Overview
Provides compliance with federal and state law by prohibiting hazing of students and outlining reporting responsibilities and training requirements.
Purpose
This campus policy provides compliance with federal and state law and prohibits hazing of students in the activities of campus organizations, including but not limited to registered campus organizations, clubs, committees, and academic and administrative units. The policy also outlines reporting responsibilities and training program requirements.
Definitions
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Participation in hazing or any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, activity, or method committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons, including current, former, or prospective students, regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that is committed in the course of a preinitiation, an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, an official or unofficial student organization or other student group that:
- 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 personal degradation or disgrace, and/or
- the person knew or should have known was likely to cause serious bodily injury.
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An individual alleged to have engaged in Hazing.
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An individual for whom UCSF maintains student records and who: (a) is enrolled in or registered with an academic program of the University; (b) has completed the immediately preceding term, is not presently enrolled, and is eligible for re-enrollment; or (c) is on an approved educational leave or other approved leave status, or is on filing-fee status.
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For the purposes of this policy, the term ‘student organization’ means an organization at UCSF in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at UCSF, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by UCSF. This includes Student Government and Student Registered Campus Organizations. It also includes unaffiliated student organizations.
Policy
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Prohibition on Hazing
Hazing is at odds with the educational mission of the University, with the University’s commitment to community safety, and with the University’s commitment to ensuring that students can engage fully with campus opportunities in a manner that is free from harm. Accordingly, hazing is prohibited. No UCSF student, employee, or volunteer may commit hazing of a student, as defined above.
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Reporting and Investigation
Anyone who learns that hazing of a student has occurred should report it to the University as soon as practically possible via one of the following options:
- UCSF Police Department
- No matter the affiliation of the Respondent, hazing can be reported to the UCSF Police Department for assessment and potential investigation.
- In an emergency call 911 or, from a cell phone, (415) 476-6911. For a non-emergency incident, call the UCSF PD non-emergency line at (415) 476-1414.
- Any incident of hazing that could be a serious or ongoing threat to the health and safety of the campus community should be reported to UCSF PD as soon as practically possible. Violations of applicable state and local law will be investigated and enforced.
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Student Rights and Responsibilities
Violations of this policy by a Student or Student Organization may be reported to Student Rights and Responsibilities by filling out an incident report form. Student Rights and Responsibilities will assess and potentially investigate the alleged violation to enforce all applicable campus policies through the process outlined in the Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline.
- UCSF Whistleblower Program
- Other Respondents: Violations of this policy by faculty, staff, and non-affiliate Respondents may be reported to UCSF’s Whistleblower Program for assessment and potential investigation and/or referral for appropriate administrative action.
- Anonymous Reporting: Violations of this policy may be reported anonymously to the Whistleblower Hotline for routing to the appropriate office for assessment and potential investigation.
- Reporting responsibilities for certain employees
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Certain employees have specific reporting responsibilities for hazing conduct that may also violate other policies, including but not limited to the UC SVSH Policy, the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy, and the UC Abusive Conduct Policy.
Reporting hazing to UCSF PD, Student Rights and Responsibilities, or the Whistleblower Program is not necessarily sufficient to fulfill these other reporting obligations. Individuals should refer to those policies to understand their reporting obligations.
- Anyone designated as a Campus Security Authority must report it to the UCSF Police Department or the Clery Act Coordinator as soon as practically possible.
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- UCSF Police Department
- Disciplinary Actions for Policy Violations
- Any individual found to be in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline and/or applicable academic personnel and staff personnel policies, including collective bargaining agreements.
- Volunteers who are found to be in violation of this policy may be subject to termination of volunteer service.
- Student Government and Student Registered Campus Organizations are subject to the revocation of recognition by/affiliation with the university, and the individual student members of those organizations are subject to discipline under the Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline.
- Anti-Hazing Prevention and Awareness Programming
- The University will make campus-wide antihazing education and training available for all faculty, staff and students.
- This training will include current policies relating to hazing (as defined by UCSF), how to report incidents of such hazing, and the process used to investigate such incidents of hazing, and information on applicable local, State, and Tribal laws on hazing.
- This training will include primary prevention strategies components such as skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and/or the promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without hazing.
- Policy Distribution and Posting
- This policy will be posted online in a prominent location within the Campus Administrative Policies website.
- This policy will also be posted on the UCSF Hazing Education and Reporting page.
- This policy will be emailed to all faculty, staff, and students on an annual basis in the annual notification of policies or outside of the annual notification if there are revisions to this policy.
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Additional Resources
For more information, please review UCSF’s Hazing Education, Prevention and Reporting webpage.
Responsibilities
Contact responsible office with any questions.
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University of California San Francisco Police Department (UCSF PD)
UCSF PD will assess and potentially investigate the alleged violation if it involves criminal allegations.
- Office of Education and Student Affairs – Student Rights and Responsibilities
- Office of Education and Student Affairs – Student Rights and Responsibilities (OES RSS) will assess and potentially investigate the alleged violation if the Respondent is a student or student organization to enforce all applicable campus policies through the process outlined in the Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline.
- If the Respondent is not a student or student organization, OES RSS will refer the allegation to other university investigatory units, i.e., Labor and Employee Relations, Faculty and Academic Affairs, UCSF Whistleblower Program for assessment and potential investigation. OES RSS will not retain documentation regarding non-student or student organization Respondents once a case is referred to the appropriate university investigatory unit.
- UCSF Whistleblower Program
- The Whistleblower Program will assess and potentially investigate and/or refer the allegation for appropriate administrative action.
- Violations of this policy reported anonymously to the Whistleblower Hotline will be routed to the appropriate office for assessment and potential investigation.