;
- 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 (e.g., push-ups, sit-ups, jogging, runs, etc.), or other similar activity;
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
- Forcing or requiring nudity at any time;
- Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
- Performing acts of personal servitude for members (e.g., driving them to class, cleaning their individual rooms, serving them meals, covering their personal expenses, washing their cars, shopping, laundry, etc.); or,
- Any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of GGC policies or a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.
School Organization: For purposes of this policy, a “School Organization” is defined as any association, organization, corporation, order, club, society, fraternity, sorority, athletic team, or a group living together which has students or alumni as its principal members, including local affiliate organizations. Please note: A “School Organization” may be a Registered Student Organization or it may be a group not recognized by the college. The official definition of a Registered Student Organization may be found in the Student Handbook.
IV. Reporting Hazing
- Members of the GGC community are encouraged to promptly report alleged incidents of hazing to the Office of Public Safety. Any person who has knowledge of any activity or conduct which may constitute hazing should report their concerns through the following channels:
- Submitting Online Incident Report: Available on the GGC Dean of Students website.
- Contacting Campus Offices:
- Any individual or office which receives a report of hazing must immediately share this information with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will share all reported incidents of hazing with the Clery Coordinator as required by the Clery Act.
V. Investigation and Adjudication
- Students: Upon receiving a report of alleged hazing, the Dean of Students Office will initiate a prompt, fair, impartial, and thorough review of the information submitted. The process will follow the steps outlined in APM 4.6.5 Student Code of Conduct, ensuring due process for all parties involved and may include the following steps:
- Preliminary Assessment: Determine the credibility and immediacy of the report.
- Investigation: Conduct interviews, gather evidence, and document findings.
- Adjudication: Alleged violation(s) will be formally addressed through the conduct process as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
- Employees: If the reported incident(s) involves GGC employee(s), the Dean of Students Office will coordinate with the Office of Human Resources.
VI. Sanctions
- If students are found responsible for violation(s) of this policy, they will be subject to sanctions as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct which may include suspension or expulsion for students or suspension or permanent revocation of a school organization’s presence, recognition, and/or privileges at the college.
- If an employee is found responsible for hazing, they will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in GGC policies and disciplinary measures may include suspension or termination of employment from the college.
- Additionally, hazing is a criminal offense under Georgia law and may result in criminal action independent of the college’s disciplinary processes.
VII. Public Disclosure
- In compliance with the Georgia Max Gruver Act (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-30), the college will publicly disclose administrative adjudications of hazing or hazing-related criminal convictions. This information will be posted on the Dean of Students website within 15 calendar days of final adjudication or public notice of criminal conviction and will remain posted on the website for a minimum of five years following final adjudication or conviction. Records will include:
- The name of any school organization involved;
- The date(s) on which the hazing occurred; and,
- A description of the specific hazing-related findings, sanctions, adjudications, and convictions for any person or school organization.
- Additionally, as required by the Stop Campus Hazing Act, GGC will collect statistics on hazing incidents, which will be published within the Campus Hazing Transparency Report (“CHTR”). This report will include all data points gathered in accordance with the “Max Gruver Act,” as well as the date on which the investigation was initiated; the date the investigation concluded; and the date the student organization was provided notice that a hazing violation occurred. The CHTR will be made publicly available and will be updated twice a year.
VIII. Education and Prevention
The college will provide annual training sessions, workshops, and informational materials to students, registered student organizations, and employees to promote understanding of hazing, its consequences, and strategies for prevention. The Dean of Students Office is responsible for these trainings.
A current list of education and prevention programming can be found on the Dean of Students website.
IX. Related Regulations, Statutes, Policies, and Procedures
O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61
O.C.G.A. § 20-1-30
Clery Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f)
Georgia Gwinnett College Student Handbook
APM 12.1 Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
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