Hazing Policy and Transparency Report

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), signed into law on December 23, 2024, amends section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act, otherwise known as the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act).  In accordance with the SCHA, the Clery Act, and NY anti-hazing laws, the University establishes the following Hazing Policy:

Monroe University is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members of its community. Hazing in any form is contrary to the University's values and Monroe prohibits students, employees, officers, contractors, and volunteers from engaging, or attempting to engage in Hazing. In accordance with the federal definition of hazing under the Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024, the University defines Hazing as: 

1. 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—

   A. is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization and

   B. 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 –

   • whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
   • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
   • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
   • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
   • any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
   • any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
   • 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.
2. Hazing also involves any other activity not addressed by (1) of this definition that is expected of someone joining or participating in a student organization that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.

For purposes of the University’s Hazing policy, the phrase “student organization” means “an organization at Monroe University (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government or any other student organization affiliated with the University) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the University.” While student organizations that are not recognized or established by the University are not subject to the University’s disciplinary jurisdiction, individuals who engage in violations of the Code of Conduct outlined in the University’s Hazing policy will be held accountable regardless of whether the student organization in which the Hazing activities occurred is recognized or established by the institution. 

Any student organization recognized or established by the University that is found to be responsible for violating the University’s Hazing policy will be recorded in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report. However, all reports of hazing involving student organizations that occur in the University’s Clery Geography will be included in the crime statistics regardless of whether the organization is established or recognized by the institution.  

The University 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. For example, affinity groups or position groups within an athletic team that meet the definition of student organization may be held accountable for Hazing in lieu of the entire athletic team.

While each report will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, the University generally considers the following non-exhaustive criteria when determining whether conduct might reasonably be associated with a student organization: 

• Whether the alleged incident occurred at or in connection with an organization-sponsored event or activity or at an event or activity 
• Whether the alleged incident involved a significant number of members;
• Whether the organization’s leaders and/or members are alleged to have encouraged, consented, or failed to stop the alleged behavior;
• The affiliations and alleged involvement of individuals, including alums, in the incident; and
• Whether actions or lack of actions by the student organization contributed to the incident.

Purpose of Report: This report summarizes findings concerning any student organization established or recognized by Monroe University that has been found to be in violation of the Institution’s Hazing policy.

Transparency Report Last Updated:  January 13, 2026*:

*No student organizations have been found in violation of the University's Hazing Policy since July 1, 2025.

NOTE: 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. 

Notice of Availability of Statistics on Hazing: The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety including topics such as crime prevention, the institution’s police/public safety law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, fire safety policies and procedures (for the New Rochelle campus only), disciplinary procedures, protocols for the immediate notification of students and staff upon confirmation of a significant emergency on campus, Hazing policies and programming, and other matters of importance related to security and safety. The report includes statistics for the most recent three-year period of reported crimes that have occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Monroe University or its affiliates; and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. 

Similarly, the report contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility on the New Rochelle campus during the three most recent calendar years. The Fire Safety Report section does not apply to the Bronx or St. Lucia Campuses, as those campuses do not have on-campus student housing facilities. See the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report for more information. You can obtain a paper copy of this report by contacting Christopher E. Barto, the Vice President for Compliance and Government Relations at 914-740-6590 or request that a paper copy be mailed to you by emailing cbarto@monroeu.edu.

Reporting Statistics: Annually, Monroe University will compile statistics for incidents of Hazing reportedly occurring on or within the University’s Clery Geography that were reported to a Campus Security Authority or local law enforcement agency. 

• Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Beginning with the 2025 calendar year, hazing statistics for the three most recent calendar years for which data are available will be disclosed in Monroe University’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. 
• Reporting to the U.S. Department of Education. The University will disclose Hazing statistics in the data reported to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) via the annual Campus Safety and Security Survey, no later than the date specified annually by ED. 
• Student Organization for Statistical Disclosure Purposes means “an organization at Monroe University (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government or any other student organization affiliated with the University) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the University.” 

Such Hazing statistics will be compiled using the Federal definition of Hazing, as listed in the Monroe Hazing Policy Statements above.

The Campus Hazing Transparency Report will include a summary of findings concerning any student organization recognized, registered or established by the institution that has been found to be in violation of the University’s Hazing policy.

Incidents of Hazing should be reported to the Department of Public Safety and/or the Office of Student Affairs/Dean of Student (New Rochelle campus) or Office of Student Services (Bronx campus) respectively as follows:

Department of Public Safety – New Rochelle Campus
Paula Green  
Director of Public Safety  
Allison Hall – 1st Floor  
368 Main Street  
New Rochelle, NY 10801  
Office:  914-740-6612 or 914-740-6854  
pgreen@monroeu.edu

Department of Public Safety – Bronx Campus
Tomas Diaz
Assistant Director of Public Safety
King Hall  
2501 Jerome Avenue – 1st Floor  
Bronx, NY 10468
Office:  646.393.8495
tdiaz@monroeu.edu

Alex Canals 
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students (NR Campus) 
Main Hall – 1st Floor 
434 Main Street 
New Rochelle, NY 10801 
Office:  914-740-6819 
acanals@monroeu.edu

Ted Goldstein 
Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx Campus) 
King Hall 
2501 Jerome Avenue – 1st Floor 
Bronx, NY 10468 
Office:  646.393.8304 
tgoldstein@monroeu.edu

Students and employees of the St. Lucia campus can report incidents to either the Bronx or the New Rochelle campus contacts.

Any incident involving an in-progress crime or emergency should be reported immediately to the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction by dialing 911.  

Reports can be made in person, by phone or by email using the contact information above.  At this time, Monroe does not have a self-reporting or anonymous reporting mechanism for individuals to report hazing. 

Upon receipt of a report alleging Hazing, the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (New Rochelle campus) or the Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx campus), or designee, will review the report and determine if the alleged behavior, as described in the report, would constitute Hazing as defined by the University. The Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (New Rochelle campus) or the Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx campus), or designee, will also determine which University official(s) or office(s) have jurisdiction over the respondent(s). As it relates to the University’s Hazing policy, the term “respondent” refers to a student, a recognized or registered student organization, or an employee who is alleged to have engaged in Hazing.

The Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (New Rochelle campus) or the Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx campus), or designee, is empowered to take reasonable steps to obtain additional information that may be necessary to determine if a policy violation has been alleged or to determine if an investigation is warranted. The Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (New Rochelle campus) or the Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx campus) may consult with applicable University officials when determining which individual(s) or office(s) have jurisdiction over the respondent(s). When determining jurisdiction, the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (New Rochelle campus) or the Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx campus), or designee, will consider:

• the nature of the alleged conduct,
• the circumstances of the report, and
• whether the respondent is a person or student organization subject to the University’s Code of Conduct standards.

These factors will also inform whether the procedures outlined in the Student Code of Conduct will be utilized to resolve the alleged misconduct. Allegations of Hazing involving a student or a student organization that is officially recognized by, or registered with, the University will be resolved using the procedures outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Allegations involving other respondents will be resolved using the policies and procedures applicable to the respondent’s status.

Interim Action
In response to the report, the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (New Rochelle campus) or the Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx campus) or designee, may impose an interim administrative action on a respondent prior to the resolution when a threat of imminent harm to persons or property exists, and/or there is potential for significant disruption to the community that exists during the course of investigation. If the respondent is an employee, the applicable University official(s) may impose interim administrative action consistent with the policies and procedures applicable to the employee.

Interim action is not a sanction. It is taken in an effort to protect the safety and well-being of individuals and the University community. Interim administrative action is preliminary in nature; it is in effect only until there is a resolution of the matter. The respondent may challenge the interim action in writing to the next level of conduct authority within five (5) days of the imposition of the interim action. The interim action will be in effect during the challenge.

Investigation
If an investigation is warranted, the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (New Rochelle campus) or the Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx campus) or designee, shall appoint one or more investigators to conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation. External investigators may be appointed at the discretion of the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (New Rochelle campus) or the Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx campus).  Reports of alleged Hazing that also allege violations of the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy will be coordinated between the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (New Rochelle campus) or the Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx campus), or designee), and the Title IX Administrator to determine the appropriate investigation and/or resolution procedures.

The respondent (typically the president for a registered/recognized student organization, or its equivalent for an established organization) will be sent a written notice of the allegations by way of their University supplied e-mail account. If the student organization has a national or oversight entity, that entity may be apprised of the University’s investigation at the discretion of the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (New Rochelle campus) or the Associate Vice President of Student Services (Bronx campus). The national or oversight entity cannot speak on behalf of or represent the student organization.

Reasonable efforts will be made to complete the investigation in a timely manner. Typically, the University will aim to complete an investigation into allegations of Hazing within 45 business days of providing written notice of the investigation to the respondent, though investigations may extend beyond 45 business days as circumstances require.

During the investigation, the respondent will be provided with an opportunity to: provide information through an in person or virtual interview, submit a written account, provide the names of incident witnesses for possible interviews with the investigator(s), provide witness statements, and provide any documentation that may be relevant to the facts of the allegations. However, the investigator(s) may consider information from any sources the investigator(s) deem relevant and credible. The investigator(s) will make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant supporting documentation related to the allegations from other University official(s) or available resources.

Upon completion of the investigation, the investigator(s) will prepare an investigation report. The investigation report will summarize the information gathered and include detailed findings-of-fact regarding the behaviors in question.

The investigator(s) will submit an investigation report to the appropriate University official(s) with jurisdiction over the respondent(s). The applicable official(s) will determine whether the respondent(s) violated the University’s Hazing policy using the resolution procedures applicable to the respondent(s). If the respondent(s) are found to have violated the University’s Hazing policy, the applicable official(s) will impose appropriate sanctions.  

All respondents will be informed, in writing, of the University’s findings and any sanctions imposed. Any opportunity for the respondent to appeal will follow the relevant policies and procedures applicable to the respondent.

Respondents who violate the University’s Hazing policy will be subject to conduct sanctions, which may include probation, loss of privileges, loss of recognized/registered status, mandatory training or education, suspension, expulsion, administrative leave, or termination. Respondents can also face sanctions under other University policies as well as criminal or civil penalties imposed under applicable law.

For any Hazing incidents reported to have occurred at the St. Lucia Campus, depending where the incident was reported (The Bronx or New Rochelle), will determine the process followed. 

In addition to the University’s Hazing policy, members of the campus community should be aware of applicable jurisdictional laws pertaining to Hazing.

Local Laws
There are no applicable local laws relating to Hazing in the University’s jurisdiction.

NY State Law
New York Anti-Hazing Law:

Penal Law § 120.16 Hazing in the first degree.
A person is guilty of hazing in the first degree when, in the course of another person’s initiation into or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury.

Hazing in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.

Penal Law § 120.17 Hazing in the second degree.
A person is guilty of hazing in the second degree when, in the course of another person’s initiation or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person.

Hazing in the second degree is a violation.

St. Lucia does not have applicable laws relating to Hazing in the University’s jurisdiction.

Tribal Laws
There are no applicable Tribal laws relating to Hazing in the University’s jurisdiction. 
 

The University provides Hazing prevention and awareness education that is informed by research, campus-wide in scope, and designed to reach all students, staff, and faculty. Programs address various topics, including:

• the University’s definition of Hazing, including a clear statement that the University prohibits Hazing;
• the definition of Student Organization, as it applies to the University’s Hazing policy;
• how to report Hazing; 
• the process the University will use to investigate reports of Hazing;
• information on applicable local, State, and Tribal laws regarding Hazing; and 
• primary prevention strategies intended to stop Hazing before it occurs (including programs for student organization leaders, advisors, student athletes, and coaches that emphasize healthy group dynamics and awareness of hazing warning signs).

Monroe is developing these programs as part of the University’s efforts to establish a comprehensive strategy to prevent incidents of Hazing before they occur. These programs are intended to also raise awareness about the University’s Campus Hazing Transparency Report that summarizes findings concerning student organizations established or recognized by the University that have been found responsible for violating the University’s Hazing policy.  

Specifically, the University provides Hazing prevention and awareness programs to students via our education and awareness online learning portal from Vector Solutions with some content specifically for student athletes.

Additionally, the University provides Hazing prevention and awareness programs to employees via our education and awareness online learning portal from Vector Solutions. Monroe will develop programs as well for student organization advisors, coaches, and athletic administrators.