In its unwavering commitment to student safety and well-being, The University of Alabama joined a national hazing prevention initiative as part of a campuswide effort to foster a safe and supportive environment for all students.
UA is part of the second cohort in a project led by the Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research. The University’s Division of Student Life is joining forces with eight other campuses across the nation to address critical student safety issues in student organizations, particularly related to hazing activities.
This collaborative effort will focus on the development and implementation of effective prevention strategies against hazing and related behaviors that pose challenges to student safety.
“Enhancing and supporting student safety and well-being is at the forefront of everything we do, so we consider this project important in creating the best path forward for universities like ours with robust fraternity and sorority communities,” said Dr. Steven Hood, vice president for Student Life at UA. “We are well-known leaders in this space with the largest Greek-letter community in the country, and we want to lead the way in helping develop and implement best practices for hazing prevention and other safety measures based on strategic research initiatives like this one.”
The Piazza Center partnership is one element of a multifaceted endeavor from Student Life to raise awareness and help prevent hazing. Other tactics include:
- An updated, comprehensive hazing policy with strengthened accountability and discipline, which reflects the significant emphasis UA places on the health and safety of its students.
- Newly established cross-campus collaborative Hazing Prevention Team that brings campus partners together to address hazing, educate the campus community, and empower the community to take action against hazing.
- A re-established Fraternity and Sorority Life Advisory Board of external stakeholders.
- Enhanced and expanded training and education, including advanced training for student leaders, peer education efforts and specialized training on hazing prevention and safety for house managers.
- New resources for student organizations, including templates for time-restricted new member education periods.
- A new website for hazing prevention that provides educational resources and an increased transparency of hazing violations.
- A new policy for Greek-letter organizations that supports the growth and sustainability of member groups and helps create a safe and successful experience for all members and guests.
The new Fraternity & Sorority Community Policy was developed in collaboration with stakeholders from all Greek councils. While most of the requirements are not new, they are now formalized in a policy. The policy requires all participating students to complete hazing prevention training and increases expectations for advisor-to-student ratios.
The revised, standalone hazing policy includes clearer definitions of hazing activities, stricter discipline measures, and increased reporting requirements, strengthening the expectation for reporting for all members of the campus community.