The Georgia Institute of Technology (“Georgia Tech” or “the Institute”) is committed to full compliance with applicable state and federal laws, including the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), and the Max Gruver Act. This policy establishes a consistent and transparent framework for the prevention, reporting, investigation, and resolution of hazing-related incidents.
Georgia Tech strictly prohibits hazing in all forms. Georgia Tech is committed to taking immediate and appropriate action in response to all reported incidents.
Institutional Response
All allegations of hazing will be addressed promptly through a coordinated response involving the appropriate offices. Georgia Tech will assess each report on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the violation is attributable to individual misconduct, organizational misconduct, or both.
Where organizational responsibility is substantiated, Georgia Tech reserves the right to impose sanctions against the School/Student organization, its officers, or both, in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and/or applicable institutional policies.
Alleged violations of this policy by Students and/or School/Student Organizations will be adjudicated pursuant to the procedures and standards set forth in Georgia Tech’s Student Code of Conduct. Individuals or organizations found responsible for hazing may be subject to disciplinary sanctions.
All students subject to disciplinary action under this policy will be afforded the rights and procedural guarantees outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
Alleged violations of this Policy by Employees will be reviewed in accordance with General Work Rules 5.9. Alleged violations of this Policy by Faculty will be handled under the procedures set forth in Faculty Handbook Section 3.1.10.
State and Federal Requirements
In compliance with the “Max Gruver Act,” Georgia SB 85, Georgia Tech will publicly disclose administrative adjudications of hazing or hazing-related convictions. This information will be posted within 15 calendar days of final adjudication or public notice of conviction. Records will include the name of any Georgia Tech School/Student organization involved, the date(s) of occurrence, and a description of specific hazing-related findings, sanctions, adjudications, and criminal convictions for any person or school organization.
The Institute will collect statistics on hazing incidents, which will be published in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR). This report will include all data gathered in accordance with the “Max Gruver Act,” as well as the date on which the investigation was initiated; the date the investigation ended; the date the student organization was provided notice that a hazing violation occurred; and any additional information that the Institute determines to be necessary.
The Office of Student Integrity (OSI) shall publish the CHTR in a prominent location on the Institute’s website and ensure it is updated at least twice per year. Upon each publication, OSI shall issue an email notification to all students, faculty, and staff, including a direct link to the report to promote timely access and institutional transparency. The Institute will include statistics for hazing that were reported to campus security authorities or GTPD in its Daily Crime Logs and Annual Security Reports.
In accordance with the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA),” the CHTR will not include personally identifiable student information. The hazing reports will be maintained for a period of five (5) years from each update.
Retaliation
Georgia Tech strictly prohibits retaliation against any individual who, in good faith, reports an alleged violation of this hazing policy or who participates in an investigation, adjudication, or resolution process related to such a report. Retaliation is considered a serious violation of Institute policy and may result in disciplinary action independent of the outcome of the original hazing allegation.
Retaliatory actions may include, but are not limited to, verbal or implied threats, physical or psychological intimidation, harassment (whether verbal, written, or digital), social or academic exclusion, or any behavior intended to create a hostile, fearful, or coercive environment for the individual reporting the misconduct or participating in the process.
All allegations of retaliation will be investigated and addressed in accordance with Georgia Tech’s Student Code of Conduct and/or other applicable Institute policies.
This policy applies to all members of the Institute community, including students,
faculty, and staff as well as contractors, vendors, visitors, and guests.
Hazing
Hazing is 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 willingness of
such other person or persons to participate, that— (i) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation or connection with, the maintenance of membership in, or any other condition or
precondition connected to a student organization or school organization; and (ii) causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in institution or
organization activities (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including—
(a) whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
(b) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
(c) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
(d) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
(e) any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
(f) any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, state, tribal, or federal law; and
(g) any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of local, state, tribal, or federal criminal law.
School/Student Organization
School/Student Organization means an organization (such as a club, society, association, corporation, order, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, student government, or group living together) in which two or more of the members are enrolled students or alumni, including local affiliate organizations, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.
Reporting
Any person who has knowledge of any activity or conduct which may constitute hazing can report their concerns to the following offices:
- Office of Student Integrity
- Online form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?GeorgiaTech&layout_id=14
- Email: osi@mail.gatech.edu, or
- Telephone: 404-894-2566
- Georgia Tech Police Department
- Email: crimetips@police.gatech.edu.
- Telephone: 404-894-2500
- Live Safe App https://prepare.gatech.edu/livesafe-app, or via
- EthicsPoint:
Reports may be submitted confidentially or anonymously and will be reviewed and investigated promptly by designated Institute officials.
Investigative Process
Students: Upon receipt of a hazing report, the Office of Student Integrity (OSI) will promptly assign the matter to an investigator for review. The investigation will be conducted in accordance with procedures outlined in the Georgia Tech Student Code of Conduct.
Employees: Upon receipt of a hazing report, the allegation will be investigated under appropriate Institute processes.
Disclosure of Hazing Incident Reports
The Institute will include hazing incident reports in its daily crime log, and the Institute will include statistics for hazing that were reported to campus security authorities or GTPD in its annual security reports.
Clery Compliance Coordinator
The Clery Compliance Coordinator ensures that Georgia Tech fulfills its obligations under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act and the Stop Campus Hazing Act. Responsibilities include:
- Ensuring Clery-reportable hazing incidents are accurately documented and classified in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR);
- Coordinating with the Office of Student Integrity, GTPD, and Human Resources to verify incident data and reporting timelines;
- Delivering policy awareness to Institute employees, annually;
- Engaging campus partners to maintain and deliver hazing prevention education to students, faculty, and staff, that is comprehensive, research-informed hazing prevention and awareness strategy that is implemented campus-wide; and
- Supporting institutional compliance through coordination and periodic audits.
Office of Student Integrity
The Office of Student Integrity (OSI) is the central administrative unit responsible for implementing the hazing policy and coordinating the student conduct process related to hazing allegations. This office:
- Receives and evaluates hazing reports from students, faculty, staff, and third
parties; - Oversees the formal investigation and adjudication of alleged student hazing
violations; - Determines appropriate interim measures and disciplinary sanctions;
- Notifies relevant stakeholders, including GTPD, the national headquarters of registered student organizations, when applicable; and
- Oversees the publication of Georgia Tech’s Campus Hazing Transparency Report
at least twice per year; - Maintains hazing records in accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act and Georgia Tech’s record retention policies.
Georgia Tech Policy Department (GTPD)
GTPD is responsible for collaborating with the Office of Student Integrity on cases involving both administrative and criminal proceedings; and participating in hazing prevention and awareness efforts by providing legal education and outreach to the campus community.
Human Resources/Faculty Affairs
Georgia Tech’s Human Resources and Faculty Affairs are responsible for serving as a reporting avenue for employees who witness or suspect hazing, in coordination with the Office of Student Integrity, and other applicable offices.
Student Organizations
All registered student organizations, including fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, and performance groups, are responsible for:
- Ensuring all organizational activities are conducted in compliance with this Policy, the Student Code of Conduct, and relevant laws;
- Educating their members about hazing prevention and reporting obligations;
- Self-reporting known or suspected hazing incidents to the Office of Student Integrity; and
- Cooperating fully with administrative or criminal investigations.
Students
All Georgia Tech students are expected to:
- Refrain from engaging in, supporting, or ignoring hazing in any form;
- Promptly report hazing concerns to designated campus offices or through anonymous platforms;
- Cooperate with investigations as appropriate; and
Georgia Tech takes all violations of its hazing policy seriously. Individuals and student organizations found responsible for engaging in, facilitating, or failing to report hazing are subject to disciplinary action in accordance with Institute policies and applicable laws.
| Revision Date | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2025 | Equal Opportunity, Compliance, and Conflict Management | New Policy |