Division of Student Affairs > Student Life > Student Conduct

Student Conduct

Hazing Policies, Prevention & Reporting Illegal Downloading Title IX Complaints Title VI Complaints

Code of Student Responsibility and Student Conduct Process

Certain rights and responsibilities come with being a student at DePaul University, and these are outlined in the Code of Student Responsibility. The student conduct process is initiated if there is a violation of the code, and is in place with the goal of balancing students’ rights and responsibilities with the safety, educational and development needs of the university community. Please review the Code of Student Responsibility and Student Conduct Process.

Report a Non-Emergency Violation of the Code

To report a possible violation of the code to the Dean of Students office for further review and possible conduct action, please report it now.

These incident reports are for reporting non-critical or non-emergency incidents. If you have an emergency situation, call 911 or Public Safety.

Lincoln Park Public Safety: (773) 325-7777
Loop Public Safety: (312) 362-8400

Please use the Incident Reporting Form if you have a concern about the wellbeing of a DePaul student or are concerned that a student’s behavior may violate a University policy.

Please use the Reporting Form for Title IX/Sex and Gender-Based Misconduct if you have a concern related to sexual misconduct, stalking, or dating or domestic violence.

Please use the Reporting Form for Discrimination/Harassment (Non-Gender Based) if you have a concern related to discrimination/harassment where the respondent/alleged is a student or student organization.

Student Conduct Process Advisors

Students are afforded the right to bring an advisor in the student conduct process. For more information, please see the definition of an "Advisor" in the Code of Student Responsibility. Should the advisor of choice be an attorney, please take a moment to review the Student Conduct Process Guide for Attorneys.

Hazing Policies, Prevention & Reporting 

DePaul University is dedicated to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all members of our campus community. The University strictly prohibits hazing in any form. 

DePaul’s Code of Student Responsibility prohibits hazing. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any action taken or situation created to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, ridicule, or endangerment of a student or group of students for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or admission to, or as a condition for continued membership in a group, team, club, or other organization. Falsely leading an individual or individuals to believe that they will be inducted/initiated by participating in particular activities may also be considered hazing. Hazing can occur regardless of whether the individual being hazed willingly participated in or acquiesced to the activity. 

Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to: use/abuse of alcohol, paddling in any form, creation of excess fatigue, physical and psychological shocks, and morally degrading or humiliating games and activities. 

Activities and requirements should be planned with care to avoid engaging in hazing. This includes, but is not limited to, requiring someone to wear assigned apparel or accessories, participate in a scavenger hunt, or go on road trips.

Students or student organizations found to have engaged in hazing in violation of the Code of Student Responsibility may be subject to sanctions including, restrictions, restitution, educational projects, alcohol and other drug interventions, university reprimands, university probation, suspension, dismissal, revocation of admission, and/or revocation of degree. 

Incidents of hazing that involve imminent health or safety concerns should be reported to 911 or the Department of Public Safety by calling (773) 325-7777. All incidents of hazing should also be reported to the Dean of Students Office via the Incident Reporting Form.

Allegations of hazing are investigated via the Student Conduct Process, which is described in detail in the Code of Student Responsibility.

DePaul provides ongoing hazing awareness and prevention education for students, faculty, and staff. These programs are designed to reduce the occurrence of hazing by: (1) raising awareness about what constitutes hazing and bystander intervention and reporting; (2) teaching community members about institutional policies and procedures regarding hazing, (3) emphasizing the serious risks and consequences associated with hazing; and (4) promoting a culture of accountability and respect.

Below is a summary of hazing prevention programs and initiatives implemented across our campuses. These programs are offered regularly and in response to specific needs. Please note this is not an exhaustive list of programs and that additional programs may be provided by student organizations and campus departments.

    1. Incoming students are asked to complete hazing prevention training via educational modules, which are sent to them via email during their first term at DePaul.

    2. The University’s annual general compliance training completed by faculty and staff includes research-informed hazing awareness and prevention education.

    3. All members of the DePaul Athletics Department, including student-athletes, coaches, and staff, complete hazing awareness and prevention training through required educational modules annually.

    4. All advisors and required officers of registered student organizations (“RSOs”) receive hazing awareness and prevention education as part of each RSO’s annual registration.

    5. All members of fraternity and sorority life organizations receive hazing prevention education in their first year of membership through Fraternity and Sorority Life 101. 

Hazing is illegal in the state of Illinois. Hazing is typically classified as a Class A misdemeanor. If the hazing results in death or great bodily harm, however, then it is then considered a Class 4 felony. The law requires school officials who, while fulfilling his or her official responsibilities as a school official, personally observe a hazing incident that results in bodily harm to a person to report the incident to supervising educational authorities or, in the event of death or great bodily harm, to law enforcement. The law states as follows:

Sec. 12C-50. Hazing. (720 ILCS 5/12C-50)

(a) A person commits hazing when he or she knowingly requires the performance of any act by a student or other person in a school, college, university, or other educational institution of this State, for the purpose of induction or admission into any group, organization, or society associated or connected with that institution, if:

(1) the act is not sanctioned or authorized by that educational institution; and

(2) the act results in bodily harm to any person.

(a-1) It is not a defense to a prosecution under subsection (a) that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing.

(b) Sentence. Hazing is a Class A misdemeanor, except that hazing that results in death or great bodily harm is a Class 4 felony.

Sec. 12C-50.1. Failure to report hazing. (720 ILCS 5/12C-50.1)

(a) For purposes of this Section, “school official” includes any and all paid school administrators, teachers, counselors, support staff, and coaches and any and all volunteer coaches employed by a school, college, university, or other educational institution of this State.

(b) A school official commits failure to report hazing when:

(1) while fulfilling his or her official responsibilities as a school official, he or she personally observes an act which is not sanctioned or authorized by that educational institution;

(2) the act results in bodily harm to any person; and

(3) the school official knowingly fails to report the act to supervising educational authorities or, in the event of death or great bodily harm, to law enforcement.

(c) Sentence. Failure to report hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If the act which the person failed to report resulted in death or great bodily harm, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of failure to report hazing under this Section that the person who personally observed the act had a reasonable apprehension that timely action to stop the act would result in the imminent infliction of death, great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability to that person or another in retaliation for reporting.

(e) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to allow prosecution of a person who personally observes the act of hazing and assists with an investigation and any subsequent prosecution of the offender.

Hazing is prohibited at DePaul University. Pursuant to the Stop Campus Hazing Act, the Dean of Students Office maintains a hazing transparency report that summarizes findings concerning any student organization found to be in violation of the institution’s standards of conduct related to hazing. The report will be updated twice a year and the be available online for five years.

The Report shall not include: (1) any personally identifiable information, including any information that would reveal personally identifiable information, about any individual student in accordance with Section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act, or (2) reports of hazing that did not result in a finding of a violation. 

View the Campus Hazing Transparency Report.

Illegal Downloading

The Dean of Students Office also handles illegal downloading cases. Any student suspected of illegally downloading information  will have their access to the DePaul network removed, and will receive materials from one of the assistant deans of students with further information. All illegally downloaded materials must be removed, and only then will a student's access to the DePaul network be restored.

Title IX Complaints

As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, DePaul University prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in its education programming and activities. Visit the Title IX Information webpage to learn how to file a Title IX complaint for sexual violence, sexual harassment, or other sex discrimination.

DePaul is committed to offering a secure and supportive environment for individuals who report incidents of sexual and relationship violence to receive resources and consider all available options. More information for survivors of sexual or relationship violence can be found on the Office of Gender Equity webpage.

Title VI Complaints

The Dean of Students Office works in collaboration with Human Resources and the Office of the Provost to uphold the university’s obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect community members from harassment or discrimination based on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, disability, military status, genetic information and other status protected by local, state, or federal law.

Specifically, the Dean of Students Office is responsible for investigating and adjudicating allegations of the university’s Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy & Procedures when a student is being alleged of the misconduct.

The University’s Human Dignity & Bias Response Team (HDBRT) provides a consistent, educational, and restorative process for addressing incidents that may impact an individual’s or community’s sense of dignity and belonging. The team reviews reported incidents, coordinates responses with appropriate university offices when necessary, and offers opportunities for education, dialogue, and healing. Its purpose is not to investigate or discipline, but to foster learning, accountability, and understanding consistent with DePaul’s Vincentian mission and values. Individuals who wish to make a bias report to the HDBRT can make a report through the HDBRT website.

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