Hazing Information
Hazing Information
FVSU’s Statement on Hazing
The Fort Valley State University prohibits hazing. This prohibition applies to all students, faculty, staff, and affiliated organizations and extends to conduct occurring both on campus and at university-sponsored or university-affiliated activities off campus.
Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act against another person, regardless of whether that person agrees to participate, that is connected to joining, belonging to, or staying in a student or school organization. The act must cause or create a risk of physical or psychological harm that goes beyond the normal risks of the organization’s activities.
Please see FVSU’s Hazing Policy and Student Code of Conduct for full details.
Hazing may constitute both a violation of university policy and a criminal offense under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61), which may result in criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
How to Report Hazing
Reports of hazing may be submitted through the university’s See Something/Say Something form, by contacting Campus Police or local law enforcement, or by reporting to the Dean of Students, Provost, or Human Resources, depending on the individuals involved.
Retaliation against individuals who report hazing or participate in an investigation is strictly prohibited. Knowingly filing a false report also constitutes a violation of university policy.
Fort Valley State University incorporates research-informed prevention and awareness programs related to Hazing, which are available campus-wide for students, faculty, and staff. These programs include primary prevention strategies such as bystander intervention training, ethical leadership development, and non-hazing methods for building group cohesion.
Federal and State Laws Related to Hazing
- The Georgia Anti-Hazing Act (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61), also known as the Max Gruver Act, makes it a misdemeanor of a high or aggravated nature to "haze any student in connection with or as a condition or precondition of gaining acceptance, membership, office, or other status in a school organization." Penalties could include incarceration, fines, or both.
- The Stop Campus Hazing Act amends section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act, otherwise known as the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act). This Act requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs to report hazing incidents in the Annual Security Report and on their Campus Hazing Transparency Report.
Investigation Process for Students and Student Organizations
Allegations of hazing involving students or student organizations are investigated by the Office of Student Integrity under the University’s Student Code of Conduct procedures for behavioral misconduct. The Student Conduct Administrator conducts an initial review and may impose temporary protective measures. The respondent (student or student organization) receives written notice of the allegations and an opportunity for a preliminary disciplinary meeting. A prompt, impartial investigation follows, including interviews and evidence review. The case may resolve informally if responsibility is accepted, or it proceeds to a formal hearing before an Administrative Hearing Officer or Student Conduct Panel using the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard. A written decision outlines the outcome and sanctions; respondents have appeal rights for suspension or expulsion. Organizational findings are published in FVSU’s public Campus Hazing Transparency Report. For full details see: FVSU Hazing Policy and Student Code of Conduct.
Investigation Process for Faculty and Staff
Allegations of hazing involving faculty are referred to the Provost (or designee), while allegations involving staff are referred to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources (or designee). These cases are investigated under the University’s standard employee misconduct procedures (Human Resources Policies for staff and Faculty Handbook/USG Board of Regents policies for faculty). The process includes an initial review of the report, a fact-finding investigation with interviews and evidence collection, an opportunity for the employee to respond, a determination of whether a violation occurred, and appropriate disciplinary action if substantiated (ranging from a written warning to termination of employment). All employees must cooperate fully with any investigation, and retaliation against reporters or participants is strictly prohibited. Faculty and staff cases are handled separately from the student conduct process through the Office of Student Integrity.
Campus Hazing Transparency & Max Gruver Report
As part of the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) and the Max Gruver Act, FVSU will create and maintain a report of the summarized findings concerning any student/school organization to be found in violation of the FVSU Hazing Policy.
Reports will contain the following information:
Findings of any person or student organization found to have violated the University’s Hazing Policy;
Criminal convictions for hazing, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 16- 5-61; and
Other criminal convictions arising from any incident of hazing.
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 the report shall not include or otherwise reveal any personally identifiable information. Hazing related violations will be maintained for five (5) years. This report will be updated no less than two times each year and within 15 days of any final adjudication of hazing violations.
Fort Valley State University also publishes annual hazing statistics in its Clery Act Annual Security Report. Those statistics count every report made to campus police, campus security staff, or other school officials who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities (such as housing, student discipline, or campus judicial proceedings), as well as reports made to local law enforcement, when the incident occurred within the institution’s Clery Geography (on campus, public property immediately adjacent to campus, and other locations the institution owns or controls). View the latest report at here.
This Hazing Transparency and Max Gruver Report lists only official findings of responsibility, adjudications, and related criminal convictions involving student or school organizations. Because the two reports measure different things, the numbers will not match. The Annual Security Report provides a broad statistical picture of reported incidents; this report shows cases that resulted in formal findings so the public can see how the institution holds organizations accountable.
Hazing Transparency Report