STUDENTS

Atlanta Metropolitan State College's Statement on Hazing

Atlanta Metropolitan State College prohibits hazing. This prohibition applies to students, staff, and affiliated organizations and covers conduct that occurs on campus, off campus, or any college-sponsored affiliated activities off campus.

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act against another person, regardless of whether that person agrees to participate, that is connected to joining, belonging to, or staying in a student or school organization. The act must cause or create a risk of physical or psychological harm that goes beyond the normal risks of the organization's activities.

Hazing may constitute both a violation of institution policy and a criminal offense under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61), which may result in criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

How to Report Hazing

Reports of hazing may be submitted through the college's complaint form that is located on our website or by reporting to the Department of Public Safety or local law enforcement, or by reporting to the Associate Vice President of Student Success or Human Resources, depending on the individual involved.

COMPLAINT FORM

Retaliation against individuals who report hazing or participate in an investigation is strictly prohibited. Knowingly filing a false report also constitutes a violation of campus policy.

Hazing Prevention Programming

Atlanta Metropolitan State College incorporates research-informed prevention and awareness programs related to Hazing, which are available campus-wide for students, faculty, and staff through a third-party vendor. These programs include primary prevention strategies such as bystander intervention training, ethical leadership development, and non-hazing methods for building group cohesion.

VECTOR TRAINING SITE

Federal and State Laws Related to Hazing

The Georgia Anti-Hazing Act (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61), also known as the Max Gruver Act, makes it a misdemeanor of a high or aggravated nature to "haze any student in connection with or as a condition or precondition of gaining acceptance, membership, office, or other status in a school organization." Penalties could include incarceration, fines, or both.

The Stop Campus Hazing Act amends section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act, otherwise known as the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act). This Act requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs to report hazing incidents in the Annual Security Report and on their Campus Hazing Transparency Report.

Investigation Process

Investigation Process for Students and Student Organizations

Hazing allegations involving students or student organizations are investigated by AMSC Judicial Officer under the Student Handbook. After a report is received, the Office of Student Conduct/ Judicial Affairs conducts the initial review and may impose any temporary or interim measures. The accused student or organization receives notice of the alleged misconduct, shall be provided an opportunity to respond, and shall be allowed to remain silent during the investigation and resolution process. A prompt, impartial investigation follows, including interviews and evidence review. The case may resolve informally if responsibility is accepted, or it proceeds to a formal hearing before an administrator (Hearing Officer) or a Hearing Panel using the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard. A written decision outlines the outcome and sanctions; respondents have appeal rights for suspension or expulsion. Individuals are expected to cooperate with the investigation, and retaliation is not prohibited. Hazing violations involving school or student organizations are published in Atlanta Metropolitan State College's Campus Hazing Transparency and Max Gruver Report, available below.

Investigation Process for Faculty and Staff

Hazing allegations involving faculty or staff are investigated by the Chief of Human Resources under the College standard employee misconduct procedures (Human Resources Policies for staff and Faculty Handbook/USG Board of Regents policies for faculty. The process includes an initial review of the report, a fact-finding investigation with interviews and evidence collection, an opportunity for the employee to respond, a determination of whether a violation occurred, and appropriate disciplinary action if substantiated (ranging from a written warning to termination of employment). All employees must cooperate fully with any investigation, and retaliation against reporters or participants is strictly prohibited. Faculty and staff cases are handled separately from the student conduct process through the Office of Human Resources.

Campus Hazing Transparency & Max Gruver Report

As part of the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) and the Max Gruver Act, Atlanta Metropolitan State College will create and maintain a report of the summarized findings concerning any student/school organization found in violation of the AMSC Hazing Policy.

Reports will contain the following information:

• Findings of any person or student organization found to have violated the University's Hazing Policy;
• Criminal convictions for hazing, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61; and
• Other criminal convictions arising from any incident of hazing.

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the report shall not include or otherwise reveal any personally identifiable information. Hazing-related violations will be maintained for five (5) years. This report will be updated no less than two times each year and within 15 days of any final adjudication of hazing violations.

Atlanta Metropolitan State College also publishes annual hazing statistics in its Clery Act Annual Security Report. Those statistics count every report made to campus police, campus security staff, or other school officials who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities (such as housing, student discipline, or campus judicial proceedings), as well as reports made to local law enforcement, when the incident occurred within the institution's Clery Geography (on campus, public property immediately adjacent to campus, and other locations the institution owns or controls).

View the latest reports here

This Hazing Transparency and Max Gruver Report lists only official findings of responsibility, adjudications, and related criminal convictions involving student or school organizations. Because the two reports measure different things, the numbers will not match. The Annual Security Report provides a broad statistical picture of reported incidents; this report shows cases that resulted in formal findings so the public can see how the institution holds organizations accountable.