I. Scope
This policy applies to George Mason University (“University”) students, employees, employees of contractors, visitors, guests, and other third parties.
II. Policy Statement
The University is committed to providing a safe and Hazing-free learning, living, and working environment for all members of the university community. Hazing is a crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is prohibited by this policy and the Code of Student Conduct. The University does not condone Hazing in any form and prohibits Retaliation against a person for making a good faith complaint under this policy or for testifying, assisting, or participating in an investigation or adjudication process.
III. Definitions
a. Hazing: Any conduct that meets the definition of hazing in federal law, state law, or the George Mason Code of Student Conduct.
b. Retaliation: Taking an adverse action against an individual because they opposed Hazing, made a good faith complaint of Hazing or for testifying, assisting, or participating in an investigation or adjudication process related to Hazing. An adverse action for Retaliation purposes is any action taken against a person that is harmful to the point that it could dissuade a reasonable person from making or supporting a complaint of Hazing.
c. New Member: Individual who has been offered an invitation for membership in a Student Organization with New Members but has not yet been initiated and is not recognized as a full member of the organization.
d. Potential New Member: Individual who has expressed interest in joining a Student Organization with New Members by signing up to go through a recruitment process for such organization or organizations.
e. Student Organization: An organization (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at George Mason, whether or not the organization is recognized by George Mason.
f. Student Organization with New Members: Student Organization recognized by the University that is structured in such a way that upon invitation for membership, individuals do not automatically become members of such organization and have a period of time between invitation for membership and being initiated into membership. “Student Organization with New Members” does not include any varsity intercollegiate or club athletic team.
g. Non-Confidential Employee: See definition in University Policy 1202: Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence
IV. Compliance
A. Reporting Hazing
All Non-Confidential Employees are required to report any incident of Hazing of which they become aware. Reports can be made by:
a. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 before taking any next steps.
b. Submit a report at gmu.edu to initiate a review by the appropriate university department or officials.
c. For incidents involving students, submit a Student Conduct Report to the Office of Student Conduct (OSC).
d. For incidents involving employees, submit a report to Employee Relations.
e. Report incidents of Hazing involving potential criminal conduct at the Fairfax Campus, Mason Square, and the Science and Technology Campus to George Mason Police by calling 703-993-2810.
B. Clery Act Reporting
a. In addition to the above reporting requirement, all University faculty, staff, and contractors who are not Pastoral Counselors or Professional Counselors, and all students with significant responsibility for student and campus activities are designated as Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) per University Policy 1412: Reporting of Clery Act Crimes and/or Prohibited Sexual Conduct and shall, as soon as possible, notify George Mason Police of all incidents of Hazing they witness, learn of, or hear about in one of the following ways:
i. Calling George Mason Police directly at 703‐993‐2810 (in an emergency, immediately call 9-1-1)
ii. Completing the CSA Crime Statistics Reporting Form online; or
iii. E-mailing George Mason’s Clery Compliance Coordinator at [email protected]
C. Investigations of Allegations of Hazing and Retaliation:
a. The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) investigates allegations of Hazing or Retaliation against students.
b. The Office of Employee Relations investigates allegations of Hazing or Retaliation against employees.
D. Amnesty Policy
The University recognizes immunity from disciplinary action based on Hazing or personal consumption of drugs or alcohol where such disclosure is made by a bystander not involved in such acts in conjunction with a good faith report of an act of Hazing in advance of or during an incident of Hazing that causes injury or is likely to cause injury to a person.
E. Prevention and Awareness Programs and Training Related to Hazing:
a. Information about the University’s Hazing prevention program is set forth on the Patriots Against Hazing
b. As required by Virginia law, each current member, New Member, Potential New Member, and advisor of each Student Organization with New Members shall participate in Hazing prevention training that includes but is not limited to the following:
i. Research-informed, extensive, current, and in-person education about:
1. Strategies intended to stop Hazing before Hazing occurs, which may include skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and the promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without Hazing;
2. Dangers of Hazing, including but not limited to alcohol intoxication;
3. How to report incidents of Hazing;
4. Hazing laws;
5. Institutional policies on Hazing; and
6. Process used to investigate incidents of Hazing, including information explaining that the institution’s disciplinary process is not to be considered a substitute for the criminal legal process.
c. Additionally, all student officers, advisors, and coaches of club sports teams and all students in their first year of participation on intercollegiate athletic teams must complete the training described in IV.E.b.
d. All employees and students must complete Violence Prevention training, which includes information on Hazing prevention.
F. Campus Hazing Transparency Report
a. The University shall comply with all federal and state laws regarding publishing reports regarding Hazing incidents on campus, including a Campus Hazing Transparency Report and reporting required by Va. Code 23.1-822. These reports can be found here.
G. Available Support Resources
a. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
i. Professional counselors in CAPS are available to provide mental health support to students impacted by Hazing. Contact CAPS at caps.gmu.edu.
b. Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)
i. SSAC assists students who are encountering a life crisis or significant barriers that impact their academic and personal success and/or overall functioning. SSAC’s goal through individual consultations is to best understand the student’s situation, answer questions, provide guidance, and make connections to appropriate on and off-campus resources. Contact SSAC at ssac.gmu.edu/support-request-and-referrals.
c. Employee Relations
i. Available to provide support to employees, including through the Employee Assistance Program.
d. Student Involvement
i. Available to provide support related to Student Organizations.
V. Forms
a. CSA Crime Statistics Reporting Form:
VI. Dates
A. Effective Date:
This policy will become effective upon the date of approval by the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Provost and Executive Vice President.
B. Date of Most Recent Review
NA
VII. Timetable for Review
This policy, and any related procedures, shall be reviewed every two years.
VII. Signatures
Approved:
_______/S_________________
Julie Zobel
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Approved:
_______/S__________________
James Antony
Provost and Executive Vice President
Policy approved: September 22, 2025
Page created: September 24, 2025