Hazing Policy & Report

For the purpose of this Policy:

1. Hazing is defined as intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly (whether individually or in concert with other persons), for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a student’s membership or status in an organization, causing, coercing, or forcing a student to do any of the following:

1. Violate Federal or State criminal law;
2. Consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug, or other substance which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student;
3. Engage in physical activity, including extreme and unreasonable exercise, calisthenics, or exposure to the elements;
4. Be subject to physical abuse, including whipping, beating or branding;
5. Engage in mental activity, including sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student;
6. Engage in or be subject to nonconsensual sexual activity or harrassment; or
7. Endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the student.

2. Aggravated Hazing is defined as conduct that would amount to hazing, but that results in serious bodily injury or death.  This may include instances where the person doing the hazing acts with reckless indifference to the health and safety of the student or the person doing the hazing causes, coerces, or forces the consumption of an alcoholic liquid or drug by the student.

3. Organizational Hazing is defined as when a registered student organization (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly promotes or facilities a violation of hazing or aggravated hazing.  The individual members of a student organization found to have engaged in student organizational hazing may be charged with hazing violations as individuals.

1. Reporting Procedures

Point Park University encourages individuals who witness or experience hazing to report the incident as soon as possible. All reports will be investigated in a timely manner.

2. How to Report Hazing

Individuals who believe they have experienced or witnessed hazing should report the incident through one of the following channels:

• Online Reporting Form: A confidential online reporting form is available on the University’s website under the Office of Student Conduct Page, allowing individuals to submit their concerns anonymously or with their identity disclosed.

• Email the Office of Title IX and Dispute Resolution at oci@pointpark.edu.
• Email the Student Conduct Office at studentconduct@pointpark.edu.    

Although Point Park encourages students and others to make formal reports, including providing contact information for the reporter, you may file an anonymous report.  It is important to note that anonymous reports limit Point Park’s ability to respond to and investigate the report.

3. Confidentiality and Privacy

All reports will be handled with the utmost confidentiality to the extent possible, consistent with the University's obligation to investigate and take appropriate action. The University will endeavor to protect the privacy of individuals involved in the reporting process, but the investigation may require disclosing certain information to relevant parties as necessary for resolution.

4. Amnesty

The amnesty policy is designed to offer students the ability to seek help or assistance in certain difficult situations. Amnesty will be granted by the Director of Student Conduct or their designee, solely at their discretion. For any of the following amnesty provisions to take effect, the Director of Student Conduct or their designee will send the student a letter outlining the conditions of amnesty. Students will be held to the language within the letter. If any agreements made within the letter are broken by the student, amnesty may be revoked. Abuse of amnesty requests can result in a decision by the Director of Student Conduct not to extend amnesty to the same person repeatedly.

a. For Victims

The University may provide amnesty to victims who could be hesitant to report to University officials because they fear they may be accused of minor policy violations, such as underage drinking, at the time of the incident. If amnesty is given, educational options will be explored, but no conduct proceedings or conduct record will result.

b. For Those Who Offer Assistance

To encourage students to offer help and assistance to others, University can pursue a policy of amnesty for minor violations when students offer help to others in need. At the discretion of the Director of Student Conduct, amnesty may also be extended on a case- by-case basis to the person receiving assistance. Educational options will be explored, but no conduct proceedings or conduct record will result.

c. For Those Who Report Serious Violations

Students who are engaged in minor violations but who choose to bring related serious violations by others to the attention of the University may be offered amnesty for their minor violations. Educational options will be explored, but no conduct proceedings or record will result. The University may institute a safe harbor rule for students.

d. Drug or Alcohol Abuse

The University believes that students who have a drug and/or addiction problem deserve help. If any University student brings their own use, addiction, or dependency to the attention of the Director of Student Conduct outside the threat of drug tests or conduct sanctions and seeks assistance, a conduct complaint may not be pursued. A written action plan may be used to track cooperation with the Safe Harbor program by the student. Failure to follow the action plan will nullify the Safe Harbor protection and campus conduct processes will be initiated.

5. Advisor/Support Person and Supportive Measures

Both the alleged victims of hazing and the student accused of committing a hazing violation may choose an advisor of their choice to accompany them during all meetings, interviews, and hearings related to an alleged hazing violation.  An advisor is any individual who provides support, guidance, or advice. This advisor may be a parent, a community advocate, or any other person (including an attorney). The advisor’s role is purely supportive; the advisor may not speak on behalf of a student or otherwise directly participate in the investigation process.  In keeping with the University’s desire to resolve hazing complaints in a timely manner, the University reserves the right to proceed with any meeting regardless of the availability of the student's advisor.

In addition, both the victims of hazing and the students accused of committing a hazing violation are entitled to supportive measures, such as counseling, support services, and other resources to assist with their physical, emotional, and academic well-being.  Supportive measures are available if requested and if they are reasonably available.  The University will maintain the confidentiality of the supportive measures, provided that confidentiality does not impair the University’s ability to provide those supportive measures.  

The following resources are available to University students:

University Counseling Center
412-392-3977
counseling@pointpark.edu

Accessibility Services
412-392-4760
accessibility@pointpark.edu

Resolve
1-888-796-8226

Student Assistance Program
1-833-483-3982

Language assistance is available upon request made to the Director of Student Conduct. 

6. Investigative Process

1. All incident reports will be received and investigated by the Director of Student Conduct.
2. Based on that review/investigation, the Director of Student Conduct will make the decision regarding what policies were allegedly violated, if any, and the process, if any, that the student can follow to resolve the issue.
3. Point Park University can take administrative action based on an incident report by issuing warning letters to any university student. These letters will not be considered a part of one’s official student conduct file. However, these letters will be considered as a part of the administrative record to be considered in any future incidents involving the student. Administrative files are not shared with outside agencies when student conduct files are requested unless in conjunction with local, state, or federal laws.
4. For more serious incidents, students will be charged and will receive a letter that includes:

1. The policies in which they are being charged with violating
2. The date in which the alleged violation occurred
3. The time, date, and location to report to resolve the student conduct matter, generally through a student conduct meeting.

e. The Office of Student Conduct reserves the right to substitute a student conduct meeting with a summary judgment. Should a student receive a summary judgment for an incident in which they were involved, the student has the right to accept the summary judgment or request a student conduct meeting.

f. In situations where the student accused of violating the Code of Student Conduct is deemed to be a clear and present danger to the campus community, an individual, or to him/herself, the Vice President of Student Affairs or designee may impose an interim suspension that occurs immediately, not to exceed 21 business days, while a formalized hearing is organized. Imposition of an interim suspension is not the equivalent of a finding of responsibility. The student will not be able to attend class, reside in the residence halls, or be on any property owned or leased by the University during an interim suspension. During an interim suspension, the student is also banned from all University sponsored events, on or off campus. The student has the right to contest this suspension within 48 hours of notification. In situations where the student organization accused of violating the Code of Student Conduct is deemed to be a clear and present danger to the campus community, an individual, and/or its members, the Vice President of Student Affairs or designee may impose an interim suspension on the organization’s ability to host events, meet, and be recognized by the University that occurs immediately, not to exceed 21 business days, while a formalized hearing is organized. To contest the Interim Suspension, the student or the student organization must submit in writing a letter to the Vice President of Student Affairs explaining why the interim suspension should not be upheld. The decision whether to uphold or overturn the interim suspension is in the sole discretion of the Vice President of Student Affairs.

7. Student Conduct Meetings

A student conduct meeting will consist of a formal, non-adversarial meeting between the accused student and a student conduct officer as designated byated by the Director of Student Conduct, or their designee. Student conduct officers are chosen from a pool of trained University representatives selected by the Director of Student Conduct. Charged students may request the Office of Student Conduct call appropriate and relevant witnesses on their behalf. Charged students may also request an informational meeting prior to the student conduct meeting to ask any questions, go over the charges, and review the process. Accused students who fail to appear after written notice (including email) has been given will be deemed not to have contested the allegations against them; however, a student may elect not to speak on his or her own behalf. In such cases, the student conduct meeting officer’s decision will be based solely on witness accounts and other information presented during the proceeding. The student may not appoint a different person (including his or her advisor) to speak on his or her behalf. 

Students who fail to be present for their student conduct meeting will waive their right to appeal.

a. Procedural Guidelines Applicable to Charged Students in Student Conduct Meetings.

i. A student conduct meeting will consist of a non-public meeting between a student conduct officer and a student accused of a policy violation. 

ii. Prior to the student conduct meeting, the charged student may challenge the student conduct officer on the grounds of conflict of interest or personal bias. The student will have to put in writing why they believe the conduct officer has a conflict of interest or personal bias against them and describe in detail the events surrounding the conflict of interest or personal bias. The Vice President of Student Affairs will review the case, this written statement and any supporting documentation to decide if a new student conduct officer will be assigned. All decisions made by the Vice President of Student Affairs are final.

iii. The Office of Student Conduct will provide a student accused of a policy violation with reasonable access to their student conduct records, if available, at least three days prior to, and during, the meeting. A student conduct record is part of the student’s education record under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). The personal notes of University staff members are not included in the student conduct record. The case file will be retained in the Office of Student Conduct. Students should schedule an informational meeting prior to their student conduct meeting with the Office of Student Conduct to review their student conduct record.

iv. A student may not take their student conduct records from the area in which they are reviewed. Students can take handwritten notes while reviewing their conduct records but are not permitted to take pictures or make photocopies of their records. Student conduct records will only be distributed to said student but are able to be viewed by a student’s advisor or support person upon the student’s signature of a FERPA waiver.

v. Prior to or during a student conduct meeting, a student accused of a policy violation may identify appropriate and relevant witnesses and request that the student conduct officer interview the witnesses on their knowledge of the matter. The charged student may suggest questions that the student conduct officer ask relevant witnesses.  The student conduct officer will interview such witnesses at their discretion if the student conduct officer determines the witness may have information relevant to the matter.  It is expected that all witnesses will provide information that is true and correct. Any student who knowingly provides false information during a student conduct meeting will be charged with a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

vi. Statements may be accepted, or other accommodations made, at the discretion of the Director of Student Conduct or designee in lieu of a live interview if a witness is out of state or otherwise determined to be unavailable.

vii. Only the student and their advisor or support person, if applicable, may be present during a student conduct meeting. Anyone disrupting the meeting may be removed or excluded from the meeting. Such disruption is a violation of this Code, and a person may be charged following his or her disruption and removal.

viii. The student charged with a policy violation will have the opportunity to respond to the evidence against them during the student conduct meeting.

ix. Audio and video recording of student conduct meetings by anyone is prohibited.  The student conduct officer may record the student conduct meeting or any witness interviews upon consent of the individuals in the meeting.  This recording will be used for note taking purposes only and will not be shared with the other individuals involved in the matter.  The records will be used to develop a finding of fact report.   After the finding of fact report is completed, the records will be destroyed.

x. The student conduct officer will interview the student charged with a policy violation and the witnesses the student conduct officer deems to have relevant information in an effort to establish the factual record.  On disputed points, a preponderance of the available, fairly considered, evidence will decide the dispute.  A preponderance of the evidence means that it is more likely than not that a fact is true or an event occurred.

xi. Reports of the student conduct meeting are prepared within a reasonable time after the meeting and shall include a finding of fact, mitigating and aggravating circumstances, a determination of whether or not the charged student is in violation of this policy, and possible sanctions. If the student conduct officer determines the charged student to be in violation of this policy, the Vice President of Student Affairs, Director of Student Conduct, or designee will review the findings and will impose all sanctions. Sanctions may be appealed based on criteria set by the University.

xii. The accused student will receive, in writing, within a reasonable amount of time, the decision of the student conduct officer and the sanction(s) determined.

8. Appeals

Except as noted above, a student found responsible for a violation of this policy has the right to appeal.  Students are informed of their right to appeal in writing and electronically upon issuance of the student conduct officer’s decision.

An appeal must be filed within ten (10) business days of the date of the written notice of the student conduct officer’s decision. An appeal may only be filed for four reasons: 1) the appealing student has new information that was not presented during the student conduct meeting, that could affect the outcome of the matter, and could not have been provided previously, 2) the appealing student believes the sanction was not proportionate to the offense, 3) the appealing student believes the University did not follow its investigation and/or resolution process, or 4) the appealing student believes a conflict of interest or bias affected the outcome of the matter.

The appeal should be submitted in writing to the Vice President of Student Affairs and shall state the ground(s) for the appeal and provide any additional information or evidence. The Vice President of Student Affairs will review appealing student’s student conduct records and related evidence, the decision by the Director of Student Conduct, or their designee, and the information provided through the appeal to determine whether the appeal should be upheld on one or more grounds. Using a preponderance of the evidence standard, the Vice President of Student Affairs will issue an outcome letter to the appealing student detailing the decision and any applicable modifications to previously imposed sanctions or remedies. Absent extenuating circumstances, the Vice President of Student Affairs will issue the outcome letter within fifteen (15) business days of the date the appeal is filed. If any changes occur to the original decision, the non-appealing party will be made aware of the change. The decision is final with no further appeal process.

9. Sanctions

The sanctions described in the University’s Student Code of Conduct shall apply where an individual or organization has been found to have engaged in hazing.  Sanctions issued will be based upon the particular facts and circumstances of each case and may include suspension or expulsion from the University or suspension or removal of a student organization. Sanctions include, but are not limited to:

10. Prohibition of Retaliation

Point Park University strictly prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports a violation of the hazing policy, participates in an investigation, or supports someone involved in the reporting process. Retaliation undermines the integrity of the university’s commitment to safety and accountability and may result in disciplinary action.

Retaliation includes, but is not limited to:

a. Threats, intimidation, or harassment
b. Adverse academic or professional actions
c. Exclusion from activities, events, or group participation
d. Attempts to discourage reporting or participation in an investigation

Reporting Retaliation:

Individuals who believe they have experienced retaliation are encouraged to report the incident immediately through the Director of Student Conduct.

Investigation of Retaliation:

Investigations of retaliation in connection with this Policy will follow the investigative process outlined within this policy.

Consequences of Retaliation:

a. Individuals found responsible for retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action
b. Organizations found responsible for retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action

The University will implement a comprehensive, evidence-based hazing prevention program designed to inform and empower students, faculty, and staff to recognize, prevent, and report hazing. Training will be delivered through various methods, including but not limited to:

1. Online Asynchronous Modules: Self-paced courses accessible at any time, allowing participants to engage with interactive content and assessments at their convenience.
2. Resource Sharing: Distribution of educational materials such as brochures, videos, and articles that highlight the dangers of hazing and promote a culture of respect and safety.
3. Webinars and Virtual Seminars: Live or recorded online sessions that offer flexibility and can reach a broad audience, providing expert insights and up-to-date information on hazing prevention.

The training will cover the following key topics:

1. Definition of Hazing: A clear explanation of what constitutes hazing, including various forms it can take.
2. Legal and Institutional Policies: An overview of relevant federal and state laws, as well as university policies regarding hazing.
3. Recognition of Hazing Behaviors: Guidance on identifying signs and behaviors associated with hazing activities.
4. Prevention Strategies: Evidence-based methods to prevent hazing within groups and organizations.
5. Reporting Procedures: Instructions on how to report hazing incidents, including available resources and support services.
6. Bystander Intervention: Techniques to safely intervene and prevent hazing when witnessed.

By utilizing a variety of training methods and covering these essential topics, the University ensures that all community members have access to effective and engaging hazing prevention education that meets diverse learning preferences and schedules.

The University’s commitment to preventing hazing is reinforced by adherence to various federal, state, and institutional regulations that collectively promote a safe and respectful educational environment.

Federal Laws

1. Stop Campus Hazing Act: Enacted in December 2024, this law mandates that institutions of higher education participating in federal student aid programs report hazing incidents. It also requires these institutions to compile and disclose statistics on hazing incidents in their Annual Security Reports and publish information related to hazing incidents in a Campus Hazing Transparency Report.
2. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972: Prohibits discrimination based on sex in any federally funded education program or activity. Sexual harassment, including acts of hazing that are sex-based, constitutes a form of sex discrimination under Title IX.

State Laws

1. Pennsylvania Anti-Hazing Law (18 Pa. C.S. § 2802) defines and prohibits hazing activities within the state and outlines legal consequences for individuals and organizations involved in such practices.

Individuals impacted by hazing have access to a variety of resources for support, guidance, and assistance. The following university and external resources are available.

1. University Counseling Center
Phone: 412-392-3977
Email: counseling@pointpark.edu
Location: 5th floor of Lawerence Hall
 
2. University Police:
Phone: 412-392-3960, if emergency please call 911
Email: pointparkpolice@pointpark.edu
Location: 3rd floor of Frontier Hall

3. Office of Student Affairs
412-392-3840
studentaffairs@pointpark.edu
Location: 7th floor of the Student Center

4. University Advising Center
Phone: 412-392-8152
Email: uac@pointpark.edu
Location: 5th floor of West Penn

5. Office of Title IX and Dispute Resolution
Phone: 412-392-8158
Email: oci@pointpark.edu
Location: 104 Student Center

6. Office of Inclusivity and Belonging
Phone: 412-392-4771
Email: inclusivity@pointpark.edu
Location: 715 Student Center