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Hazing Policy

ADDENDUM POLICY UPDATED - November 4, 2021

Policy approved by Mercy College Board of Trustees, September 2021

Mercy College of Ohio (“the College”) is committed to providing an environment of well-being, learning, and accountability for its members.

“Hazing” is the act or coercing of another, including the person being hazed, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person.

The College Hazing Policy is grounded in three standards and applies to both individuals and groups:

  1. Compliance with governing law and College policies;
  2. Respect for the College community, through the prevention/zero tolerance of hazing;
  3. Accountability for reporting hazing.

This policy informs students of their individual and community responsibilities regarding hazing, and the College's response to Hazing Policy violations. The policy refers to College students whether they are on or off campus.

The Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students (VPSA) has primary responsibility for enforcement of this policy. The VPSA/Dean of Students and/or his/her designee will impose or modify sanctions for violations of this policy, as they deem appropriate in their sole discretion.

Any student who participates in hazing is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct.

It is also a violation of policy for an administrator, staff, or faculty member to permit the hazing of any person. College employees who observe or otherwise become aware of hazing:

  1. Must make a reasonable attempt to prevent it, and
  2. Must immediately report the situation to the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students. When determining whether this policy has been violated, the College will consider whether the employee knew or reasonably should have known of the hazing and failed to take appropriate action, and
  3. If acting in an official and professional capacity, must immediately report the knowledge of hazing to a law enforcement agency in the county in which the victim resides of in which the hazing occurred. When determining whether this Policy has been violated, the College will consider whether the employee knew or reasonably should have known of the hazing and failed to take appropriate action. The VPSA/Dean of Students will consult with Bon Secours Mercy Health Human Resources as appropriate in determining employee sanctions.

Any penalty imposed under College policy is in addition to potential criminal penalties imposed.

All College employees, volunteers that advise or coach an organization recognized by or operating under the sanction of the College (“recognized student organization”), and students receive anti-hazing training and resources as part of the New Hire/New Student orientation process. Anti-hazing resources and programming are also offered to students throughout the academic year through the Office of Compliance and Risk Management, the Division of Student Affairs, and other departments as appropriate.

Students who do not attend the anti-hazing training provided by the College shall not participate in a recognized student organization until they attend the program. A recognized student organization shall not accept or initiate any person who has not attended the training program.

In addition, all recognized student organizations must conduct mandatory hazing training for any volunteer who has contact with students.