Campus Hazing Transparency Report

The Stop Campus Hazing Act was signed into law in December 2024. This federal law requires NECO to:

• Compile and disclose statistics on hazing incidents in its Annual Security Report, published on an annual basis and accessible from the Consumer Info and Accreditation page;
• Publish information related to hazing incidents involving student organizations in a Campus Hazing Transparency Report;
• Publish specified information related to antihazing policies and awareness programs.

NECO fully complies with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act and all applicable local, state, and tribal laws.

Hazing Definition and Policy
Hazing is defined as any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Examples of such conduct include but is not limited to: whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation. Consent of the individual is not available as a defense.

New England College of Optometry will not tolerate hazing of any kind. Students found responsible for hazing, whether by the college or in a court of law regardless of the incident’s affiliation with the college, will be subject to discipline as outlined in the Student Handbook.

The full policy, including links to the state laws prohibiting hazing, is available in the Student Handbook.

How to Report Hazing
NECO takes all reports of hazing seriously. Reports may be submitted to:

• Associate Dean of Student Affairs
• Title IX Coordinator, [email protected]
• CAPA staff, [email protected]
• Anonymous incident report form, available on the Portal

Campus Hazing Transparency Report
The Campus Hazing Transparency Report lists findings of responsibility for hazing violations by established or recognized student organizations. Any reports of hazing that did not result in a finding of responsibility are not included.

The Campus Hazing Transparency Report will include the following information:

• Name of student organization;
• Description of violation, including whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs;
• Date of the alleged incident;
• Date investigation was initiated;
• Date investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred
• Date the institution provided notice to the organization of the finding; and
• The findings of the institution and any sanctions placed on the organization by the institution.

March 1, 2026 – August 31, 2026
No findings of responsibility.

September 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026
No findings of responsibility.

July 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025
No findings of responsibility.