The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) is a federal law that helps make college campuses safer by requiring schools to be more open about hazing. The bill passed Congress unanimously and was enacted into law on December 23, 2024.
This law updates the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (the Clery Act). It forces colleges to take stronger, more consistent steps to track, report, and prevent hazing.
The Three Main Requirements of the SCHA
Every college that receives federal financial aid must follow these three rules:
- Anti-Hazing Policy & Prevention Plan: Colleges must publish policies that ban hazing and outline a mandatory prevention program.
- Annual Safety Reporting: Colleges must include hazing statistics in their yearly Clery Act security reports.
- Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR): Colleges must maintain a public, easy-to-find website that shares details about substantiated hazing cases involving recognized student organizations.
Detailed Breakdown of Requirements
- Anti-Hazing Policy & Mandatory Prevention
The SCHA requires institutions to maintain clear, written anti-hazing policies. While the law’s reporting mandates focus on recognized student organizations, an institution’s policy may also prohibit hazing by individual students. Your school’s policy must explain:
- Reporting: How students can report hazing, including anonymous options.
- Investigation: The school’s process for investigating reports.
- Sanctions: The consequences for those found responsible.
- Prevention: A mandatory, comprehensive prevention program that educates students on the dangers of hazing and the school’s expectations.
- Hazing Statistics in Annual Security Reports
Starting with data from 2025, colleges must list hazing as a separate category in their Annual Security Report. Using a standard federal definition, schools must count these incidents to show the true picture of campus safety. This data helps students and families compare safety records across different institutions.
- The Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR)
This is the law’s most significant tool for openness. Colleges must create a public webpage for the Campus Hazing Transparency Report, updated at least twice a year.
The CHTR specifically documents substantiated hazing violations by officially recognized and established student organizations. For each violation, the school must list:
- The name of the student group involved.
- A clear description of what occurred.
- Whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
- The official findings and the sanctions given to the group.
- Four key dates:
- When the incident allegedly happened.
- When the investigation began.
- When the investigation ended with a final finding.
- When the school provided final notice to the organization (after all appeals).
How This Empowers Informed College Decisions
The Stop Campus Hazing Act ensures that hazing is no longer hidden. By requiring schools to report both individual-level prevention policies and organization-level transparency reports, the law encourages colleges to identify and address high-risk behaviors early.
If you are researching college safety, SCHA requirements, or hazing laws for universities, these reports are your best resource. They provide the honest information needed to understand a school’s culture before you enroll.