Commitment to Hazing Prevention

Hazing is prohibited at Shoreline College (SC). This prohibition applies to conduct that may occur both on and off campus. In compliance with  2SHB 1751 (2022), SC will implement procedures and programs, including offering students and employees hazing prevention training and programming, implementing mandatory reporting of hazing, creating a hazing prevention committee, and publishing a hazing report.

Hazing Definition

As used in RCW 28B.10.901 and 28B.10.902, "hazing" includes any act committed as part of a person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person attending a public or private institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution in this state, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. "Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions.

Hazing Reporting

If, as a result of observations or information received in the course of employment or volunteer service, any employee, including a student employee, or volunteer at SC who has reasonable cause to believe that hazing has occurred shall report the incident via the reporting form on the College's Hazing Prevention webpage.

  • "Reasonable cause" means a person who witnesses hazing or receives a credible written or oral report alleging hazing or potential or planned hazing activity.
  • A person who witnesses hazing or has reasonable cause to believe hazing has occurred or will occur and makes a report in good faith may not be sanctioned or punished for the violation of hazing unless the person is directly engaged in the planning, directing, or act of hazing reported.
  • Nothing in this section shall preclude a person from independently reporting hazing or suspected hazing activity to law enforcement.

An "employee" means a person who is receiving wages from SC and is in a position with direct ongoing contact with students in a supervisory role or position of authority. "Employee" does not include a person employed as medical staff or with an affiliated organization, entity, or extension of a postsecondary educational institution, unless the employee has a supervisory role or position of authority over students. "Employee" does not include confidential employees, such as counselors working in a mental health counseling role or medical staff.

Hazing Prevention Committee

Shoreline College’s Hazing Prevention Committee will promote and address hazing prevention. The committee is comprised of students from student organizations and/or athletic teams, employees, and a parent of a student.

Hazing Prevention Training

All employees, including student employees, receive hazing prevention training through annual online modules on the signs and dangers of hazing, as well as SC’s prohibition against hazing.

SC provides students with educational programming on hazing that includes information on hazing awareness, prevention, intervention, and the College's policies prohibiting hazing. This programming can be provided either in person or electronically and is part of new student orientation sessions. The program information is also posted on the College’s public website for the public, including parents, legal guardians, and volunteers to review.