Required Hazing Training for Students

The University of Central Oklahoma is taking new steps to prevent hazing and promote student safety following the recent enactment of the Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-173).

The law, signed on Dec. 23, 2024, requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal student aid programs to strengthen their anti-hazing policies, education, and reporting efforts.

Hazing is generally defined as any act that endangers the mental, emotional, or physical health of an individual as a condition of joining or maintaining membership in a group or organization. While it most commonly occurs within fraternities and sororities, hazing can take place in any student organization or team and is strictly prohibited at UCO.

Under the new federal mandate, UCO must adopt a policy outlining prevention and awareness programs related to hazing. The university’s Hazing Policy is available online, and prevention and awareness training can now be accessed through the UCO Learning Center.

The training is mandatory for all students, faculty, and staff and must be completed by Dec. 31, 2025.

In addition to educational programs, the law requires UCO to collect and publish statistics on hazing incidents. The university will also be required to maintain a public report summarizing findings about any student organization found in violation of hazing policies or the UCO Code of Student Conduct.

To increase transparency, UCO will now include hazing statistics in its Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which is published in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

These updates are part of a broader national effort to reduce hazing and hold organizations accountable for misconduct. The Stop Campus Hazing Act, passed with bipartisan support, aims to ensure students, families, and institutions have greater access to information about campus safety.

Students or staff with questions about UCO’s anti-hazing policy or reporting procedures can contact the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Resolution. More information about the Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024 is available online.