News & information from UB, New York's flagship university
Updated September 8, 2021
The University at Buffalo has zero-tolerance regarding hazing and aggressively pursues any violations of this policy that occur. Hazing is inconsistent with the values of UB and, as such, the university has established policies to deter these behaviors and enact appropriate disciplinary action when needed.
While federal privacy law prohibits UB from commenting on disciplinary proceedings involving individual students, whenever there is a serious violation of UB’s student code of conduct, such as hazing, students face suspension and the possibility of expulsion from the university.
Organized student life programs are a valuable part of the university environment and help further UB’s educational mission. The university formally recognizes the status of those student organizations that abide by UB polices and the student code of conduct. Recognized student organizations further the university's educational mission. The university actively warns students not to join or participate in the activities of unrecognized groups because these organizations are not affiliated with the University and, therefore, may not be committed to the University’s high standards governing student behavior and organizational activities
Many of the goals and expectations of recognized organizations are to promote, support and encourage academic excellence, self-governance, and service to the university and greater community.
UB has over 20 recognized social fraternities and sororities affiliated with our campus. These organizations are expected to complement the university's educational mission and to comply with campus policies, rules and regulations, as well as federal, state, and local laws.
To guide fraternities and sororities on our campus in a positive direction, the university has instituted a number of specific policies and procedures. Such policies include deferred recruitment. This means that freshmen are not eligible for membership in a fraternity or sorority until they have earned 12 credits and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, as well as attendance at a university-sponsored information session. This encourages students to focus on their academic success before they become heavily involved in an organization that requires a serious time commitment.
New fraternal members are required to attend informational seminars, which address such issues as: the history of Greek-letter societies, hazing and sexual assault prevention, and risk management. Attendees are informed regarding the hazing and alcohol policies of both UB and the State of New York.
The university is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for our students to pursue their studies and participate in appropriate activities that are an essential part of the college experience.
Each year at student orientation, representatives from the university strongly warn students and their families not to join unrecognized fraternal groups because these groups do not abide by university rules and have been known to engage in hazing activities. The university has has zero tolerace for hazing. UB also warns students that joining a unrecognized fraternal group is in itself a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and could result in disciplinary action.
The most effective strategy is to actively and consistently warn students and their parents about unrecognized groups’ past bad conduct.
When the University learns that students are operating an unrecognized group that portrays itself as a fraternity or have joined one, the university initiates an investigation and enacts its judicial process. This process is often made difficult by the fact that students who join a unrecognized fraternity do not divulge their participation. Often, parents do not know that that their son or daughter has joined a unrecognized group.
UB encourages students to be more forthcoming with information so that the university can more closely monitor these rogue organizations and help to prevent future incidents
To more effectively monitor and discipline these activities, UB asks students and their parents to report the activities of unrecognized groups to the university.
When a serious incident occurs in an unrecognized organization, student cooperation is critically important to the university’s investigation and to the judicial process.