A. POLICY STATEMENT
Northampton Community College (NCC) is first and foremost an educational institution, and the health and safety of our faculty, staff and students is paramount. NCC does not tolerate Hazing in any form and is prohibited for any college recognized or sanctioned student organization, student, or other person associated with an organization operating under the sanction of or recognized by Northampton Community College. Organizations or individuals found responsible for hazing under this Policy, whether occurring on or off campus, may be subject to disciplinary action by the college, and also may face criminal charges under applicable law, including Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
This Policy includes excerpts from both the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R. 5646), as well as Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law (18 Pa. C.S. § 2801, et seq), both of which are applicable to the College and this Policy. Faculty, staff and students to which this Policy applies are strongly encouraged to read both in their entirety.
B. DEFINITIONS
Definitions as Defined by the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R. 5646)
The following definition shall be used for purposes of including Hazing incidents in the crime statistics the College reports in the Annual Security Report (as required by 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1)(F)(iv)) and to the U.S. Department of Education (as required by 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(5)).
Hazing is defined as 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 with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
(II) causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (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 criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.
Student Organization is an organization at an Institution (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 the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution. It should be noted that this definition shall be used specifically for purposes of including Hazing incidents in the crime statistics the College reports in the Annual Security Report (as required by 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1)(F)(iv)) and to the U.S. Department of Education (as required by 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(5)), as student organizations that are not recognized or established by NCC are not subject to the College’s disciplinary authority. However, individuals who engage in violations of the standards of conduct outlined in this Hazing policy will be held accountable regardless of whether the student organization in which the Hazing activities occurred is recognized by, registered with, or established by the institution
Definitions set forth by the Pennsylvania Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law, 18 Pa. C.S. §2801.
Hazing: A person commits the offense of hazing if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a minor or student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a minor or student's membership or status in an organization, causes, coerces or forces a minor or student to do any of the items listed below in (1)-(6). Hazing shall NOT include reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement or military training, contests, competitions or events.
1. Violate Federal or State criminal law;
2. Consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the minor or student to a risk of emotional or physical harm;
3. Endure brutality of a physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure to the elements;
4. Endure brutality of a mental nature, including activity adversely affecting the mental health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment;
5. Endure brutality of a sexual nature;
6. Endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the minor or student.
Aggravated Hazing: A person commits the offense of aggravated hazing if the person commits a violation of Hazing that results in serious bodily injury or death to the minor or student; and
1. The person acts with reckless indifference to the health and safety of the minor or student; or
2. The person causes, coerces, or forces the consumption of an alcoholic liquid or drug by the minor or student.
Organizational Hazing: An organization commits the offense of Organizational Hazing if the organization intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly promotes or facilitates a violation of Hazing or Aggravated Hazing.
C. APPLICATION
This policy applies only to student organizations that are recognized by, registered with, or established by the College shall be subject to NCC’s disciplinary authority. NCC reserves the right to hold a sub-group of an organization accountable for Hazing policy violations, rather than the entire student organization, when circumstances reasonably indicate a sub-group, not the entire student organization, committed a Hazing policy violation. While student organizations that are not recognized or established by NCC are not subject to the College’s disciplinary authority, individuals who engage in violations of the standards of conduct outlined in this Hazing policy will be held accountable regardless of whether the student organization in which the Hazing activities occurred is recognized by, registered with, or established by the institution. While not an exhaustive list, this policy applies to the following:
- Students of the College,
- Minors participating in College-sponsored youth programs.
- Any organization operating under the sanction of, or recognized as, an organization by the College, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Recognized student organizations of the college.
- Affiliate recognized student organizations.
- Any sports team recognized, established or sponsored by the college.
- Band, choral or other groups affiliated with a College or Campus, whether or not separately recognized as a Student Organization. College operated youth programs, activities and services and youth service organizations.
- Any other organization, planning team, committee, or group affiliated with College departments or offices.
- Other persons associated with a College sanctioned or recognized organization, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Members or participants in the organization
- Advisors (including faculty/staff of the College who serve in this capacity)
- Alumni of the organization or the College
- College faculty, staff, and volunteers (including coaches)
- Booster Clubs
- Representatives of external organizations having an association with or interest in College sanctioned or recognized organizations or activities (e.g., national fraternity or sorority, USA Fencing club, third party youth programming)
- This Policy applies to any acts of hazing occurring on or off campus.
D. DUTY TO REPORT
NCC encourages all members of the community who believe that they have witnessed, experienced, or are aware of conduct that constitutes hazing in violation of this Policy to report the violation in one of the following ways:
For a complaint against a student organization(s) or a specific student(s):
- Directly to the Department of Public Safety either in person at the Public Safety office, by calling #610-861-5588, or by emailing publicsafety@northampton.edu ;
- Directly to the Office of Student Affairs either in person at College Center Suite 200, or by calling #610-332-6075;
- Directly to the office of the Title IX Coordinator either in person at Kapp Hall Room 102.1, or by calling #570-369-1960;
- By filing a report online through NCC’s See It, Report It, Stop It website.
For a complaint against a staff member(s):
- Directly to the Department of Public Safety either in person at the Public Safety office, by calling #610-861-5588, or by emailing publicsafety@northampton.edu ;
- Directly to the Office of Human Resources either in person at Kopecek Hall Room 230;
- Directly to the office of the Title IX Coordinator either in person at Kapp Hall Room 102.1, or by calling #570-369-1960;
- By filing a report online through NCC’s See It, Report It, Stop It website.
This Policy prohibits retaliation against, and intimidation or harassment of, anyone who reports or is believed to have reported hazing, or other prohibited conduct, or who is a witness or otherwise involved in a hazing violation. Such retaliation, intimidation, or harassment is considered a serious violation of this Policy, regardless of whether a hazing violation is upheld. Encouraging others to retaliate is also prohibited. Complaints of retaliation should be filed in the same manner as listed above.
E. INVESTIGATION, ENFORCEMENT & SANCTIONS
All reports of incidents of hazing will be investigated thoroughly, either individually or jointly, by any one of the following departments or offices:
- Department of Public Safety
- Office of Student Affairs
- Office of Human Resources
- Title IX Coordintor, Deputy Coordinator or Investigators
The process will be as follows:
If the accused is a student:
- Initial report will be investigated by either the Associate Dean of Students (Bethlehem) or Associate Dean of Student Services (Pocono), with one of three outcomes:
a. Dismiss the charge
b. Impose a disciplinary sanction
c. Refer the case to the College Committee on Discipline - The accused will receive a written of:
a. Charges lodged against them,
b. Time and Place for all hearings,
c. Any disciplinary action that is to be imposed,
d. The student is entitled to assistance by an advisor, and
e. All hearings are closed unless the student requests an open hearing. - Anyone found in violation of the hazing policy, after notice and a hearing consistent with the College’s conduct policies, will be subject to disciplinary action. The severity of the sanctions will depend on the circumstances surrounding the violation. Disciplinary action by the College will be in addition to and separate from any penalties imposed by civil authorities for violations of state law. The College reserves the right to take interim measures to ensure the health and safety of its campus, students, employees, and community members.
a. The College shall provide a program for the enforcement of such rules and shall adopt appropriate penalties for violations of such rules to be administered by the Associate Vice Provost/Dean of Students or designee, with the final approval by the President.
b. Such penalties may include, the withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with the rules or pending payment of fines and the imposition of probation, suspension or dismissal.
c. In the case of an organization which authorizes hazing in blatant disregard of such rules, penalties may also include rescission of permission for that organization to operate on campus property or to otherwise operate under the sanction or recognition of the College.
d. All penalties imposed under the authority of this section shall be in addition to and separate from any penalty imposed for violation of any criminal laws of the Commonwealth or for violation of any other institutional rule to which the violator may be subject.
e. Rules adopted pursuant hereto shall apply to acts conducted on or off campus whenever such acts are deemed to constitute hazing. - Any individual found responsible for a violation of this policy may appeal the decision by submitting such request in writing to either the Associate Dean of Students (Bethlehem) or Associate Dean of Student Services (Pocono) within (5) days of notification of the disciplinary action.
If the accused is an employee:
- The initial complaint will be referred to the Department of Human Resources (HR)
- HR will define the scope and objective of the investigation, based on the complaint
- HR will establish a timeline and the specific rules or policies that have been violated (according to the complaint)
- Based on the nature of the complaint, HR will determine the investigation plan including gathering evidence (emails, videos, etc.), determining who should conduct the interviews and where they should be conducted
- HR will develop a list of questions to be used in the interview process
- The assigned investigator will interview the complainant, witnesses and the respondent and inform all who are interviewed that the information will be kept confidential to the extent possible
- The assigned investigator will document the interviews by taking notes. There may be a third party present to take notes during the interview
- The investigator will review all evidence gathered as well as the credibility of the sources before making a determination
- The investigator will summarize findings and make a determination and recommend corrective or disciplinary actions
- HR will communicate the findings to all parties and let them know the investigation is closed
- The Department of Human Resources will then implement corrective actions, and if necessary, follow up with complainant after an agreed upon period of time to check status.
F. REPORTING AND RECORDS
The anti-hazing policy shall be given to every College authorized or sanctioned organization and posted on the college’s website. The Office of Student Affairs shall maintain a record of all violations and will issue a Campus Hazing Transparency Report that complies with both the Federal Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act and the Pennsylvania Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. The report will be made publicly available on the college website here.
The following information will be made available in the report for each included incident:
- Name of student organization
- Campus
- General description of the violation
- Whether hazing involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs
- Date of:
- Incident
- Start of Investigation
- End of Investigation (determination of responsibility)
- Outcome notification to student organization
- Findings (rationale) for the determination of responsibility
- Sanctions Imposed
In addition to the Campus Hazing Transparency Report, the following information will also be located on the Hazing website:
- A statement notifying the public of the annual availability of Hazing statistics published in the College’s Annual Security Report. The statement will include the exact URL at which the Annual Security Report is posted. *20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(9)(D)(i)
- Information about the College’s policies relating to Hazing. *20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(9)(D)(ii)
- Information on applicable local, State, and Tribal laws regarding Hazing. *20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(9)(D)(ii)
The Transparency Report will be updated not less than 2 times each year for the period beginning on the date on which the Transparency Report was last published and ending on the date on which such update is submitted. *20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(9)(A)(iii)
All updates to the Transparency Report shall remain in the report published on the public website for no less than 5 calendar years following publication of such updates. *20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(9)(D)(iii)
G. EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND PREVENTION
Northampton Community College provides research informed, campus-wide hazing education, awareness, and prevention programs that include, but are not limited to the following:
- How to report incidents of hazing, the process for investigation and jurisdictional laws;
- Primary prevention strategies to stop hazing, such as:
- Bystander Intervention
- Ethical Leadership
- Strategies for building group cohesion
- Awareness seminars with student organization advisors and
- Awareness seminars with athletic coaching staff and student-
- Participation in National Hazing Prevention Week (September).
- Inclusion in new faculty/staff
- Policy posting on Canvas for students and
