WVU is committed to preventing hazing through year-round education, training and strategic partnerships. Programs like the Prevention Summit, Hazing Prevention Week and advocacy trainings raise awareness, promote safe practices and empower the campus community to take action. WVU also collaborates with national organizations to strengthen its efforts and support a culture of safety and accountability.
Hazing Prevention Programming
Hazing: What You Need to Know
In November 2025, this eLearning course was created and is required for first-semester WVU Students at all campuses and student organizations. This course covers the definition of hazing, how to identify hazing behaviors, strategies for prevention, how to report hazing incidents, and the University’s process for investigating allegations and handling disciplinary actions.
While completion of this training is required for certain student groups, it is strongly recommended that all members of the campus community — including faculty and staff — take the training as well.
Take Hazing Prevention TrainingIFC Hazing Prevention Training
Annually before recruitment, each IFC chapter participates in a presentation put on by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life on recognizing what is hazing and providing alternative programming instead. This training also covers federal, state and WVU regulations around hazing.
FSL New Member Orientation
As part of our New Member Orientation, we emphasize a strong commitment to hazing prevention by educating members on recognizing, preventing, and reporting hazing in all forms. This session reinforces that true brotherhood and sisterhood are built on respect, inclusion, and accountability, not harmful traditions. Together, we work to create a culture where every member feels safe, valued, and supported.
FSL Presidents Leadership Program
The Presidents Leadership Program equips chapter presidents with the tools, knowledge, and network to lead with integrity and purpose. In addition to developing leadership and decision-making skills, presidents engage in proactive hazing prevention education, learning how to identify, address, and eliminate harmful behaviors within their chapters. This program empowers leaders to foster a culture of safety, accountability, and genuine brotherhood and sisterhood across the community.
Prevention Summit
Has been held annually, the Prevention Summit focuses on various areas of harm reduction including but not limited to alcohol and other drug education, medical amnesty, hazing prevention, emergency onlooker response and sexual misconduct/bystander intervention. The “Breathe, Nolan, Breathe” documentary is the keynote of the program, focusing on the hazing death of Nolan Burch at WVU. Strategies for hazing prevention are provided at length.
Hazing Prevention Week
Has been held annually during the last week in September, WVU engages with the National Hazing Prevention Week by promoting virtual education offered by the Hazing Prevention Network and the StopHazing Organization. Original programming includes:
- Faces of Hazing Exhibit: A silent walk-through exhibit highlights the real stories of various students who have died by hazing. These stories include deaths within fraternities and sororities, varsity athletics, club sports and intramurals, general student organizations, marching bands and military programs.
- Is This Hazing?: This interactive workshop highlights common traditions in fraternity and sorority life and explains when such traditions develop into hazing rituals. Participants discuss the appropriate engagement in traditions as opposed to using them as a means of hazing.
Hazing Prevention Awareness and Education
This online training is available to all students and employees across the WVU System and is evidence-based, teaching participants what hazing is, how to identify it and how to specifically report it and offering strategies for hazing eradication.
C.H.A.P.T.E.R.
Offered by WellWVU upon request, this program focuses on peer accountability and intervention with acts of hazing in fraternity and sorority life.
New Member Bill of Rights
This list of rights are to be bestowed upon new members who join a fraternity or sorority. Each organization agrees to uphold the Bill of Rights during the membership intake process. The document also includes strictly prohibited activities that are outlined in detail.
Fraternity and Sorority Scorecard
This document lists academic, demographic and disciplinary information per recognized organization. It is updated at the end of each semester and shared publicly on the WVU Fraternity and Sorority Life website.
Hazing Prevention Task Force
Established in 2017, the Task Force exists to increase an active awareness and understanding of hazing in the University community. It is a collaborative body of faculty, staff and students committed to strategizing the intentional eradication of hazing at West Virginia University. It includes representation from all major facets of student life as well as WVU System campuses.
Partnerships
WVU has intentionally partnered with agencies and organizations focused on hazing prevention. These include:
- Piazza Center for Fraternity Research and Reform at Penn State University: WVU participated in the inaugural cohort of campuses who participated in the “What Works in Hazing Prevention” longitudinal study from 2022-2025. We received professional consultation on our hazing prevention efforts and engaged weekly in a community of care with other professionals, discussing ways to eradicate hazing on campus. We also participate in their national scorecard program. WVU has one employee who serves as a Research Fellow with the Center.
- Hazing Prevention Institute: For the past several years, WVU has sent staff and students to this multi-day conference focused on hazing prevention.
- Hazing Prevention Network: WVU has had multiple employees/students certified as Hazing Prevention Advocates through this multi-week, asynchronous online course.