PROCEDURES FOR POLICY NO: 1-14
VCCS POLICY NO: N/A
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12/18/2025
REVISED DATE: 12/18/2025

  1. Purpose:

    To establish procedures for reporting and responding to allegations of hazing involving students, student organizations and other individuals associated with the College.

  2. Procedure and/or Process Definitions:

    Hazing: Consistent with the Code of Virginia § 18.2-56 and federal law under the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing or reckless act, committed by a person or persons against another person or persons, regardless of the willingness of such person or persons to participate that:

    1. Occurs on or off College property;

    2. Is committed in connection with initiation into, affiliation with or continued maintenance of membership in any Student Organization, or Student Organization with New Members; and

    3. That causes or creates a risk of physical bodily injury or psychological injury, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the College or organization. Examples of physical or psychological injury include, but are not limited to, mental or physical harassment, bodily harm, humiliation, fatigue, degradation, ridicule, shock or abuse.

    Advisor: An individual employed by the College, whether directly or by contract, who acts in an official capacity as a sponsor to, advisor to, coach of or supervisor of a student organization.

    Student: Individuals enrolled in at least one course during the current semester for credit or non-credit (workforce) or enrolled for at least one course in the upcoming semester at the college.

    Student Organization: As defined in the SCHA, an organization at the college (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the college, whether or not the organization is officially established or recognized by the institution.

    Student Organization with New Members: As defined in the Code of Virginia § 23.1-819, this is a student organization officially recognized by an institution of higher education structured in such a way that upon invitation for membership, individuals do not automatically become members of such organization and have a period of time between invitation for membership and being initiated into membership. “Student Organization with New Members" does not include any varsity intercollegiate or club athletic team.

  3. Procedures:

    1. Reporting and Disciplinary Procedures

      Acts of suspected hazing will be adjudicated through the Student Code of Conduct. The disciplinary procedures, including the reporting process, adjudication, and potential sanctions for violators can be found in the Student Code of Conduct here: Reynolds Policy 1-35, Student Conduct

      Pursuant to Adam's Law (Code of Virginia, § 23.1-820), "the institution's disciplinary process is not to be considered a substitute for the criminal legal process." Incidents of hazing should therefore also be reported to local or college law enforcement officials.

      In cases where hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, the matter will also be referred for investigation under the College's Title IX policy: Reynolds Policy 4-17, Title IX- Sexual Misconduct

      1. Immunity for Reporting Provision

        A bystander not involved in the hazing acts, who makes a good-faith report of an act of hazing in advance of or during an incident of hazing that causes injury or is likely to cause injury to a person will receive disciplinary immunity for personal consumption of drugs or alcohol related to the incident.

      2. Retaliation

        No person may intimidate, threaten, coerce, harass, discriminate, or take any other adverse action against any other person for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege, or because the person has made a report or filed a formal complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, live hearing, or any other process described in this or the related conduct policy. Action is generally deemed adverse if it would deter a reasonable person in the same circumstances from opposing practices prohibited by this policy. Retaliation may result in disciplinary or other action independent of the sanctions or interim measures imposed in response to the underlying allegations of violations of this policy.

      3. Disclosure and Required Reporting

        1. Required Elements of the Report

          For each incident involving a student organization for which a finding of responsibility is issued relating to a hazing violation, the Hazing Transparency Report must include but is not limited to:

          1. The name of such student or local organization;

          2. A general description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility, including:
            1. whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs,
            2. the findings of the institution, and
            3. any sanctions placed on the student organization by the institution, as applicable; and
          3. The dates on which:
            1. The incident was alleged to have occurred;
            2. The investigation into the incident was initiated by the institution or local law enforcement;
            3. The investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred by the institution or local law enforcement, and
            4. The institution provided notice to the student organization that the incident resulted in a hazing violation.

        2. Annual Security Report

          Hazing incidents will also be included in the Annual Security Report (ASR; H.R.5646) when:

          • reported by campus security authorities or to local police agencies;
          • the incident occurred within Clery Act geography; and
          • the incident meets the Clery Act definition of hazing.

        3. Disclosure Timeline Requirements

          The Hazing Transparency Report will be released at least 10 calendar days before the start of fall and spring academic semesters. Reports will be available for a minimum of 10 years on the college's website and student organizations and clubs page (or equivalent).

          Current reports can be found here: https://cm.maxient.com/chtr.php?JSargeantReynoldsCC

    2. Education and Prevention

      The college will provide at least one research-informed, hazing prevention and awareness program designed to reach students, staff, and faculty annually.

      Prevention efforts may include:

      • Orientation programs
      • Leadership workshops
      • Bystander intervention training
      • Awareness campaigns

      Additionally, in compliance with Virginia’s Adam’s Law (§ 23.1-820), “each current member, new member, and potential new member of each Student Organization with a New Member process must attend hazing prevention training that includes extensive, current, and in-person education about hazing, the dangers of hazing, including alcohol intoxication, and hazing laws and institution policies and information explaining that the institution's disciplinary process is not to be considered a substitute for the criminal legal process. If a Student Organization with New Members has an advisor, such advisor shall attend such hazing prevention training.”

    3. Policy Distribution

      This hazing policy will be made available on the college website. The college may also distribute this policy through other outlets, including but not limited to, the student handbook, student organization materials, or college catalog.

  4. Other Information:

    N/A