Section 600: Student Affairs

Effective: June 23, 2025
Revised: 
Last Review: August 2025
Next Review: August 2027
Responsible Party: Dean of Student Success

Policy

A. Harassment includes but is not limited to verbal, psychological, graphic, and/or written abuse directed at another, beyond a reasonable expression of opinion, which:

  • Is threatening or carries with it the intention to do bodily harm; or
  • Disrupts or undermines a person's exercise of their responsibilities as a student, faculty, or staff member including unreasonably interfering with a person’s educational or work performance.

Harassment which is based upon a protected class as defined in the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy is addressed in section 1001.7 

B. Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against a student regardless of that student's willingness to participate, that:

  • Was committed in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, an organization (such as a club, society, association, athletic team, fraternity, sorority, or student government); and
  • 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 (such as the physical training necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical injury, mental harm, or degradation.

Consistent with this definition, intentional, knowing or reckless acts may include, but are not limited to, acts which: 

  • Subject another to a situation or action that a reasonable person would foresee as causing mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, injury, or ridicule, or which may demean, disgrace, or degrade any person;
  • Endanger the physical or mental health or safety of any student or other person, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest, forced consumption of food, alcohol, beverage, or drugs, beating or branding, involuntary confinement or imprisonment, or personal servitude;
  • Unreasonably interfere with a student’s academic performance or the ability of a student to participate in an educational program, activity, or event;
  • Encourage or otherwise prompt others to destroy, vandalize, or remove public or private property; or
  • Constitute a violation of any laws or University policies.

C. Bystanding includes, but is not limited to:

  • Conduct of a student who is present when a serious violation of the Code of Student Conduct occurs and who encourages, assists, or fails to take reasonable actions to prevent or stop conduct that could result in serious injury or harm to person or property, including sexual misconduct and hazing; or
  • Conduct of an organized group that encourages, assists, or fails to take reasonable actions to prevent or stop conduct that could result in serious injury or harm to a person or property, including sexual misconduct and hazing.