Anti-Hazing Report

Act 80 of 2018
The General Assembly of PA Title 18, Chapter, Senate Bill #1090
Gwynedd Mercy University Report
Posted August 1, 2026

Academic Years 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025- 2026-2026

Next Required Update: January 1, 2027

This report is published in accordance with Act 80 of 2018, the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-hazing Law, Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 2809 et seq. and will be published on the Gwynedd Mercy University website. This law defines hazing, gives examples of prohibited behavior, and sets parameters concerning penalties for violators. The report must contain violations reported to the institution for the previous five years and be publicly accessible on the institutions internet website biannually by January 1 and August 1st.

A copy of the Gwynedd Mercy University policy prohibiting hazing, as required under Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 2808 can be found within the student handbook.

2801. Definitions

"Campus security officer." An employee of an institution of higher education charged with maintaining the safety and security of the property of the institution and the individuals on the property.

"Institution of higher education" or "Institution." An institution located within this Commonwealth authorized to grant an associate or higher academic degree.

"Organization." Any of the following: (1) A fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society,
corps, club or service, social or similar group, whose members are primarily minors, students or alumni of
the organization, an institution or secondary school. (2) A national or international organization with
which a fraternity or sorority or other organization as enumerated under paragraph (1) is affiliated.

2802. Hazing

(a) Offense defined. A person commits the offense of hazing if the person intentionally, knowingly or
recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a minor or student into or with an
organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a minor or student's membership or status in
an organization, causes, coerces or forces a minor or student to do any of the following:

(1) Violate Federal or State criminal law.

(2) Consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the minor or
student to a risk of emotional or physical harm.

(3) Endure brutality of a physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure
to the elements.

(4) Endure brutality of a mental nature, including activity adversely affecting the mental health or dignity
of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in
extreme embarrassment.

(5) Endure brutality of a sexual nature.

(6) Endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the minor or student.

(b) Grading.

(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), hazing is a summary offense.

(2) Hazing shall be a misdemeanor of the third degree if it results in or creates a reasonable likelihood of
bodily injury to the minor or student.

(c) Limitation. Hazing shall not include reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement or military
training, contests, competitions or events.

803. Aggravated Hazing

(a) Offense defined. A person commits the offense of aggravated hazing if the person commits a
violation of section 2802 (relating to hazing) that results in serious bodily injury or death to the minor or
student. and:

(1) the person acts with reckless indifference to the health and safety of the minor or student; or (2) the
person causes, coerces or forces the consumption of an alcoholic liquid or drug by the minor or student.

(b) Grading. Aggravated hazing shall be a felony of the third degree.

 

2809. Institutional Reports

(a) Maintenance. An institution shall maintain a report of all violations of the institution's anti-hazing
policy or Federal or State laws related to hazing that are reported to the institution.

(b) Contents. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) The name of the subject of the report.

(2) The date when the subject was charged with a violation of the institution's anti-hazing policy or
Federal or State laws related to hazing.

(3) A general description of the violation, any investigation and findings by the institution and, if
applicable, penalties.

(4) The date on which the matter was resolved.

(c) Initial report. This section shall apply beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year. The initial
report shall include information concerning violations that have been reported to the institution for
the five consecutive years prior to the effective date of this section to the extent the institution has
retained information concerning the violations.

(d) Personal identifying information. The report shall not include the personal identifying
information of an individual.

(e) Time. An institution shall post an initial report required under this section on its publicly
accessible Internet website.

(f) Update. An institution shall update the report biannually on January 1 and August 1 and shall
post the updated report on its publicly accessible Internet website. (g) Duration. --An institution shall
retain reports for five years.

 

Findings

January 1, 2026 – July 31, 2026

July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025

 
January 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025

 
January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024

 
January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023

 
January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022

 

January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021

 Published: 08/01/2026