Anti-Hazing Report

Posted December 22, 2025

Reporting Periods Covered:
Academic Years 2021–2022, 2022–2023, 2023–2024, 2024–2025
(Calendar Years 2021–2025)

Report Date: January 1, 2026
Next Required Updates: August 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027

 

Authority and Purpose

This report is published in compliance with:

  • Pennsylvania Act 80 of 2018 (Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law), 18 Pa.C.S. § 2801–2810 and 66 Pa.C.S. § 2809
  • Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, amending the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 U.S.C. § 1092(f)

The purpose of this report is to promote transparency, accountability, and campus safety by publicly disclosing hazing violations reported to Gwynedd Mercy University and the institutional response to those reports.

This document serves as the University’s combined state and federal hazing transparency report and is publicly accessible on the Gwynedd Mercy University’s website.

 

Institutional Anti-Hazing Policy

Gwynedd Mercy University maintains a zero-tolerance policy prohibiting hazing in any form.
The University’s Anti-Hazing Policy, as required under 66 Pa.C.S. § 2808 and the Stop Campus Hazing Act, is published in the Student Handbook (page 54) and applies to:

  • Students
  • Student organizations
  • Fraternities and sororities
  • Athletic teams
  • Recognized and unrecognized organizations affiliated with the University

Definitions (Pennsylvania Act 80)

Institution of Higher Education
An institution located within the Commonwealth authorized to grant an associate or higher academic degree.

Organization
Any fraternity, sorority, association, club, society, corps, athletic team, or similar group whose members are primarily students or alumni, including national or international affiliates.

Hazing (18 Pa.C.S. § 2802)
Hazing includes any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed for initiation, affiliation, or continued membership that causes or coerces a student to:

  • Violate federal or state law
  • Consume substances that pose a risk of harm
  • Endure physical, mental, or sexual brutality
  • Experienced conduct likely to cause bodily injury
  • Reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement, or military training is excluded.


Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act Transparency Requirements

In accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act, this report includes:

  • Hazing incidents involving student organizations, whether recognized or unrecognized
  • The name of the organization, when applicable and required
  • Dates of reported incidents and resolutions
  • A general description of the violation and investigation outcome
  • Sanctions imposed, if any
  • Affirmative disclosure when no hazing violations occurred

No personally identifiable student information is included.

Reporting Methodology

  • Pennsylvania Act 80:
    Requires disclosure of hazing violations reported to the institution for the previous five calendar years, updated biannually (January 1 and August 1).
  • Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act:
    Requires public disclosure of hazing violations for the previous four academic years.
To satisfy both requirements, the University uses calendar-year reporting, cross-referenced to academic years where applicable.

 

Hazing Incident Findings

Academic Year 2025–2026 (Partial Academic Year)
(August 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025; January 1 Act 80 Update)

Year / Report # Subject of Report Date of Charge Description Date of Resolution Student
Organization		 Type of Hazing Investigation Status Sanction
No hazing violations were reported during this period.

 
Academic Year 2024–2025 (Partial Academic Year)
(January 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025; August 1 Act 80 Update)

Year / Report # Subject of Report Date of Charge Description Date of Resolution Student
Organization		 Type of Hazing Investigation Status Sanction
No hazing violations were reported during this period.

 
Academic Year 2023–2024 (Calendar Year 2023–2024) 

Year / Report # Subject of Report Date of Charge Description Date of Resolution Student
Organization		 Type of Hazing Investigation Status Sanction
No hazing violations were reported during this period.

 
Academic Year 2022–2023 (Calendar Year 2022–2023)

Year / Report # Subject of Report Date of Charge Description Date of Resolution Student
Organization		 Type of Hazing Investigation Status Sanction
No hazing violations were reported during this period.

 
Academic Year 2021–2022 (Calendar Year 2021–2022)

Year / Report # Subject of Report Date of Charge Description Date of Resolution Student
Organization		 Type of Hazing Investigation Status Sanction
No hazing violations were reported during this period.

 

 

Record Retention and Privacy

  • Reports are retained for five (5) years in compliance with 66 Pa.C.S. § 2809(g)
  • No personal identifying information is disclosed
  • Organization names are included only when required by federal law


Certification of Compliance

Gwynedd Mercy University certifies that this Anti-Hazing Transparency Report has been prepared and published in compliance with all applicable Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and federal laws, as well as institutional accreditation standards.

This report fulfills the requirements of:

  • Pennsylvania Act 80 of 2018 (Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law), including biannual reporting, five-year retention, and public disclosure requirements;
  • The Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, as an amendment to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 U.S.C. § 1092(f)).

The University certifies that:

  • All hazing violations reported to the institution during the applicable reporting periods are disclosed herein, regardless of criminal charging or organizational recognition status;
  • Periods during which no hazing violations were reported are affirmatively disclosed;
  • Personally identifiable information has been excluded in accordance with FERPA and Pennsylvania confidentiality provisions;
  • Records supporting this report are maintained in compliance with federal expectations and Pennsylvania Act 80 retention requirements.

In accordance with the Clery Act, hazing incidents meeting the federal definition of a Clery-reportable offense are cross-referenced in the University’s Annual Security Report (ASR). The University’s anti-hazing policy and hazing prevention information are included in the ASR as required under 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f). This report supplements, but does not replace, Clery Act disclosures. The ASR is published annually by October 1 on the University’s website.

The University further affirms that this report supports compliance with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Standards, including:

  • Standard II (Ethics and Integrity) through transparency and legal compliance;
  • Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment) through review of hazing-related data to inform prevention efforts;
  • Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement) through appropriate allocation of resources and continuous improvement;
  • Standard VII (Governance, Leadership, and Administration) through clear oversight and accountability structures.

This report is reviewed prior to publication by appropriate University offices responsible for student conduct, campus safety, and compliance and is published in good faith to promote student well-being, institutional accountability, and continuous improvement.