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Hazing Policy

RCC Hazing Policy

I. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Virginia Community College System (VCCS) students enrolled at Rappahannock Community College (hereinafter “the College”) are not subjected to hazing in any form. Hazing is inconsistent with the College’s commitment to fostering an environment of learning, respect, and personal dignity. In addition to being prohibited in accordance with this policy, hazing is also a crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia as set forth in Code of Virginia § 18.2-56.
This policy applies to all individuals and groups associated with the College, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, administrators, coaches, advisors, athletic teams, clubs, bands, fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations, consistent with the definitions herein.

II. 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:

  • Occurs on or off College property;
  • 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
  • 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, or registered or in attendance in a program operated by the Institution, or who has been accepted for admission into any program operated by 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.

III. Prohibited Activities

Hazing includes, but is not limited to:

  • Paddling, whipping, beating, striking, or similar physical abuse;
  • Kidnapping;
  • All forms of physical activity which are used to harass, punish, or harm an individual, including pushups, calisthenics, running, or similar exercises
  • Forced excursions or road trips;
  • Confinement;
  • Spraying, painting, or pelting with any substance;
  • Burying in any substance;
  • Nudity with the intent to cause embarrassment;
  • Acting as a personal servant
  • Sensory deprivation or exposure to uncomfortable elements, including putting irritating substances on body parts;
  • Verbal abuse;
  • Wearing of apparel that is conspicuous and/or indecent;
  • Coerced consumption of alcohol or any other substance, legal or illegal;
  • Being forced or coerced to engage in any kind of sexual activity; including forced
  • Depriving students of sufficient sleep (six consecutive hours per day is normally considered to be a minimum);
  • Coerced burning, branding, or tattooing any part of the body;
  • Psychological hazing, defined as any act which is likely to:
    • Compromise an individual’s dignity;
    • Cause an individual embarrassment or shame;
    • Cause an individual to be the object of malicious amusement or ridicule; or
    • Cause an individual emotional distress;
  • Interrogating an individual in an intimidating or threatening manner;
  • Misleading prospective members in an effort to convince them that they will not become members unless they engage in hazing activities;
  • Misleading prospective members into believing that they will be hurt during induction or initiation;
  • Carrying any items (shields, paddles, bricks, hammers, ) that serve no constructive purpose or that are designed to punish or embarrass the carrier;
  • Blindfolding and parading individuals in public areas for amusement or embarrassment, blindfolding and transporting in a motor vehicle, or privately conducting blindfolding activities, that serve no constructive purpose;
  • Binding or restricting an individual in a way that would prohibit them from moving on their own;
  • Requiring or suggesting that an individual obtain or possess items or complete tasks in an unlawful manner (e.g., stealing signs for a scavenger hunt); and
  • Prohibiting an individual from social contact or from associating with other individuals or
  • Other actions that are likely to negatively impact academic performance or mental health.
  • Hazing also includes soliciting, directing, aiding, or otherwise participating actively or passively in the above acts.

IV. Jurisdiction

This policy applies to hazing activities occurring on both college-owned and non-college-owned properties. An act of hazing by an individual or student organization will be viewed by the college as a violation of the college’s hazing policy, regardless of where the act of hazing took place.

V. Consent

An individual may not consent to being hazed. A person’s willingness to participate in the hazing activity does not excuse or justify hazing. Consent cannot be used as a defense for violating the college’s hazing policy.

VI. 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: [Insert Link to College’s Conduct Code]

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.

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.

Disclosure

Starting December 23, 2025, the institution will publicly report actual findings of violations of the institution’s code of conduct or of federal or state laws pertaining to hazing that are reported to campus authorities or local law enforcement in accordance with Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA). These reports will be released at least 10 calendar days before the start of fall and spring academic semesters. Reports will be available at: [Insert College Website/Link].

VII. 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.”

VIII. Policy Distribution

This hazing policy will be made available on the college website.

 

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STOP CAMPUS HAZING ACT
Campus Hazing Transparency Report

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), enacted on December 23, 2024, amends the Clery Act to prioritize the prevention of and transparency about hazing incidents at colleges and universities. “There were no findings of responsibility for hazing violations between 12/23/2023 and 12/14/2025”.

 

Hazing

Hazing is a crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is prohibited in accordance with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and Rappahannock Community College (RCC) policy and the Standards of Conduct. The College does not condone hazing in any form. Hazing is defined as any action or situation created by one or more members, advisors, or coaches of a student organization (including athletic teams) toward other organization members or prospective members that intentionally or recklessly threatens or produces mental or physical harassment, humiliation, fatigue, degradation, ridicule, shock, or injury. The action or situation is in connection with initiation, admission, affiliation, or ongoing membership in the organization, may occur with or without the consent of the participants, and may occur on or off RCC property. NOTE: RCC does not have any athletic teams by definition, or organizations affiliated with the College. RCC does not have any dormitories, on site housing or clubs on either of its campuses.

3.0 Contact Information and Reporting:

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. Anyone that wishes to report an incident of hazing should contact the following at RCC:

Their respective professor, instructor, or advisor if a student. Faculty and staff should report the alleged incident to their immediate supervisor (Dean, Director, or VP),

Dr. David Keel
804-758-6731
dkeel@rappahannock.edu
Dean of Student Development

Caroline Stelter
804-758-6728
cstelter@rappahannock.edu
Director of Human Resources

Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 23.1-822 (Adam's Law) and Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)), the College provides a report of past hazing misconduct involving student organizations. The information below includes the name of the student organization, the dates (if known) of the hazing behavior, the date such behavior was reported to the College, the dates of investigation and when the organization was found responsible, and a description of the findings. Beginning in Spring 2025, and in accordance with Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f), the information will also include whether any findings of hazing involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs and the date(s) the College provided notice to the student organization that the incident resulted in a hazing violation. Please note that unless otherwise specified, the date of responsible finding indicated in the charts below (if applicable) corresponds to the date of notice provided to the student organization. Reports of hazing that did not result in a finding of responsibility are not included. The College will update this information at least ten calendar days prior to the start of each fall and spring semester (i.e., twice each year), and typically within 14 days of a finding of responsibility for hazing behavior. The College will maintain the information for ten years following the date of initial disclosure.

For more information related to the University’s hazing policy, hazing prevention and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s hazing law, please visit the RCC web site for Campus Safety and Security as provided below. 

Annual statistics on hazing are available in the RCC Annual Fire Safety and Security Report. Please note that hazing statistics will be included beginning with the 2026 report (issued in 2027). Hazing statistics include incident reports that meet the federal definition of hazing in Section 485(f)(6)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C 1092(f)(6)(A)). Such statistics do not reflect actual findings of hazing behavior, which are included in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report.   

The hazing transparency report statement is due December 14 of this year and December 23rd in subsequent years for review in May and October respectively.

 

Training and Resources: