The U.S. Department of Education issued a reminder on October 9, 2026, outlining institutional responsibilities under the Stop Campus Hazing Act. The law was enacted on December 23, 2024, and amended the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.
Institutions now have three core responsibilities:
- Include statistics in the annual security report for hazing incidents reported to campus security authorities or local police. The incident must occur on Clery Act geography and meet the Clery Act definition of hazing.
- Maintain anti-hazing policies and prevention programs. The annual security report must explain how to report hazing, how reports are investigated, applicable local, state and Tribal laws, and the institution’s prevention and awareness efforts.
- Create a Campus Hazing Transparency Report when the institution makes at least one finding that a student organization violated its hazing policy. The report must be published on the institution’s public website. For this requirement, a student organization includes any organization with two or more enrolled students, whether or not the institution recognizes it.
The federal definition of hazing covers an intentional, knowing or reckless act against a person, regardless of willingness to participate, that occurs during initiation, affiliation or continued membership in a student organization and causes or creates a risk of physical or psychological injury beyond the reasonable risks encountered at the institution or organization.
Institutions were required to include 2025 hazing statistics in their 2026 annual security reports. ED expects institutions to use the existing Clery geography categories of On-Campus, On-Campus Student Housing, Non-Campus and Public Property. ED will begin collecting hazing statistics through the 2027 Campus Safety and Security Survey.
The 2026–27 FSA Handbook adds that a Campus Hazing Transparency Report must identify the student organization, generally describe the violation, list any sanctions and provide the incident date. It must be updated at least twice each year when findings occur. No update is required when there is no finding of a hazing violation.
Institutions should review their 2026 annual security report, campus policies, prevention programs, incident tracking and public website procedures against these requirements. Questions may be directed to the Campus Safety Help Desk at campussafetyhelp@westat.com or 1-800-435-5985.
Sources:
Changes to Campus Security Requirements Related to the Stop Campus Hazing Act, GEN-26-05