Penn State's Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research will partner with the Hazing Prevention Network to present three free webinars during National Hazing Prevention Week, set for Sept. 21-25. The sessions will explore how colleges, universities and student organizations can use research-informed strategies to strengthen campus and organizational cultures and improve student safety.
The webinars build on the center's "Charge for Change: Building Safer Campuses Now with Research-Informed Hazing Prevention," a policy and practice report released in April. The report offers data-informed policies and evidence-based prevention strategies in response to the Stop Campus Hazing Act, federal legislation enacted in December 2024 that requires colleges and universities to establish research-informed hazing prevention programs.
"National Hazing Prevention Week is an opportunity to move the conversation from concern to action," said Stevan Veldkamp, executive director of the Piazza Center. "The 'Charge for Change' gives campuses a clear framework for prevention, and these sessions show how institutions are putting that research into practice to stop harm before it happens."
The webinars are designed for campus professionals, organizational leaders, coaches, advisers, students and others committed to hazing prevention. Piazza Center scholars and national partners will present during the following sessions:
"Building an Effective Hazing Prevention System: The Four-Domain Framework in Action" on Monday, Sept. 21, at noon Eastern time
This session will introduce the "Charge for Change" Four-Domain Framework for Hazing Prevention and share how campuses can use it to assess current efforts, identify gaps and prioritize action.
"Charge for Change: Authors and Contributors' Vision for Policy and Practice Reform at the Top" on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 2 p.m. Eastern time
Report contributors will discuss how institutions can move beyond awareness campaigns toward systemic, evidence-informed prevention and how to engage presidents and senior leaders in transforming campus cultures.
"Four Types of Students, Four Different Prevention Needs: A Compelling (Data Driven) Story" on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 2 p.m. Eastern time
Presented with Prevent.Zone by AliveTek, this session will share emerging data identifying four types of students with distinct hazing prevention needs and what campuses and national organizations can do to address them.
All webinars are free, but registration is required. A full schedule of National Hazing Prevention Week webinars is available on the Hazing Prevention Network website.
The Piazza Center's collaboration with the Hazing Prevention Network extends beyond National Hazing Prevention Week. The organizations have partnered on the national Hazing Prevention Symposium, and the network provided support for the "Charge for Change" report.
"Our data show that students don't all come to campus with the same readiness to recognize or respond to hazing," said Kimberly Davis, data analyst for the Piazza Center. "Understanding those differences help campuses and national organizations make more informed decisions about which prevention strategies are likely to resonate with different student populations."
About the Piazza Center
The Piazza Center is a national research hub dedicated to preventing hazing, reducing substance misuse and promoting student well-being in fraternity and sorority communities and campus student groups. The center provides professional staff and volunteers with research, tools and best practices to create safer environments for students.
Penn State Student Affairs supports holistic student success through advocacy, education, engagement and care. With more than 30 programs and units, Student Affairs helps students thrive in and out of the classroom, discover community and belonging, build leadership skills and create lasting memories. All programs and events are open to all students, regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race or other protected class. Student Affairs is committed to building a community of belonging for all. Learn more about Student Affairs programs at studentaffairs.psu.edu.
