Texas Tech University Response to Hazing

The Stop Campus Hazing Act was signed on December 23, 2024, and amended the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. It requires that each domestic institution of higher education that participates in federal financial assistance programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, must comply with certain policy, disclosure, and prevention requirements related to hazing involving student organizations.

For an exhaustive list of defined terms and information regarding reporting incidents of hazing, the investigation process for hazing, possible sanctions and remedies, non-retaliation, and non-interference with the investigation process, see Texas Tech University System Regulation 07.19 - Stop Campus Hazing Act Compliance.

The Stop Campus Hazing Act was signed on December 23, 2024 and required applicable institutions to begin counting hazing statistics in the 2025 calendar year and include those statistics in the 2026 ASR for the first time.

All Hazing statistics included in this report reflect hazing that was reported to the University that occurred within Clery geography. In Spring 2026, Texas Tech University initiated a third-party institutional review of its investigation and sanction process, which includes allegations of hazing.  For student organizations who have been found responsible for hazing in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act and the Stop Campus Hazing Act, please visit the Campus Hazing Transparency Report. For an inclusive list of all hazing incidents by registered student organizations at Texas Tech University, please see FSL’s Anti-Hazing Report. For more information about the Stop Campus Hazing Act, the Texas Tech Campus Hazing Transparency Report, or Texas Tech’s prevention and education efforts, refer to TTUS regulation 07.19. 

Based on policy, Hazing programming is researched-based and offered throughout the academic year to faculty, staff, and students. The University can request a training at any time by contacting either the Fraternity & Sorority Life or Student Life office to schedule a training or by signing into Cornerstone (online classes for the university community) and selecting the “Stop Campus Hazing Act” online class.  Incoming students are required to take an online Vector course regarding hazing at the beginning of their educational career at Texas Tech University. Registered student organizations receive hazing prevention and education at the beginning of the fall semester. 

Definitions

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

A report required to be published and updated twice per year if an institution has a finding of a hazing violation by an established or recognized student organization.

Campus Security Authority (CSA)

An individual or organization on campus who have responsibility under the Clery Act to report allegations of Clery Act crimes, including reports of Hazing.

Hazing

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—

• is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
• causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including—
  • whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance 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.

Hazing Statistics

Statistics concerning the occurrence on campus, in or on non-campus buildings or property, and on public property during the most recent calendar year, and during the 2 preceding calendar years for which data are available - of hazing incidents that were reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies.

Hearing Panel

A three-member panel that will be the decision-maker and render a determination regarding responsibility, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this regulation.

Interim Actions

The University may take immediate action to eliminate a hostile environment, prevent recurrence, and address any effects on the community prior to the initiation of the Investigation Process. Interim Action(s) including, but not limited to, Interim Suspension(s) are not sanctions. Interim Actions are preliminary in nature and remain in effect only until the Investigation Process has been completed.

Investigation Process

The process of addressing reports of Hazing before the imposition of any  disciplinary or other actions that are not Supportive Measures against a Student Organization. 

Informal Resolution

An alternative to the Investigation Process that may be offered and facilitated by the University following a report of Hazing and upon the voluntary, written consent of the parties and the University. 

Investigative Report

A report that summarizes the relevant evidence based upon the completion of a prehearing investigation conducted under the Investigation Process.

Investigator

A trained University staff member whose role is to conduct a thorough, reliable, and equitable investigation and compile the information gathered into an Investigative Report.

Prevention & Awareness Programs

Programs designed to educate students, faculty, and staff about the dangers of hazing and promote a culture of safety and accountability at each institution. Required prevention and awareness programs must be research informed, campus-wide, and designed to reach students, faculty, and staff.

Reporting Party

An individual or entity (in the case of the University) who reports an alleged violation of this regulation.

Student Organization

An organization at an institution of higher education (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 institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution. However, only Student Organizations that are recognized or established by the University shall be subject to the University's disciplinary authority.

Responsibilities of Texas Tech University

Pursuant to the Stop Campus Hazing Act, Texas Tech University will:

• Annually compile statistics for hazing incidents using the required Hazing definition
  • Disclose any that occur within Clery geography in the Annual Security Report
  • Include any that occur within Clery geography in the Crime Log
  • Submit any hazing incidents included in the Annual Security Report to the U.S. Department of Education via the annual Campus Safety and Security Survey
• Make prevention and awareness programs that are research-informed available to all faculty, staff, and students
• Publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report that summarizes the findings of Hazing that cause any Student Organization established or recognized by the University to be in violation of the policy in a prominent location on the public website and ensure that it is updated at least twice a year.

   

  • The Campus Hazing Transparency Report shall include, at a minimum, the following information for each Student Organization found to be in violation of the University’s Hazing policy: (a) the name of the Student Organization; (b) a general description of the violation; (c) whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs; (d) the findings of the institution; (e) any sanctions placed on the Student Organization by University; (f) the date on which the incident was alleged to have occurred; (g) the date on which the investigation was initiated; (h) the date on which the investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred; and (i) the date on which the University provided notice to the Student Organization that the incident resulted in a hazing violation.
  • The Campus Hazing Transparency Report shall not include any personally identifiable information, including any information that would reveal personally identifiable information, about any individual student in accordance with section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, or FERPA).
  • All updates to the Campus Hazing Transparency Report shall remain in the report published on the public website for no less than 5 calendar years following publication of such updates. (Each University shall maintain a copy of each updated Campus Hazing Transparency Report for no less than 7 calendar years following the publication of the Transparency Report, in accordance with applicable Federal record retention requirements.

Hazing Prevention and Awareness Programs

Each component shall make hazing prevention and awareness programs available to students, faculty, and staff. Primary prevention and awareness programs shall be provided for all incoming students and new Employees, ongoing education to both Employees and students, and emailing information regarding this regulation to students at the beginning of each academic semester. This regulation is published on the University’s website and information regarding this regulation and related policies is required in orientation materials for new students, faculty, and staff.

Program Contents

Hazing prevention and awareness programs must be informed by research, campus-wide in scope, and address the information required to be included in the University’s hazing policy. Such programs must also address primary prevention strategies intended to stop hazing before hazing occurs. Primary prevention strategies may include, but are not limited to, skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and the promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without hazing. 

Annual Security Report Disclosures

Each University must publish a statement of policy regarding prevention and awareness programs related to hazing in its Annual Security Report(s). 

Reporting Incidents of Hazing

Any individual may inquire or make a report regarding Hazing of any kind to the Texas Tech University Dean of Students and Student Life offices (Student Union Building, Suite 203) or anonymously by texting +1-806-454-7867.  A report may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the phone number or email address, or by mail. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may do so by submitting a report in an anonymous manner; however, electing to remain anonymous may limit the ability to investigate an alleged incident, collect evidence, and/or take effective action against individuals accused of violating this regulation. 

After receiving an inquiry or report, a University official will respond or address the report of misconduct. If you do not receive an acknowledgement or response, please contact the office again to ensure that your inquiry or report was received.

University Employees that are designated as CSAs (including student Employees) that, in the course and scope of their employment, witness or receive information regarding the occurrence of an incident of Hazing must promptly report such incident and information to the University Clery Compliance Officer. 

All students, Employees, and third parties may also report incidents of Hazing to law enforcement, including University and local police.

If the Reporting Party requests the University not to investigate the alleged incident, the University may investigate the alleged incident in the same manner that an anonymous complaint may be investigated.  The University shall make every attempt to follow the wishes of the Reporting Party while weighing the interests of the campus community and the possibility of a continuing threat. 

A Reporting Party who has experienced Hazing (e.g., forced consumption of alcohol) may be entitled to amnesty from student disciplinary proceedings for conduct related to the Hazing Incident.  Additionally, a Student Organization may be subject to additional findings or corrective actions if any member affiliated with the Student Organization takes or attempts to take a retaliatory action against a Reporting Party.

Investigation Process For Hazing

Initiation of Investigation Process

Upon notice or receipt of a potential violation(s) of this Regulation, the applicable office listed at Section 4.a will gather and review information about the reported incident to evaluate the accuracy, credibility, and sufficiency of the information. 

The Investigator will review initial information to determine whether the entire student organization, or a sub-group of the student organization should be a party to the Investigation Process. As the Investigation proceeds, additional parties may be included and will be notified of allegations as outlined below.  The University reserves the right to hold a sub-group of a student organization accountable for a hazing policy violation, rather than the entire student organization, when circumstances reasonably indicate that a sub-group, not the entire student organization, committed a hazing policy violation. Sub-groups of student organizations may include, but are not limited to, affinity groups within intercollegiate athletic teams that may be formed based upon their position or role in the student organization. The University further reserves the right to forward individual actions for review by Student Conduct or Title IX process.

Notices

University will provide notices to the appropriate individuals and/or contacts for the Student Organizations recognized or established by the University, as required, including but not limited to: 

• Initial Notice to Parties: The University shall provide written notice to the Organization through communication delivered to their University email address. The Investigator may also notify a Student Organization’s advisor, headquarters, or sponsoring department/organization that a referral was received by University.  
•  Written Notice Via University Email: Any person entitled to written notice under this regulation will receive such notice to their University email address. In the event a person is entitled to notice who does not have a University email address, written notice will instead be provided to an email address provided by such person. 

Interim Actions

The University may take immediate action to eliminate hostile environment, prevent recurrence, and address any effects on the community prior to the invitation of the Investigation Process. Interim Action(s)/Suspension(s) are not sanctions. Actions are preliminary in nature and remain in effect only until the Investigation Process has been completed. A Student Organization that receives an Interim Suspension of Student Organization Activities may request a review of the decision. The process for requesting a review and participating in the review shall be provided as part of the notice of an Interim Suspension that is provided to the Student Organization.

Investigation

An Investigator will be appointed to conduct a thorough, reliable, and impartial Investigation of the reported allegation. The University will provide an opportunity for parties to present witnesses and evidence. Investigations may include the requirement for organization members to attend an investigation meeting as a group or as individuals, determined by the University’s discretion. Students should be aware of their Rights and Responsibilities in the student conduct process. 

• The University reserves the discretion to investigate all student organization misconduct. However, in the initial meeting with an Investigator, the organization may request to participate in an Informal Resolution.

Investigative Report

Upon completion of the investigation, the University shall create an Investigative Report that fairly summarizes the relevant evidence.

Hearing

If the report is not dismissed or resolved by Informal Resolution, then the complaint shall proceed to a live hearing. The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the procedure set forth in the University’s Code of Student Conduct. 

Written Notification of Outcome

Notification of the Hearing shall be provided to the Student Organization in writing within five (5) University working days. 

Appeal

Organizations may appeal the decision or findings of the Hearing Panel on the following grounds: 

• A procedural irregularity that affected the outcome of the matter;  
• New evidence that was not reasonably available at the time the determination regarding responsibility or dismissal was made, that could affect the outcome of the matter;  
• The Investigator(s) or Hearing Panel Members had a conflict of interest or bias that affected the outcome of the matter; or 
• The sanctions imposed substantially vary from the range of sanctions normally imposed for similar infractions. 

Process for Appeal

Organizations should submit an Appeal based on one of the above grounds by following the procedures outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. 

Informal Resolution Process: 

• The Informal Resolution Process presents an alternative to the Investigation Process. After the parties have been provided written notice, the University may offer and facilitate the Informal Resolution Process (which may include, but is not limited to, a mediation process). At any time prior to reaching a determination regarding responsibility, the University may begin the Informal Resolution Process by obtaining the parties’ voluntary, written consent to use this Informal Resolution Process.
• The University will not require any person to participate in the Informal Resolution Process. Any party may withdraw from the Informal Resolution Process at any time prior to agreeing to a resolution and resume the Investigation Process.  
• Participation in the Informal Resolution process may still result in a finding of Hazing that is reportable under Section 3.d. of this Regulation.

Sanctions and Remedies

Potential Ranges of Sanctions

The ranges of possible disciplinary sanctions and remedies following a finding of responsibility under the Investigation Process are set forth in this Section. The ranges and examples set forth here do not reflect the probability that any particular outcome will occur. 

Sanctions and Remedies Against Student Organizations

Possible sanctions or remedies that may be imposed on organizations can include, but are not limited to: disciplinary reprimand; disciplinary probation; disciplinary suspension; expulsion; educational training; suspension of privileges, including but not limited to participation in athletic or extracurricular activities; conditions or restrictions in organization activity; or any other sanctions or remedies as deemed appropriate by the University given the circumstances. Additional information regarding sanctions can be found in the University’s Code of Student Conduct. 

Non-Retaliation

• Non-Retaliation: Retaliation against an individual who reports a potential violation in good faith under this regulation, assists someone with a report of a violation or participates or refuses to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or other resolution of a complaint made under this regulation is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to threats, intimidation, coercion, discrimination, reprisals, or adverse actions related to an individual’s employment or education. The exercise of rights protected under the First Amendment does not constitute retaliation prohibited under this regulation. 
• The University will take appropriate steps to ensure that an individual who, in good faith, reports, complains about, or participates or refuses to participate in an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or other resolution pursuant to this regulation will not be subjected to retaliation. Individuals who believe they are experiencing retaliation are strongly encouraged to lodge a complaint with the University using the same procedure outlined in this regulation. 
• Individuals who are found to have retaliated under this regulation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, expulsion from the University, or being barred from the University premises and events. 
• False Information: An individual found to have knowingly and in bad faith provided materially false information may be subject to disciplinary action up to an including dismissal or separation from the University. A determination regarding responsibility alone is not sufficient to conclude that any party or witness made a materially false statement in bad faith. 

Non-Interference with the Investigation Process

Non-Interference: Any individual who knowingly and intentionally interferes with an Investigation Process conducted under this regulation is subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal or separation from the University. Interference with an Investigation Process may include, but is not limited to: (i) attempting to coerce, compel, influence, control, or prevent an individual’s participation in an investigation; (ii) removing, destroying, or altering documentation relevant to the investigation; or (iii) encouraging others provide false or misleading information. 

Texas State Laws Pertaining to Hazing

• Texas Education Code Section 51.936: Hazing
• Texas Education Code Chapter 37, Subchapter F: Hazing

Pursuant to state requirements, per Texas Education Code Chapter 51, Sec. 51.936, the university community must be made aware of the following website: go.ttu.edu/hazing. This website lists the groups that have been found responsible for hazing under Subchapter F. 37.

According to Subchapter F. Chapter 37, the definition of hazing is the intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student by one person acting alone or by more than one person occurring on or off University premises for the purpose of pledging or associating with, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, seeking and/or maintaining membership in any organization whose membership consists of students.

Hazing includes, but is not limited to:

1. Any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body or similar activity.
2. Sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics or other similar activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of a student.
3. Consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug or other substance which subjects a student to an unreasonable risk of harm, or which adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of a student.
4. Any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal Code.
5. Any activity that involves coercing the student to consume a drug, or an alcoholic beverage or liquor in an amount that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student is intoxicated.

It is important to note that consent or acquiescence by a student or students subjected to hazing is not a reasonable defense in a disciplinary proceeding.

No tribal laws for hazing are applicable to our campus.

Reporting Incidents of Hazing

Incidents of hazing can be reported to any Campus Security Authority or anonymously by texting +1-806-454-7867.