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Sorority and Fraternity Life Transaction Narrative

Date Created:  February 2, 2024              Last Updated:  August 2, 2024

Overview:

As of Fall 2024, there are 50 University recognized fraternity and sorority chapters, of which 11 have University owned properties, comprised of approximately 3,300+ students are recognized by Cornell University. This population is educated about hazing prevention held accountable for their hazing related behaviors. Chapter leadership is required to submit an attestation around hazing awareness and education and register their chapter annually. Presidents and New Member Educators of Greek letter organizations are required to attend a hazing prevention and education training annually, delivered by staff in the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards in collaboration with the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life, after the chapters have elected their new leadership. Prospective new members must complete anti-hazing training prior to being eligible to join a fraternity or sorority and 15% of membership from each chapter is required to attend National Hazing Prevention Week activities organized by the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. Prevention education and opportunities for involvement are geared towards safety and community standards expected of all campus individuals and groups. Trainings provide education around the University definition of hazing and disciplinary process should there be an active investigation following an allegation and the consequences for not complying with mandated sanctions set by the Student Code of Conduct, National Organization Headquarters and/or their Cornell recognized organization. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, in collaboration with Campus and Community Engagement, manages appropriate follow up for non-compliance.

Criticality: High

Frequency: Other

Turnaround: Other

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titleKey Documents / Sources of Information
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titleSystem Access Needed
  • Campus Groups
  • Canvas
  • Campus Kaizen Guardian
  • StarRez
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titleCommon Problems or Issues Encountered
  • Chapter and individual behaviors around identifying and responding to hazing behaviors, comprehension of training materials, and available resources will vary per individual.
  • Chapter and individual behaviors may be influenced based on the training focus and expectations set by their president, new member educator, and Chapter Advisor.
  • Advisors strategize and use discretion of when and where to address chapter and individual behaviors.
  • Chapter Advisor is chosen by National Headquarters and is subject to change.
  • Violations of the Student Code of Conduct may result in loss of recognition and the inability of the chapter to acquire funding, provide housing, host events, and qualify for chapter insurance, but investigations may not result in an identification of involved individuals. When this occurs, individual offenders are permitted to remain on campus and may repeat behavior.
  • Collusion, resulting in inappropriate disclosure of information between victims and perpetrators, may occur during the investigation.
  • Educational trainings on hazing, bystander intervention, and culture change strategies for positive group team building (that does not involve hazing) are not tied to eligibility to join groups, teams, or organizations or serve in leadership positions within an organization and there are no consequences or sanctions for not completing trainings.
  • National Hazing Prevention Week has historically taken place in September. Cornell’s robust Greek Life new member process takes place in January. 
  • Eligibility requirements and training for live-in advisors was not known at the time of this report; details will be incorporated in future updates.
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titleStep by Step Procedures

Education/Prevention:

  1. First year and transfer students are offered hazing prevention education in two existing required New Student To Do List items (OSCCS and Alcohol and Other Drugs).

  2. Chapter President registers fraternity or sorority in Campus Groups.
  3. Chapters attest to guidelines and new member directives administered by National Chapters each semester.
  4. President submits recruitment plan each semester to the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life.
  5. President and new member educator attend in person training with staff from OSFL, the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives and OSCCS.
  6. Potential new members must complete anti-hazing education prior to being eligible to join a sorority or fraternity.
  7. Chapter leadership submits attestation to hazing policy and member roster.
  8. New and returning members submit attestation to development plan.
  9. Completion reports are generated and monitored by Sorority and Fraternity Life staff.
  10. Chapters can apply for a grant to offer positive team building (non-hazing activities), positive action for new member onboarding (limited participation & funds).
  11. Members are sent details, and 15% membership are required to attend National Hazing Prevention Week activities. 

Adjudication:

  1. Anyone can make a confidential or anonymous report of hazing against a chapter either online or by contacting one of the offices listed on the University website: https://hazing.cornell.edu/reporting
  2. OSCCS receive hazing reports made against Chapter and/or individual, disclose them to OSFL and when criminal they are shared with Cornell University Police Department.
  3. OSCCS meets with reporting party for intake, when possible.
  4. Assessment, investigation, and next steps determined by OSCCS. OSCCS may impose interim action, including temporary suspension, when appropriate.
  5. Incident report is reported to (Inter)National Organization Headquarters by OSCCS, who may launch an external investigation concurrent with campus and/or legal sanctioning.
  6.  OSCCS provides written description of incident outcome to Skorton Center, who posts the summary to https://hazing.cornell.edu/violations
  7. OSFL posts written description of incident outcome to Organization Scorecard
  8. Incident is resolved through formal complaint, alternate dispute resolution or dismissed.
  9. Criminal behavior is reported to law enforcement for external proceedings, concurrently with campus sanctioning.

Accountability:

  1. National Chapter sanctions and/or fines may be imposed.
  2. Cornell sanctioning by OSCCS for responsible outcomes.
  3. Criminal behavior managed externally by law enforcement.
  4. Loss of recognition, funding, housing, branding, and ability to host events plus possibility for additional sanctions imposed for non-compliance.
  5. Violations are posted on Cornell Scorecard and National Scorecard.
  6. Violations are also posted on the University’s Hazing website because transparency of violations is a key strategy of Cornell’s Hazing Prevention Model.
  7. If a Chapter loses university recognition, then the Chapter is required to apply and be approved through Expansion Policy to be reinstated.
  8. Individual(s) may be removed from chapter and/or campus.
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titleKey Risks and Controls

Key Risks

Key Controls

Hazing prevention education is available but not all opportunities for engagement are required.


Additionally, hazing prevention education is not tied to eligibility to participate in groups, teams, or organizations or leadership roles within the organization.

  1. Participation in National Hazing Prevention Week (held in September) is required for 15% membership from each chapter.
  2. Prospective new members must complete anti-hazing education. One educational option is available that includes hazing, bystander intervention, and alcohol and other drug safety. It uses a self-enrollment link so anyone with a Cornell net id can self-enroll into the training.
  3. Presidents and New Member Educators are required to attend a training on hazing prevention annually (typically in-person led by staff from the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives and OSCCS) usually in November/December after chapters have elected their new leadership and before the Spring recruitment process.

Live-in advisors strategize and use discretion of when and where to address chapter and individual behaviors.

  1. Reported allegations are handled centrally by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, separately from organization internal expectations and enforcement.

Semester recruitment plans are required and include education around hazing and an attestation, but completion is only required for chapter leadership plus 15% of the membership.

  1. All organizations must register annually.
  2. Leadership must pass an educational quiz during the registration process to move registration to approval phase.

Collusion during an investigation

  1. Confidential and anonymous reporting is available through Campus Kaizen Guardian or the Cornell Ethics and Compliance Hotline.
  2. OSCCS uses different investigative strategies to reduce the risk of collusion during an investigation.
  3. Cornell Student Code of Conduct does not require disclosure of the identity of complainants or witnesses making a report and/or participating in an investigation.

Loss of reputation to Chapter


Loss of reputation to Cornell University

  1. Violations are posted on Cornell Organization Scorecard, National Scorecard, and the Cornell University Hazing website, in an effort to be transparent about the history of hazing within organizations as well as to demonstrate the University’s enforcement of the hazing policy at Cornell.
  2. Cornell’s Hazing Prevention Model is a visible commitment to addressing hazing and serves as a guiding framework for universities across the United States.

 Powerful role of alumni

  1. OSFL and OSCCS staff are available to consult with Chapter Presidents and New Member Educators to discuss culture change strategies and how to navigate challenging relationships with alumni.
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titleMetrics
  • Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life to track hazing prevention education completion and crosscheck leadership, advisor, and member rosters.
  • Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards track # of reported allegations with their outcomes.
  • Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards track recidivism.
  • The Skorton Center for Health Initiatives administers surveys to assess students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to hazing.
  • The Skorton Center for Health Initiatives tracks and monitors training status through canvas.
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titleGlossary of Key Terms/Acronyms
  • CCE: Office of Campus and Community Engagement
  • IFC: Interfraternity Council
  • MGFC: Multicultural Greek Fraternal Council
  • OSFL: Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life
  • OSCCS: Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
  • Bid link: registration and attestation for potential new members to accept an invitation to join chapter.
  • MC: Mitigating Control
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titleHazing Prevention Model

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Between 2001 and 2015, Cornell University developed a comprehensive (i.e.  multi-component) public health hazing prevention model that addresses individuals, organizations, and the broader environment.  This model includes eight elements: leadership and culture change strategies; policy initiatives; educational initiatives; positive team building; reporting options; enforcement; support for victims; and transparency regarding violations.  For more information visit www.hazing.cornell.edu

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titleProcess
Flow Chart
flow chart

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titleMisconduct Case Management - Formal Complaint

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titleMisconduct Case Management - Dismissal by OSCCS of Formal Complaint

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titleMisconduct Case Management - Alternate Resolution for Formal Complaint

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titleMisconduct Case Management - Alternate Dispute Resolution if no Formal Complaint

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titleICP Testing

Date: 7/29/24 and 8/2/24


Name of process being tested:Sorority and Fraternity Life Hazing Management


Staff observed for process:
Staff Name/TitleStephanie Baldwin, Robert G. Engel Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life
Staff Name/TitleChristine Nye, Associate Dean of Students, Group Behavior and Development
Staff Name/TitleLaura Santacrose, Associate Director of the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives


Control Points:
Confirm all key control points are being followedNo
Are there workarounds being used in lieu of documented process?Staffing turnover and vacancies in OSFL did not allow for consistent training across IFC, MGFC, and Panhellenic chapters.


Observations:
Identify/list  any deviations to established process in narratives:None identified


Recommendations:
Recommendation for improvements to process:
  • Collaborate with campus partners to require anti-hazing education awareness training for all first year and transfer students. 


Action Plan:
Assign responsibilities and deadlines for implementing recommendations.Stephanie Baldwin, Laura Santacrose, Christine Nye
Plan for addressing any issues or deficiencies identified during the audit.
  • Fall 2024: Move hazing awareness week from September to as late in the fall semester as logistically possible, to reduce time between awareness training and recruitment.
  • Fall 2024: Resume consistent training requirement across IFC, MGFC, and Panhellenic.
  • Fall 2024: Update websites.
  • By 2027: Create post recruitment training to reinforce anti-hazing activities.
  • TBD: clarify and confirm expectations from previous mandates and Cornell Student Code of Conduct with Cornell leadership.


Wrap-up
Schedule follow-up audit to monitor implementation of recommendations and track progress.2/14/25 @ 1:00 pm
Provide a pass/fail assessment of process compliancePass with anticipated Fall 2024 improvements.


Note all source documents used for testing here:
  • Sorority and Fraternity Life Hazing Management Transaction Narrative
  • Sorority and Fraternity Life Process Flow Diagram
  • Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards Flowcharts