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Effective June 23, 2025

I. Policy Statement

The University of Michigan, comprised of the Ann Arbor campus, the University of Michigan-Dearborn, the University of Michigan-Flint, and Michigan Medicine (collectively the “University”) is committed to creating and maintaining a safe campus community that is . 

The University of Michigan Policy Against Hazing (“Policy”) prohibits hazing as defined in Section III below. Hazing practices are potentially hazardous to life and limb and may place their victims at risk of physical and/or psychological injury. Hazing is inconsistent with the University’s values, is strictly prohibited, and will not be tolerated within any campus organization, athletic program, student group, or other University-affiliated activities as requirements for membership, advancement, or continued good standing in organizations and/or in activities as otherwise defined below. It is the responsibility of every member of the University Community to foster an environment free of hazing. All members of the University Community are encouraged to take reasonable and prudent actions to prevent or stop such behavior. 

It is the of the University to comply with the Stop Campus Hazing Act (“SCHA”) and the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f), and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. § 668.46 (collectively, the “Clery Act”). The SCHA amended the Clery Act to include provisions related to hazing. The Clery Act is a federal law that requires Title IV federally subsidized institutions of higher education to disclose certain crime, fire, safety, and hazing information in publicly available documents. 

Nothing in this Policy is intended to or will be implemented in ways that unlawfully prohibit constitutionally protected speech and expression. 

II. Policy Scope and Applicability 

This Policy prohibits hazing, as defined below, by all students, student organizations, faculty, and staff. This Policy covers acts of hazing committed by or against students and employees when the hazing occurs: 

• On campus or other property owned or controlled by the University;
   
• In the cities of Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and/or Flint; 
   
• In the context of a University program or activity, including but not limited to, University-sponsored study abroad, research, field work, practicums, internship programs, online programs, or a program or activity conducted by the University for individuals who are neither University employees nor students (such as, e.g., sports or academic camps offered to K-12 students); or
   
• Anywhere—including remotely or online—if the conduct poses an obvious and serious threat of harm to any member(s) of the University community. 

This Policy is not intended to limit the application or enforcement of other University policies. Conduct that may violate this Policy may also be subject to investigation under other University policies and procedures (e.g., sexual misconduct, student conduct, etc.). Such investigations may proceed concurrently, and individuals may be held accountable under multiple policies simultaneously. The University reserves the right to pursue separate investigations as necessary, and the existence of this Policy does not preclude or restrict any investigation or action under other applicable University policies.

III. Hazing Defined

“Hazing” means 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:

1. Is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
    
2. Causes or creates a risk of physical or psychological injury above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the University or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team).

Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to, the following:

• whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing harmful substances 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.

Claims that the conduct or activity in question was not part of an official student organizational event or was not officially sanctioned or approved by the student organization does not constitute a defense to a charge of hazing. Hazing is prohibited regardless of its formal association with the student organization’s scheduled or recognized activities.

It is generally not a defense to hazing under this section that the individual against whom hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing, though the final determination is subject to the facts and circumstances of each situation. 

The University extends amnesty to encourage reporting of hazing, in that individuals will not be held responsible for violating this Policy if they have been subjected to hazing as part of the activity or event that they are reporting, regardless of whether they voluntarily participated in such hazing.

IV. Student Organization Defined 

For purposes of this Policy, the term “student organization,” as defined by the SCHA, means an organization, including but not limited to a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, social, professional, or pre-professional fraternity, sorority, band, or student government in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the University, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the University. 

V. Garret’s Law 

The University acknowledges the importance of Garret’s Law (Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.411t), which is aimed at combating hazing in educational institutions. Garret’s Law, named after Garret Drogosch, who suffered serious injuries due to hazing activities, prohibits hazing activities at educational institutions that result in injury or death. Garret’s Law emphasizes that hazing is a criminal offense and outlines severe penalties for individuals found responsible for engaging in such practices. The definition of hazing in Garret’s Law is substantially similar to the University’s definition of hazing, although the University’s definition is broader in a few respects to align with the SCHA’s definition of hazing.

As part of the University’s commitment to a safe and respectful campus environment, the University complies with Garret’s Law, ensuring that all hazing-related incidents reported to the University, or of which the University otherwise becomes aware, are treated with the seriousness they deserve and that violators are subject to University disciplinary consequences.

Garret’s Law does not apply to an individual who experiences hazing, regardless of whether the individual voluntarily participated in such hazing. 

It is not a defense to a prosecution for a crime under this section that the individual against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing.

VI. Reporting Hazing

Creating and maintaining a safe campus community that is free from violence is the responsibility of every member of the community. Any individual is encouraged to report any information regarding alleged hazing, even if they do not know who allegedly committed the hazing.

The University can only act when it becomes aware of problems. Individuals also have the right to pursue a criminal remedy for hazing that is a crime in addition to or instead of proceeding under the Policy. 

Please make a report to the respective campus of the individuals involved, as outlined below:

(including Michigan Medicine)

Members of the University community will not retaliate against when reporting their good faith belief that this Policy has been violated, see .

A. CSA Reporting Obligations

All Campus Security Authorities (“CSAs”) are required to share details they receive about alleged hazing with their Clery Compliance Coordinator within 24 hours of receiving those details.

A CSA is any Division of Public Safety and Security (“DPSS”) personnel, including police and security officers who respond to University Clery geography; other individuals who have responsibility for campus security, but who do not work for DPSS or University of Michigan Police Department (“51��ƵPD”) (including contracted security providers); individuals or offices designated by the University as those to whom crimes should be reported; or officials who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities outside of the classroom. If a person is not sure whether they are a CSA, they should contact their campus Clery Compliance Coordinator. 

Reports can be made on each campus as follows: 

(including Michigan Medicine)

B. Reporting to Law Enforcement 

An individual who experiences, witnesses, or learns of possible criminal conduct should contact law enforcement directly by calling 911 for emergencies. 

Additional law enforcement reporting resources are available on each campus as follows:

(including Michigan Medicine)

Dearborn

C. Anonymous Reporting

Anyone who is not a CSA, including victims or witnesses, may report on a voluntary, confidential basis without disclosing their name by calling the Compliance Hotline at (866) 990-0111 or using the .

Depending on the level of information available about the incident and the individuals involved, the University’s ability to respond to an anonymous report may be limited. The University will, however, take whatever steps it deems appropriate and in the best interests of the overall University community, consistent with the information available. 

VII. Investigation

The University will handle all reports of hazing under this Policy to ensure prompt resolution and will assess whether each reported incident constitutes a Policy violation. Reports of hazing will be investigated by the following offices on each campus:

When the University receives a report of alleged conduct which, if true, could constitute hazing as defined in this Policy, then as soon as reasonably possible, the respective campus office as set forth above will: 

• Assess the nature and circumstances of the report, including whether the names and/or any other personally identifiable information for the complainant(s) and/or individuals reportedly subjected to hazing, the respondent(s), or any witnesses, and/or any other individual with knowledge of the reported incident is provided, to facilitate appropriate follow-up; 
   
• Assess the nature of the allegations to identify possible resolution options that may be available and/or to identify other offices that may be appropriate to respond to the report; and 
   
• Notify DPSS of the report if the conduct, as alleged, would constitute a crime. 

Once the respective campus office has performed an initial assessment of a report, it will determine whether an investigation is appropriate. If the report proceeds to an investigation, the individual(s) and/or student organization reported to have committed hazing, will receive notice of the allegations and will have an opportunity to be heard, including a hearing if suspension, expulsion, or termination of their affiliation with the University are potential outcomes, and credibility of the parties is material to whether a Policy violation occurred.

The relevant campus office will provide the individual(s) or student organization reported to have committed hazing and the individual who reportedly experienced hazing with the applicable procedures that will be used for any report that proceeds to an investigation. 

Individuals and/or student organizations found to be in violation of this Policy may be subject to University disciplinary action, including but not limited to, suspension, expulsion, and/or termination of their affiliation with the University.  

In addition to University sanctions, any hazing activity that violates local, State, Tribal, or Federal law may also result in criminal prosecution.

VIII. Prevention and Education

The University is committed to hazing prevention in student organizations through proactive education and awareness programs. It is the policy of the University to educate appropriate and relevant segments of the University on this Policy, including how to report allegations of hazing and how such allegations will be investigated, as well as the negative consequences of hazing, the importance of mutual respect, the promotion of healthy group dynamics and how to build group cohesion without hazing, skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and how to identify and stop hazing before it occurs. In addition, annual training for CSAs will include the requirements for reporting hazing within the University community.

By adhering to this Policy, we collectively work toward a University community where all individuals can learn, grow, and thrive in an environment free from harm and intimidation.

Additional information is available for each campus as follows:

• (including Michigan Medicine)
• Dearborn

Owner:  The Office of the President
Primary Contact:  Division of Public Safety and Security
Effective Date:  June 23, 2025
Review Date:  August 1, 2027