Sorority and Fraternity Life Transaction Narrative

Date Created:  February 2, 2024              Last Updated:  October 3, 2025

Overview:

As of Fall 2025, there are 51 University recognized fraternity and sorority chapters, of which 9 have University owned properties, comprised of approximately 3,400+ students are recognized by Cornell University. This population is educated about hazing prevention and held accountable for their hazing related behaviors. Chapter leadership is required to submit an attestation around hazing awareness 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, in November, targeted to the Greek population and delivered by staff in the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards in collaboration with Sorority and Fraternity Life, after the chapters have elected their new leadership. Prospective new members must complete the 'How to Recognize and Respond to Hazing' anti-hazing training prior to being eligible to join a fraternity or sorority and designated leaders from each chapter are required to attend National Hazing Prevention Week activities organized by 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, state, and federal definitions of hazing, bystander intervention strategies, reporting options, support resources, 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. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards collaborate with Sorority and Fraternity Life and National Organization Headquarters (as needed) to manage appropriate follow up for non-compliance.

Criticality: High

Frequency: Other

Turnaround: Other

Key Parties

Campus and Community Engagement; Sorority and Fraternity Life: Responsible for developing training resources and coordinating logistics with the chapter’s leadership team to provide education and support resources. Monitors and oversees completion statuses in Campus Groups and Canvas. Sets and monitors expectations for advisors and chapter leadership. Meets with the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards to review and manage post-incident sanction completion and behavior mitigation. Provides resource information to organizations and individual members in need of support. Communicates with National Headquarters as needed and appropriate.

Chapter Advisors: Cornell University requires all recognized chapters to have a Chapter Advisor. Chapters are responsible for selecting their own Chapter Advisor, in collaboration with their National Organization, and are responsible for setting expectations and monitoring chapter and individual behavior. 

Student Conduct and Community Standards: Reviews all reports and responsible for resolution according to the Student Code of Conduct and Procedures including sanction completion. Notifies (Inter)National Chapter Headquarters when there is disciplinary action. Reports criminal behaviors to law enforcement and provides data for Clery compliance.

Skorton Center for Health Initiatives: Provides institutional leadership on hazing prevention strategies (e.g., Cornell's Hazing Prevention Model), delivers prevention focused educational trainings to students and employees on hazing, bystander intervention and how to recognize and respond to hazing , collaborates with SCL Communications team to curate the University’s hazing.cornell.edu website, collaboratively implements communication strategies and campaigns about hazing prevention, conducts research on students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to hazing among Cornell students, uses data driven-strategies to address hazing, and participates in public engagement and collaborative opportunities with national hazing prevention organizations and universities across the country to address hazing. The Skorton Center also collaborates with Sorority and Fraternity Life to provide educational trainings on hazing and bystander intervention education (e.g., Intervene, How to Recognize and Respond to Hazing).

National Chapter Headquarters: Set expectations and monitor chapter behavior. Administer and manage sanctions for hazing violations. Provide or revoke funding, housing eligibility, and recognition as warranted.

Cornell Clery Compliance Office: Responsible for conducting annual training for all identified Campus Security Authorities and including the campus hazing policy statement and Clery reportable statistics of hazing in the Annual Security Report.

  • Campus Groups
  • Canvas
  • Campus Kaizen Guardian
  • StarRez
  • Housing Membership Portal
  • Campus Director (externally managed)
  • Drupal
  1. Chapter and individual behaviors around identifying and responding to hazing behaviors, comprehension of training materials, and available resources will vary per individual.
  2. Chapter and individual behaviors may be influenced based on the training focus and expectations set by their president, new member educator, and Chapter Advisor.
  3. Advisors review and assess when and where to address chapter and individual behaviors. Level of engagement varies by advisor from chapter to chapter.
  4. Chapter Advisor is chosen by the the chapter and is subject to change.
  5. 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.
  6. Collusion, resulting in inappropriate disclosure of information between those who have been hazed and perpetrators of hazing, may occur during the investigation.
  7. 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.
  8. National Hazing Prevention Week has historically taken place in September. Cornell’s robust Greek Life new member process takes place in January. 
  9. Eligibility and training for live-in advisors are not employees of Cornell University; and therefore, Cornell is limited in enforcing accountability.
  10. Campus Kaizen Guardian allows for anonymous reporting (which is a best practice), but does not allow user-friendly, encrypted communication with individuals who desire ongoing communication and support.
  11. Since data collection efforts began, some chapters have a history of repeated hazing incidents and Cornell's current approach has not been able to mitigate it yet.
  12. It is believed that some chapter alumni may influence hazing behaviors.
  13. Cornell is limited, and in some cases, unable to determine and address the level of involvement that alumni and Chapter Advisors influence current organizational behavior. Some, but not all, National Headquarters work with Cornell to remove or prohibit alumni or Chapter Advisor involvement.

Education/Prevention:

  1. First year and transfer students are offered hazing prevention education in two existing required New Student To Do List items (Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards 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 Sorority and Fraternity Life.
  5. President and new member educator attend in person training with staff from Sorority and Fraternity Life, the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives and Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
  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. Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards receive hazing reports made against Chapter and/or individual, disclose them to Sorority and Fraternity Life and when criminal they are shared with Cornell University Police Department.
  3. Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards meets with reporting party for intake, when possible.
  4. Assessment, investigation, and next steps determined by Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards 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.  Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards provides written description of incident outcome to Skorton Center, who posts the summary to https://hazing.cornell.edu/violations
  7. Sorority and Fraternity Life 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 Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards 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.

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 encouraged for membership from each chapter.
  2. Participation in the Antonio Tsialas Hazing Prevention Week is required by a portion of membership from each chapter. Targeted portions of members are determined by current campus climate and needs.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards) usually in November/December after chapters have elected their new leadership and before the Spring recruitment process.

Live-in advisors are required for every house but some may not recognize hazing behavior and therefore, incidents may go unreported. Level of engagement varies among advisors and they are not employees of Cornell. Training is not consistently offered or scheduled.

  1. Being developed.

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. Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards 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. Sorority and Fraternity Life and Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards 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.

Repeat allegations after reinstating recognition

  1. Chapters must successfully meet requirements to have recognition reinstated. Requirements are determined based on specific hazing circumstances and require at least one year to fulfill.
  • 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.
  • CCE: Office of Campus and Community Engagement
  • IFC: Interfraternity Council
  • MGFC: Multicultural Greek Fraternal Council
  • SFL: 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

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

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 SFL 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 2025: 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 2025: Resume consistent training requirement across IFC, MGFC, and Panhellenic.
  • Fall 2025: 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  Rescheduled to 3/7/25 @ 2:00 pm
Provide a pass/fail assessment of process compliancePass with anticipated Fall 2025 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



Status Report
Date:March 7, 2025
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?No


Observations:
Identify/list  any deviations to established process in narratives:Sorority and Fraternity Life website updates are on track but not yet completed. Updates to the University Hazing website have been completed.

Hazing awareness week is being planned for late October/early November so that it will include prospective new members.

University hiring pause is directly impacting staff resources. MGFC and Panhellenic positions are currently vacant. 

University hazing website has been updated by SCL and Skorton Center, OSCCS leads violations

Live in advisors are required for every house but they are not Cornell employees and have not received formal hazing education. 


Recommendations:
Recommendation for improvements to process:Implement education for live-in advisors.

Update documentation to include Clery requirements.
Action Plan:
Assign responsibilities and deadlines for implementing recommendations.Sorority and Fraternity Life will provide resources and one newsletter per semester to live-in advisors.
Plan for addressing any issues or deficiencies identified during the audit.Meet 8/12/25 to revise documentation to include Clery requirements.


Wrap-up
Schedule follow-up audit to monitor implementation of recommendations and track progress.8/12/2025
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