The University of North Carolina Asheville is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and productive learning, living, and working environment free of hazing and retaliation for all members of the University community. Hazing is an unproductive and hazardous practice that is incongruous with organizational and community values. It has no place in University life, either on or off campus. Students, student organizations, and other persons are expected to conduct themselves and their activities in a spirit of social responsibility and respect for others.

UNC Asheville community members should take reasonable and prudent actions to prevent or stop hazing. Taking action may include direct intervention when safe to do so, enlisting the assistance of other individuals, contacting University Police, seeking assistance from a person in authority, or reporting to designated offices or officials. Community members who choose to take these actions will be supported by the University and protected from retaliation.

Hazing is a violation of University Policy and a crime in the State of North Carolina (NC General Statutes §14-35 and §14-38). Hazing also violates the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), Pub. L. No. 118-173 (2024), which amends Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act also known as the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act).

Review the University’s Hazing Policy

What is hazing? 

Hazing is defined as an intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with other persons,against a student, regardless of that student’s willingness to participate, that—

  1. was committed in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, an organization (such as a club, society, association, athletic team, fraternity, sorority, or student government); and
  2. causes or is likely to contribute to a substantial risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical training necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical injury 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.

The action or situation in connection with initiation, admission, affiliation, or ongoing membership in an organization, may occur with or without the consent of the participants, and may occur on or off University Property. Because of the socially coercive nature of hazing, implied or expressed consent is not a defense.

Even if hazing seems like “tradition” or “just a joke,” it can have severe physical, emotional, and legal consequences and is prohibited by the University.

Where/How to Report?

Hazing is an unproductive and hazardous practice that is incongruous with UNC Asheville’s community values. It has no place in University life, either on or off campus. If you see or experience hazing or suspect someone you know has been hazed, we are here to support you and others impacted by hazing. 

Prompt reporting enables the University to respond efficiently and effectively to safety threats and to facilitate appropriate supportive measures for those impacted by hazing. Accordingly, members of the University community should immediately report incidents of potential hazing to the University. 

If hazing involves imminent danger, serious harm or illegal activity, please contact University Police (911 or 828.232.5000) or local law enforcement immediately.

To report any hazing misconduct by an employee, contractor, visitor, or third party, please use the Hazing Incident Report Form or contact the Office for Institutional Integrity & Access.

Report a Hazing Incident

Reports may be made via the following methods:

  1. Hazing Incident Report Form
  1. University Police
  • Call 828.232.5000 for emergency and nonemergency situations to speak with University Police. An officer will assist in identifying which law enforcement agency should receive the report of the incident if it occurred outside their jurisdiction. You may also make a report in person at the UNC Asheville Police Department located at Weizenblatt Hall. 
  1. Office of the Dean of Students
  • You may make a report to the Dean of Students Office via email (dos@unca.edu), 828.251.6585, or in person at Highsmith 237.  

4. Office for Institutional Integrity & Access

  • Violations by an employee, contractor, visitor, or third party should be reported promptly to the Office for Institutional Integrity & Access. Contact the Office via email (titleix@unca.edu), phone call (828.232.5658), or in-person at Highsmith Suite 116.

Hazing Transparency Report

UNC Asheville’s Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR) includes information about university-recognized student organizations that have been found responsible for violating the Hazing Policy. This report is updated twice annually (June 1 and December 1) and includes violations that have occurred both on-or-off campus.

The University must summarize the findings concerning any student organization, which is established or recognized by the University, found to be in violation of the Hazing Policy. This outcome reporting includes:

The name of the student organization [or individual(s) or other persons connected to an organization];

A general description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility, including whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs;

The details of the sanction(s) imposed on the student organization, including the beginning and end dates of the sanction(s), if applicable; and

 Related dates, including 

o   the date of the alleged incident, 

o   the date of the initiation of the investigation, 

o   the date the investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred, and 

o   the date the institution provided notice to the organization of the finding.

The CHTR must be maintained for seven (7) years, as per UNC System policy.

The Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act) requires that campuses collect and publish statistics for certain crimes occurring on campus or within a specific geographic area (UNC Asheville Clery Geography). This information is published every October 1 in UNC Asheville’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR). Beginning in October 2026, the University will include hazing statistics in its ASR.

Unlike the CHTR, hazing statistics in the ASFSR include all reported instances of hazing that meet the Clery Act definition of hazing and were reported to have occurred within UNC Asheville Clery Geography. The ASFSR includes all reports of hazing reportedly committed by students, employees, recognized and non-University-recognized student organizations, or by individuals unaffiliated with the institution, regardless of whether violations were found.

January – June 2025 Hazing Incident(s) or Investigations

To date, for calendar year 2025, the University did not receive any reports of hazing and, as such, there have been no investigations or hazing violations found.

In the future, if there is a hazing violation, the following chart will be used to report the incident and outcomes.

Name of Student Organization

N/A

Date of Hazing Incident(s)

—

Dates of Investigation

—

Date of Responsible Finding

—

Date of Notice of Outcome

—

Policy Violation(s)

—

Sanctions

—

Description of Hazing Incident: N/A

Resources

On-Campus

National