Hazing Definition in Student Code of Conduct

Hazing. Defined as any action taken, whether on- or off-campus, which has the potential or intent of causing physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, ridicule, or degrading or endangering the mental or physical health or safety of a person, or which destroys, defaces, or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization. This may include pranks, or any act which the group or organization implies is necessary, or in which the student perceives they do not have a choice. The expressed or implied consent of the victim will not be a defense. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing is not a neutral act; it is a violation of this rule.

Student Handbook

Hazing Policy

Hazing Policy Hazing refers to any intentional, knowing, or reckless act by one or more persons that occurs on or off campus and is directed against a student for the purpose of joining, being initiated into, or maintaining full status in a university group or organization. Such acts include, but are not limited to, the following: any type of physical brutality, such as, beating, striking, branding, sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, calisthenics, any activity involving the consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, drug, or other substance or any other activity that subjects the student to risk or harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student, or any activity that intimidates or threatens the student or that subjects them to extreme mental stress, shame, abuse or humiliation. Giving consent to allow hazing is not a defense against hazing. Hazing may be further defined in the Student Code of Conduct.

Hazing is prohibited and is a violation of HCU policy (see student conduct section) and both Texas State Law in Texas Education Code Chapter 37, Subchapter F (§§ 37.151-157) and federal law, and may subject a violator to both criminal prosecution (punishable by fines and/or jail time) and HCU disciplinary action. Under Texas State Law, a person may be found guilty of a crime if they: Engage in hazing; Encourage, direct, aid, or assist hazing; Permit hazing to occur; or Have knowledge of hazing activities and fail to report them in writing to the Director of Student Conduct or designee.

Under Texas law, penalties for hazing include: Class B misdemeanor for failure to report hazing or for hazing that does not result in serious bodily injury; Class A misdemeanor for hazing that results in serious bodily injury; State jail felony for hazing that results in a death. Organizations found guilty of hazing may be fined $5,000 to $10,000, or if the hazing incident causes personal injury or property damage, fines may range from $5,000 to double the amount of damages or losses incurred.

A person who reports a specific hazing incident to the Director of Student Conduct or another appropriate institutional official may be immune from civil and criminal liability unless they personally participated in the hazing or knowingly filed a false report in bad faith or with malicious intent. These laws do not limit or affect the University’s ability to impose additional disciplinary penalties for hazing beyond those prescribed by the state and federal government. Hazing should be reported to the University immediately using one of the designated reporting means. The University’s disciplinary process used to investigate incidents of hazing is outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Information regarding organizations found to have violated hazing policies will be published in a Campus Hazing Transparency Report, as required by state and federal law. The University provides hazing prevention programming annually or as needed that is designed to reach students, faculty, and staff, which may include but may not be limited to: risk management training for organization advisors or officers related to hazing, programs promoting healthy group characteristics and activities that do not include hazing, or other programs that develop leadership skills relevant to preventing hazing.

Any HCU student or community member who has been hazed or is aware of hazing activities in the HCU community should report such actions using one or more of the following means:

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

No student organizations at Houston Christian University have been found to have violated the Hazing Policy within the last three calendar years.  Most recent update: July 25, 2025.