Organization Conduct

Student Organization Hazing Report- Fall 2022

Click here to review the latest student organization hazing report.

Incident & Crisis Response

In the event a member or chapter experience some level of crisis we encourage chapter leadership to follow any provided crisis response plan. Notification to their council advisor should be made at the earliest point possible. 

Crisis Response Resource

Understanding Conduct Concerns

Unfortunately on some limited occasions, student organization members may behave in ways that are not in alignment with the TTU Student Handbook and Code of Student Conduct as well as the organization's policies and stated values and purposes. 

Where does the Code of Student Conduct apply?

• Anytime you are on campus
• At any university-sponsored event
• Any event (regardless of location) when it affects a substantial number of students
• Any event (regardless of location) that presents a danger or threat to the health or safety of other students
• Any event (regardless of location) that infringes on the rights of other students
• Any event (regardless of location) that causes a significant disruption to the educational community or is detrimental to the educational mission of the University.

What constitutes an organization event?

When a violation occurs, both or either individuals and organizations can be held responsible. As a student organization, it is your responsibility to ensure all members are responsive to misconduct that occurs anywhere members are present. If a member violates University policy or local/state/federal law and the organization does not intervene and take corrective action, the organization is more likely to be found responsible for organization misconduct.

When determining if member misconduct is the responsibility of the student organization, the following items will be considered:

• How many students and how many members were involved? (no specific number constitutes an organization event)
• What is the context in which the behavior occurred?
• Does the behavior grow out of or is it directly related to the organization's formal or informal activities?
• Is the behavior reasonably considered acceptable as part of organization membership and involvement?
• Does the organization condone an atmosphere where the behavior is allowed to exist?
• When made aware of the behavior, does the organization and its member attempt to conceal it from authorities or does the organization take corrective action to indicate that the behavior is inconsistent with membership standards in the group?
• If the acts are those of a guest of an organization, does the organization indicate its disapproval and take corrective actions?
• How did the organization leadership, members, and advisors respond when made aware of the behavior?
• Did the organization honestly and ethically cooperate with school officials and/or law enforcement when investigating and responding to potential misconduct?

Inter/National Organization Policies & Standards

Student organizations are chartered or recognized by inter/national or regional organizations and must be in good standing with related policies and standards. Should an inter/national organization discontinue recognition for the group on our campus, we will suspend or terminate their organization registration and council membership. 

Reporting An Organization Concern

To submit a concern regarding a student organization or to file an allegation of misconduct against a student organization or its members, individuals (faculty, staff, students, organization members, parents, community members or other parties) may complete this online form. If the preference is to discuss a report in person or to discuss options related to a report, please contact the Fraternity & Sorority Life Staff, Office of Student Conduct, Student Resolution Center, Dean of Students, or Center for Campus Life.

Report a Concern or Violation

The form provided does allow for partial information and anonymous reporting. As much detail as possible is helpful when determining a course of action. Please feel free to upload any photos or documentation you may have. 

A complete description of organization conduct procedures. 

Organizational Self-Report

Student organization leaders also can a self-report organization or member behavior that may be considered violations of TTU policy. When an organization is able to quickly identify a concern, address it, and report it, it is less likely that the organization would be held responsible for behavior that may be a policy violation.

The self-report allows the University, in conjunction with the student organization to collect information, begin individual student conduct processes, and ensure that behavior has ceased and does not reoccur.

Self-Report vs. Complainant 

When incidents are unreported by organizations and instead come to the attention of the university via a complainant or third party, the options for resolution are more limited. Self-reporting allows the university to work collaboratively with the organization to address the situation and can allow for lower-levels of sanctioning for misconduct.

Pre-Report

Sometimes organization leaders may also become aware that organization or member activities may result in violations of policy but have not occurred yet. In these cases, the organization leadership is encouraged to work directly with FSL staff to intervene and address the concern. This type of pre-report has the highest likelihood of lowering the risk of potential conduct violations and sanctions for the organization.

Partnership in the Process

Following self-reports, Campus Life staff will contact the organization leadership to review the behavior that occurred and what corrective action was taken. Assuming that the action taken by the organization addressed the misbehavior, prevented its re-occurrence, and remedied any impact on members, then the self-report would be documented in the organization file without additional conduct procedures.

 

Example of a Self-Report Documentation Letter

Should additional information become available or other behaviors occur to indicate that the corrective action or the self-report was not an effective resolution to the behavior, then formal conduct procedures may occur.

Joint Interviews 

Anytime a fraternity or sorority enters into a form of an investigation following a third-party or self-report the chapter leadership, local advisor and national organization will all be notified. If a national organization wishes to hold its own investigation we offer the opportunity to collaborate at any point.  

Informal Resolution 

Upon review of the investigation report and the investigation process, the organization may have the opportunity to resolve the issue informally. There is no appeal of signed informal resolutions. Once completed, the informal resolution completes the conduct process.