The bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2025, imposes new federal requirements on colleges and universities nationwide, obligating them to track, report, and publicly disclose hazing incidents. The law is designed to enhance transparency and prioritize student safety on campuses across the United States. Higher education institutions should engage and collaborate with legal counsel to navigate the act’s requirements and intersections with existing statutory and regulatory frameworks.

The Stop Campus Hazing Act amends the Higher Education Act and requires institutions participating in Title IV programs to include hazing incidents in their annual security reports (often referred to as a Clery report). The act also requires institutions to publish a new, annual Campus Hazing Transparency Report. In this way, the law aims to create a national standard for hazing incident reporting, complementing existing state laws.

A National Definition for Hazing

The new act provides an overarching, nationally applicable definition of hazing which may differ significantly from existing state or local laws.

Hazing is "any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person against a student (regardless of that student's willingness to participate)," that: 

• Is connected with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, an organization (such as a club, athletic team, fraternity, or sorority). 
   
• Causes or is likely to contribute to a substantial risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization, of physical injury, mental harm, or degradation. 

Critical Dates, Deadlines, and Reporting Requirements

The act requires institutions to publish comprehensive hazing policies and procedures by June 23, 2025. A summary of additional requirements include:

	Annual Security Report (ASR)	Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR)
Data Collection Commencement	January 1, 2025  (for the upcoming 2026 ASR)	July 1, 2025
Publication/Submission Date	October 1, annually  (must include hazing incidents beginning with the October 1, 2026, report)	December 23, 2025  (and must be updated at least twice annually thereafter)
Geographic Scope	Limited to reported hazing occurring in or on an institution's Clery geography (on campus, in or on non-campus buildings or property, and on certain public property)	Not limited to Clery geography; reports must include incidents regardless of location
Content Required	Disclosure of hazing incidents reported to the institution; policies related to hazing; reporting mechanisms; investigative procedures; information on applicable hazing laws; campus hazing prevention and awareness programs	Summary of incidents in which a student organization was found to have committed a hazing violation: name of the organization, description of the violation, relevant timeline, and description of the institution’s findings and imposed sanctions
Student Organization Parameters	Student organizations or groups that are and are not established or recognized by the institution	Only those student organizations established or recognized by the institution

Key Takeaways for Higher Education Institutions

• Compliance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act is mandatory for higher education institutions participating in Title IV programs.
   
• Institutions must ensure their hazing policies and procedures are clearly defined and publicly accessible.
   
• Regular updates to the Campus Hazing Transparency Report are required to maintain transparency and provide critical information to students and families.
   
• Failure to comply with these requirements could result in penalties and loss of Title IV funding.
   
• Colleges and universities should engage experienced legal counsel to prepare requisite policies and procedures, develop reporting and publication frameworks, and ensure compliance with these statutory requirements. 

This new federal legislation underscores the importance of proactive measures to prevent and address hazing on college and university campuses. Parker Poe’s dedicated Education Industry Team regularly counsels higher education institutions of all sizes on Clery Act and related requirements.

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