Hazing Policy
| Applies to: | Original Policy Date: | Date of Last Review: | Approved by: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students, Employees, Contracted Workers, Volunteers, Guests, Visitors or Organizations (including but not limited to student clubs, fraternities and sororities, athletic teams, and club sports teams) | June 2025 | August 6, 2025 | Dr. John Nicklow, President |
Policy Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to affirm Florida Institute of Technology’s (hereafter “University”) commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful campus environment, free from hazing in all forms. In alignment with local, state, and federal laws, the University strictly prohibits hazing and outlines its efforts to prevent, address, and respond to such conduct. To protect the well-being of all members of the University community and ensure compliance with applicable regulations, the University implements campus-wide, comprehensive, research-informed prevention initiatives. These include hazing prevention training provided through resources such as the Stop Campus Hazing course and additional training delivered through Workday Learning.
Policy Scope
In alignment with Florida Statute 1006.63 and federal regulations, including Public Law No: 118-173 (Jeanne Clery Act amendments), the University is committed to the active prevention of hazing through education, reporting, and transparent accountability.
This policy applies to all students, employees, contracted workers, volunteers, visitors, guests, and organizations, including but not limited to student clubs, fraternities and sororities, athletic teams, and club sports teams.
Policy Statement
The University strictly prohibits all forms of hazing in accordance with university values and applicable local, state, and federal laws. Hazing in any form—regardless of intent, consent, or willingness to participate —is inconsistent with the educational mission of the university and poses a serious risk to the health and well-being of our students and campus community. This policy encompasses both individual and group behavior.
Policy Owner
Human Resources and Student Affairs
Definitions
Contractor: Third-party individual or company hired by the university to perform specific tasks or provide services within the university’s facilities or grounds.
Contingent Worker: Someone who provides services to an organization on a non-permanent basis.
Employees: Any individual employed by the University including administrators, faculty, and staff.
Guests/Visitors: Any person who is present on University property, visiting for any period of time, and does not have a contractual agreement with the university.
Incident: Refers to any act, event, or occurrence.
Organization: Any group in which two or more members are registered whether or not they are recognized or established by Florida Tech as a student organization, athletic team, club, sports team, or a non-recognized group of students that participates in university-related activities.
Student: Any individual admitted, enrolled, or registered for study at Florida Tech. Participants in resident non-student, camp, high school bridge/ extension/partner/dual-enrollment, and continuing education programs operating on University property under a contractual relationship with University are also included in this definition.
University: The Florida Institute of Technology or Florida Tech.
Vendor: An individual or business entity that provides goods or services to the university or its community members.
Volunteer: Any individual who freely offers their services to the University.
Regulations
Hazing is any activity that jeopardizes an individual’s physical or mental well-being through an intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by one or more persons. It may occur as part of the individual’s admission into, affiliation with, continuation in, or advancement within any organization (including, but not limited to, clubs, sports teams, athletic teams, Student Government, fraternities, or sororities), regardless of whether the organization is recognized, unrecognized, or affiliated with the University. It includes, but is not limited to:
- Pressuring someone to break the local, State, Tribal, or Federal law or engage in unsafe behavior;
- Physical harm, including beating, branding, excessive fatigue, exposure to dangerous conditions, forced drinking, drugs, or other mild-altering substances;
- Emotional harm, such as extreme embarrassment, isolation, or sleep deprivation;
- Any act that intimidates, harasses, or causes violence which endangers, causes, or creates a risk to another person(s) dignity, safety, or mental health, above the reasonable risk encountered during participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury.
Consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if an individual agrees to participate, hazing is considered a coerced or forced activity. Complicity in hazing includes knowingly permitting, encouraging, or failing to take reasonable steps to stop hazing behavior. Passive bystander behavior—such as witnessing hazing without intervening—may also constitute a violation of this policy. However, activities such as legitimate athletic events, conditioning, training, or authorized competitions that serve a lawful and reasonable purpose are not considered hazing under the statute.
For more information regarding hazing and Section 1006.63 of the Florida statutes, please visit: https://www.flsenate.gov/statutes.
Prohibited Behaviors
What’s Not Allowed
No university-affiliated individual or organization may engage in hazing, whether on, off campus, or through cyber platforms. Any form of hazing can lead to disciplinary actions and legal consequences. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Forced or coerced activities that create excessive fatigue;
- Forced exclusion from social contact;
- activities that may cause physical or psychological distress, such as kidnapping scenarios, morally questionable tasks, treasure or scavenger hunts, spinning wheels with assigned actions, or wearing apparel that is conspicuous or considered in poor taste;Causing an individual to engage in public stunts;
- Buffoonery, morally degrading or humiliating games or activities or late-night activities that interfere with academic endeavors.
Andrew’s Law (Amnesty)
A person may not be prosecuted, and a student may be protected from the university disciplinary process if the following is established:
- That he or she was present at an event where, as a result of hazing, a person appeared to be in need of immediate medical assistance.
- That he or she was the first person to call 911 or campus security to report the need for immediate medical assistance.
- That he or she provided his or her own name, the address where immediate medical assistance was needed, and a description of the medical issue to the 911 operator or campus security at the time of the call.
- That he or she remained at the scene with the person in need of immediate medical assistance until such medical assistance, law enforcement, or campus security arrived and that he or she cooperated with such personnel on the scene.
A person may be immune from prosecution under this section if the person establishes that, before medical assistance, law enforcement, or campus security arrived on the scene of a hazing event, the person rendered aid to the hazing victim. For purposes of this subsection, “aid” includes, but is not be limited to, rendering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the victim, clearing an airway for the victim to breathe, using a defibrillator to assist the victim, or rendering any other assistance to the victim which the person intended in good faith to stabilize or improve the victim’s condition while waiting for medical assistance, law enforcement, or campus security to arrive.
Reporting Procedures and Contact Resources
We encourage all members of the community to report hazing immediately. Hazing can be reported anonymously to the University. However, the University may not be able to complete its investigation without being able to speak to the person who made the report.
To initiate an investigation, please be clear, specific, and include actionable information. Specifically, include the following details in your report:
- Who was involved?
- What happened?
- When did it occur?
- Where did it happen?
- How did you become aware?
Reports can be made to:
Local Law Enforcement:
- Emergencies: 911
- Non-Emergencies
- Melbourne Police Department: (321)-608-6731
- Palm Bay Police Department: (321)-952-3456
- Brevard Sheriff: (321)-264-5201
Campus Security:
- Emergencies (321) 674-8111
- Non-emergencies (321) 674-8112
- Location: Campus Security and Welcome Center
3126 Panther Place, Melbourne FL 32901
Office of Student Affairs
- Phone: (321) 674-8080
- Location: Second Floor of the Denius Student Center, suite 210
- Online reporting form
Dean of Students Office
- Phone: (321) 674-6520
- Location: Second Floor of the Denius Student Center
Human Resources
- Phone: (321)-674-8100
- Location: R.A. Work Building #408
Procedures/ Sanctions
Procedures and Investigations
- The division of Student Affairs or designee shall coordinate the investigation of all hazing allegations. When appropriate, other University offices may handle certain aspects of the University's response.
- A hazing allegation involving students or student led organizations will be investigated and resolved in keeping with the Student Handbook. Hazing allegations involving employees, contractors, vendors, volunteers, or guests will be investigated and resolved with Human Resources. However, any hazing allegation that also constitutes a possible violation of the University Title IX policy may be addressed under the University Title IX policy.
- The University may charge an individual or an organization with a violation of this Hazing Policy via the Student Handbook and/ or any other university rules, regulations, or policies.
- All decisions and determinations of hazing are made solely at the discretion of the University.
- The University will determine if interim measures (e.g., persona non grata, cease and desist, interim suspension, or no contact orders) are needed to protect the safety and/or well-being of others.
Enforcement
Hazing is a violation of the University's policy and, therefore, is subject to the full range of disciplinary sanctions outlined in the Student Handbook or, when applicable, in accordance with Human Resources policies. Disciplinary sanctions may be imposed on individuals and/ or organizations found responsible for violating this policy by the Dean of Students' office or another appropriate administrative office (e.g., Human Resources or Athletics). In addition, other educational activities or remedial activities may be required as conditions of the sanction.
When applicable, the Dean of Students (or designee) will coordinate with the relevant supervisors or administrators to ensure the appropriate implementation of sanctions.
Disciplinary sanctions may be appealed as outlined in the Student Handbook or through Human Resources. All findings, determinations of hazing, and disciplinary sanctions are made solely at the discretion of Florida Institute of Technology.
Prevention and Education
- The University is committed to preventing hazing through proactive, research-informed education and awareness efforts. The University provides campus-wide access to hazing prevention training for all students, staff, and faculty. Students have access to online hazing prevention education through Stop Campus Hazing, which includes information on hazing definitions, reporting, and prevention strategies. Employees have access to hazing prevention training via Workday Learning, covering how to identify, prevent, and respond to hazing. The University also offers ongoing programming through campus platforms such as Engage, designed to educate and inform the campus community.
Transparency and Accountability
The University will publish a bi-annual Hazing Transparency Report detailing violations, outcomes, and the university’s ongoing prevention efforts on the Crime Awareness and Clery Act website.
This policy is reviewed bi-annually to stay current with laws and best practices.