StopHazing | Your December Deadline is Coming: What to Know About Hazing Transparency Reports

Under the new federal requirements established by the Stop Campus Hazing Act, all colleges and universities are required to begin posting and maintaining public hazing incident transparency reports. These reports are intended to ensure accountability, raise awareness, and prevent future harm by providing clear documentation of hazing incidents on campus. A key reminder: these reports must be made accessible by December 23, 2025, which means institutions should be tracking and organizing hazing incidents now to meet the deadline.

If you’re looking for guidance on how to get started or improve your current reporting processes, this blog post provides a clear overview of what institutions should be doing now, what to include in reports, and how to share them in an accessible and transparent manner.

Why Hazing Transparency Reports Matter

Hazing transparency reports are not just a compliance tool. They are a powerful opportunity to drive prevention and cultural change. When done well, these reports signal a campus’s commitment to student safety and well-being. They help build trust between institutions and with students, families, and the broader campus community. Importantly, when transparency reports are thoughtfully designed with these stakeholders in mind, they can serve as an educational tool. 

Overall, reports can: 

  • Promote a culture of accountability and transparency
  • Build trust with students, families, and the broader community
  • Act as a learning tool, not just a summary of violations 
  • Demonstrate a serious institutional commitment to addressing hazing

What Institutions Should Be Doing Now

With the December 2025 deadline fast approaching, institutions should already be laying the groundwork for successful compliance. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining existing practices due to current state law or institutional practices, here are key steps to take now: 

  • Begin (or continue) collecting and organizing accurate data on all incidents reported/investigated! (not just those found in violation)
  • Ensure your internal reporting and documentation processes are clear and systems are in place.
  • Identify a prominent and accessible online location for the report to be housed.
  • Determine who will be responsible for compiling, updating, and maintaining the report regularly. Note: This must be updated at least twice per year. 
  • Start formatting your report in anticipation of the December posting deadline.

What to Include in a Strong Transparency Report

To meet federal guidelines, reports at a minimum must include:

  • All organizations that are found responsible for hazing according to your campus definition. 

To take your report from basic compliance to best practice, consider adding: 

  • All reports of hazing that meet the threshold of information to conduct an investigation, regardless of outcome
  • All reports of hazing involving student organizations, whether recognized or unrecognized. 
  • Detailed narratives/descriptions to increase understanding and context 
  • Consistent formatting for readability and accessibility 
  • Additional context when needed (e.g., recurring patterns or educational sanctions, prevention follow-ups)

Check out these websites from institutions that model best practice for strong transparency reports: 

VU Transparency Report
VCU Transparency Report
UT Transparency Report

Where and How to Post Transparency Reports

Even the most comprehensive report loses its impact if it’s hard to find. Reports must be easily accessible to everyone, not just those who know where to look. That means they should not be buried on obscure pages, behind logins, or as a PDF. To ensure accessibility, follow these best practices: 

  • Post on a dedicated hazing prevention website/page. 
  • Link to related pages such as Student Life, Student Conduct, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Activities, New Student Orientation, etc.
  • Use clear titles and headings, such as “Hazing Transparency Report” or “Campus Hazing Report.”
  • Create permalinks and set reminders for regular updates (at least twice a year). 
  • Add a description, context, or plain language explanation of what’s included in the report that anyone visiting the website would be able to understand.

HazingInfo: A Tool for Campuses

HazingInfo is a searchable database of campus hazing policies and transparency reports. Currently featuring institutions from 9 states with existing transparency laws, HazingInfo is expanding this summer to include colleges and universities nationwide in alignment with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act.

You can use HazingInfo to:

  • Review formatting and content examples
  • Benchmark your institution’s efforts and reports against others
  • Build awareness and educate staff, faculty, and students, including using resources like the hazing deaths database

This tool is not only practical but can help demonstrate transparency in the growing movement for prevention.

Final Reminders and Support

Don’t wait until December! The time to start is now. This is more than a box to check. Your institution’s report should be designed with clarity, accessibility, and accountability in mind. It should reflect the campus’s values, commitment to student safety, and willingness to make space for visibility.

If your campus needs additional support getting started or reviewing your plans, consider partnering with us for consulting, feedback and support, and additional training.

Coming Soon: What This Means for Students and Families

Stay tuned for another blog post where we will explore how students and families can utilize hazing transparency reports to make informed decisions about involvement in organizations and campus climate.
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Call to Action

Upcoming Trainings to Support Campus Hazing Prevention

Hazing Prevention Academy

Author:
Lauren Griffin, M.Ed. – Program & Prevention Coordinator at StopHazing