Hazing
Minn. Stat. 121A.69 — a written policy in every school board, on and off school property
In Minnesota, hazing means committing an act against a student, or coercing a student into committing an act, that creates a substantial risk of harm to a person, in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with a student organization: a group, club or organization whose primary members or participants are students.
Every school board has a policy. Each school board adopts a written policy governing student or staff hazing. It applies to student behavior on or off school property and during and after school hours, and includes reporting procedures and disciplinary consequences severe enough to deter violations.
In the handbook. Each school includes the hazing policy in its student handbook, and the commissioner of education keeps a model policy available to school boards.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionHazing off campus or after hours is outside the school's reach | What the law actually doesThe policy applies to student behavior on or off school property, during and after school hours |
| The assumptionIt only counts as hazing if someone is hurt | What the law actually doesIt is an act creating a substantial risk of harm, done to initiate or affiliate a student |
Criminal charges that may apply to the same conduct, college rules and student discipline procedures are not on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed Minnesota attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Minn. Stat. 121A.69 — Hazing policy
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Minnesota attorney.