UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With Sept. 21-25 marking National Hazing Prevention Week 2026, Penn State is reminding all community members of their obligation to protect the safety and welfare of others by eliminating hazing.
Hazing is illegal and prohibited by University Policy AD98. Hazing is defined by state and federal law and includes, but is not limited to, any intentional act — physical, mental or emotional — that pressures, coerces or forces a student to do something harmful, humiliating, illegal or unsafe to join, remain in, or gain status within a group or organization. Importantly, hazing is hazing even when a student agrees to participate.
Student safety is a top priority at Penn State, and the University will investigate every allegation of hazing to the fullest extent possible. Any individual or organization found responsible for hazing is subject to discipline under the Student Code of Conduct or University policy, up to and including expulsion from Penn State, termination of University employment, or loss of University recognition.
Individuals and organizations also are subject to criminal prosecution and the forfeiture of property. Under Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law, hazing in the commonwealth can lead to a felony conviction and a possible prison sentence. The law is named after Timothy Piazza, who tragically died in February 2017 after being hazed at the chapter house of the now permanently banned Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Penn State.
The law holds both individuals and organizations accountable for hazing and requires institutions of higher education to publish anti-hazing policies and a biannual anti-hazing report — Penn State’s latest campus hazing transparency report can be found here. The law applies to all organizations, including athletic teams, clubs, service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and similar groups.
Pennsylvania law also provides immunity for individuals in need of medical assistance as a result of hazing or underage alcohol consumption, as well as for those who seek help for others, as long as the caller notifies the proper authorities, believes they are the first caller, provides their name, and stays with the person until authorities arrive. Click here for more information about Pennsylvania's Medical Amnesty Law and Penn State's Responsible Action Protocols.
Students and other community members can take action to prevent hazing by:
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Learning to recognize hazing and reporting incidents.
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Resisting anyone who encourages you to join hazing activities.
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Notifying police and appropriate University staff if you are aware of a potential incident.
To report instances of hazing by an individual or within any University-affiliated or recognized organization or group, contact the Office of Ethics and Compliance, the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response or the Penn State Hotline, or submit a report through an anonymous online form. In an emergency, call 911 or contact Penn State Police.
Penn State offers anti-hazing training through Prevent.Zone, a two-course virtual learning experience that teaches how to identify, prevent and report hazing. For the 2025-26 academic year, 84% of students who took the training reported afterward that they felt less inclined to take part in hazing, 89% indicated that they would be more likely to report hazing if they saw it, and 88% said they felt more empowered to prevent hazing on campus. Access to the training is available to anyone with a Penn State login.
Hazing prevention programming
This year, the Penn State Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Panhellenic Council, with support from the Penn State Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, will offer educational activities and events during the week of Oct. 19-23 to raise awareness around the issue of hazing. Additional details about the week’s programming will be shared as activities and events are finalized.
Penn State's Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research will partner with the Hazing Prevention Network to present three free webinars during National Hazing Prevention Week. The sessions will explore how colleges, universities and student organizations can use research-informed strategies to strengthen campus and organizational cultures and improve student safety.
Additional information about the University’s efforts to promote hazing prevention and awareness is available from Penn State Student Affairs. For more information about national efforts to eliminate hazing, visit HazingPrevention.org.