Stop Campus Hazing Act

What is the Stop Campus Hazing Act?

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), enacted on December 23, 2024, amends the Clery Act to prioritize the prevention of and transparency about hazing incidents at colleges and universities. 

The Stop Campus Hazing Act has three primary components:

• Inclusion of hazing statistics in annual security reports: Colleges and universities will need to include statistics for hazing incidents that were reported to campus security authorities or local law enforcement, as defined by SCHA, in their annual security reports.
• Implementation of hazing policies, including those specific to hazing prevention: Colleges and universities will be required to have a hazing policy with information on how to make a report of hazing and the process used to investigate hazing incidents. They must also have a policy that addresses hazing prevention and awareness programs, which includes a description of research-informed campus-wide prevention programs and primary prevention strategies.
• Compilation of a Campus Hazing Transparency Report: Each institution must compile and publish on a prominent location of their public website a hazing transparency report that summarizes findings concerning any student organization found to be in violation of the institution’s standards of conduct related to hazing. The report will include:
  • The name of the student organization;
  • A general description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility; and
  • Related dates (the date of the alleged incident, the date of the initiation of the investigation, the date the investigation ended with a finding, and the date the institution provided notice to the organization of the finding).

Hazing Policy Statement:

Hazing, defined below, is prohibited by Massachusetts law M.G.L. ch. 269, §§17 to 19. Institutions of higher education must provide a copy of the Massachusetts hazing law on an annual basis to every student, student group, student team, and student organization.

Hazing is a violation of the Northern Essex Community College Student Code of Conduct.

Northern Essex Community College investigates allegations of hazing according to the processes described in the Student Code of Conduct.  “Hazing” means any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.
M.G.L. ch. 269, §17

 
How to report a Hazing Incident:

Any person may report alleged hazing by completing the Student Conduct Referral Form or as otherwise indicated in the Student Code of Conduct.  All reported incidents of alleged hazing will be investigated and adjudicated through the Student Code of Conduct process. 

Hazing Prevention Programs & Strategies Statement

NECC employs research-informed prevention and awareness programs, strategies and resources related to hazing.  The NECC Hazing Prevention Programs and Strategies Statement builds upon the NECC Hazing Policy Statement to include prevention and awareness programs relating to hazing, including a description of prevention programs, which is detailed below.

Student Notifications

As part of NECC’s hazing notifications, which are required under Massachusetts law (M.G.L ch.269 §§17 to 19), all registered students receive email notifications on an annual basis.  These notifications include information about the Stop Campus Hazing Act, “Hazing” statistics as documented in the Annual Security Report for the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act and links to Hazing Policy Statements, Massachusetts Hazing Law, the Campus hazing Transparency Report and the annual Security Report for the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.

Student Training

NECC partners with Vector Solutions to provide a Hazing Awareness & Prevention online training courses which is available to all registered students.

Hazing Awareness and Prevention Course

The Hazing Awareness & Prevention course provides students with a better understanding about hazing so that they can identify when it’s happening and possibly prevent incidents in the future. The course also connects students to resources and information as follows:

• Information on how to report an alleged incident of hazing with a link to a reporting form
• Information and links to Hazing Policy Statements, Massachusetts Hazing Law, Campus Hazing Transparency Report and Annual Security Report for the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.

Student Organizations

On an annual basis, student organizations, as defined by the Stop Campus Hazing Act, are provided information about the Stop Campus Hazing Act, “Hazing” statistics as documented in the Annual Security Report and links to Hazing Policy Statements, Massachusetts Hazing Law, the Campus Hazing Transparency Report and the Annual Security Report for the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. Members provide a signature of receipt, review and understanding of the information provided.  Student organizations at NECC include the Student Government Association, all student clubs, and athletic teams.

Employees

Campus Security Authorities (“CSA”) are regularly trained on the Act’s definitions of “Hazing” and “Student Organizations”, the need to report “Hazing” and the mechanism available for reporting hazing incidents.  CSAs or Campus Police determine if alleged incidents meet the requirements of “Hazing” for inclusion in the Annual Security Report. 

Hazing Transparency Report:

The Campus Hazing Transparency Report is designed to enhance public awareness of hazing incidents in higher education.  It mandates that colleges and universities participating in federal financial aid programs collect and publicly disclose information about student organizations found responsible for hazing violations.

Key Features of the Report:

• Name of the student organization, club, or athletic team
• When the alleged incident occurred
• The date the investigation was initiated
• The date on which the investigation ended with a finding that a violation occurred
• Description of the violation, including the date of the initial violation, and the violations, findings, and sanctions placed on the student organization, club or athletic team
• The details of the sanction or sanctions imposed, including the beginning and end dates of the sanction or sanctions
• The date the student organization, club, or athletic team was charged with a violation
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Last updated: July 9, 2025

2024-2025 Hazing Transparency Report

There were no findings of hazing behavior between January 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025