Hazing Prevention and Reporting
In accordance with federal and state law, hazing is strictly prohibited in all student organizations and activities. Hazing is defined as "any intentional, knowing, or reckless action" that endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission, or affiliation with a student group. Students are encouraged to promptly report suspected hazing to their college’s Office of Student Life or by using the Non-Academic Misconduct Form in ACES under Student Forms. Reports are confidential, and all allegations will be addressed promptly.
For full details, definitions, reporting processes, and District procedures, review Board Procedure F.4.2.3 .
The Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR) is not currently available because the Alamo Colleges District had zero hazing incidents this year. The CHTR will be updated and posted semi-annually, as required by law.
Hazing may be summarized as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student even if that student consents, for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization with as few as two members and whether or not recognized, if the act involves any type of:
- Physical harm or brutality (ex: hitting, striking, branding, shocking, placing harmful substances on someone)
- Stress or unreasonable risk of harm (ex: sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement, extreme calisthenics, sexual acts)
- Forced or dangerous consumption (ex: food, alcohol, drugs, or other substances that that adversely affects mental or physical health or safety)
- Words or conduct which would induce a reasonable fear of bodily harm
- Violation or inducement of another person to violate the law
Please read the detailed procedure stating the complete definitions under Texas and federal law.
A person can commit a hazing offense by:
- Engaging in hazing
- Soliciting, directing, encouraging, aiding, or attempting to aid hazing
- Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly allowing hazing to occur
- Failing to report in writing firsthand knowledge that hazing is planned or has occurred
Hazing can be a criminal offense for individuals and organizations. Failure to report hazing:
Individual:
- Up to a $2,000 fine, and/or up to 180 days in jail
- Penalties for other individual hazing offenses vary according to the severity of the injury that results; they range from a fine of no more than $2,000 and/or no more than 180 days in jail county jail to a state jail term between 180 days and two years and a fine of no more than $10,000
Organizations:
- Fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000
- If hazing causes injury/property loss, the fine can be at least $5,000 or more than double the amount of the loss/expenses caused
State law grants immunity from civil or criminal liability to any person who reports a specific hazing event and immunizes that person from prosecution in any judicial proceeding resulting from that report.
If you become aware of hazing that is planned or has occurred, you must promptly report it to your college's Office of Student Life.
For full details, definitions, reporting processes, and District procedures, review: F.04.02.03 Hazing Definition, Prohibition and Reporting Procedure
Please note: The Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR) is not currently available because the District had zero hazing incidents this year. The CHTR will be updated and posted semi-annually, as required by law.
For questions about hazing prevention and reporting, please contact Director of Student Life Dr. Jacob-Aiden Martinez at jmartinez932@alamo.edu.