Club sport members and coaches are not permitted to use alcohol before, during, or after a club sport activity, including travel to and from an event and down time between games on multi-day trips. Additionally, visiting teams and spectators are forbidden from consuming alcohol during any club sport event. Failure to abide by these rules will result in the player, players, or club being suspended.

The use of tobacco products is prohibited for all game personnel including players, coaches, trainers, and officials in all club sports during practices and competitions. A club sport athlete who uses tobacco products during a practice or competition shall be disqualified for the remainder of that practice or competition.

No hazing of any kind will be tolerated by the Department of Harvard Athletics. Any club that hazes will immediately lose its club sport status. Each year, all club sports must sign an agreement stating that they are aware of the Massachusetts law and that each member agrees to follow it precisely.

Massachusetts law expressly prohibits any form of hazing in connection with initiation into a student organization, including club sports. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, the following: requiring or encouraging a member to consume alcohol or drugs; forcing or coercing a member to eat or drink foreign or unusual substances or having those substances applied to the body; degrading or humiliating games or activities; cruel or unusual psychological treatment; requiring a member to carry heavy or strange objects; kidnapping; public profanity, indecent or lewd conduct, or sexual gestures; any activity which is illegal, publicly indecent, perverse, contrary to morals and/or beliefs.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended is a federal law that gives students certain rights with respect to their education records.

For more information, see the FERPA Overview.

Harvard University is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the University community is, on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation or gender identity, excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in any University program or activity. Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination in that it denies an individual equal access to the University's programs or activities.

• Harvard University Interim Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy

• Harvard University Interim Other Sexual Misconduct Policy

• Harvard Sexual and Gender Based Harassment Policy

Introduction

As a member of the Harvard University community, members of recognized Club Sports are mandated to conduct themselves and their organizations in a manner compatible with the university’s philosophy and function as an educational institution. Due to the independent nature of clubs and the limits of the university’s relationship with clubs, club officers are vested with the responsibility to ensure that the recognized club sport abides by all university, Department of Harvard Athletics & Recreation, and club sports policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Recognition as a club sport grants certain rights and attendant responsibilities. Permission to make authorized use of the university name and marks, permission to compete off-campus representing the university, access to university grants, and space and resource allocation characterize clubs and their members as representatives of Harvard University. As clubs participate in recreational and competitive pursuits on and off campus, they must be aware that they are always representing the university to the greater community.

The Club Sports Office (CSO) has established this Code of Conduct which defines the parameters of violation, discipline and dispute resolution. The Club Sports Disciplinary Policy and Procedures addresses clubs that are found in violation of the Club Sports Office policies and codes of conduct. The disciplinary process does not hear or sanction individual club members. Club officers are responsible for the actions of the club as a whole and/or any individual member of the club.

Jurisdiction

The club sports disciplinary and appeals procedure addresses clubs that are found in violation of Harvard club sports policies and procedures. The club sports disciplinary and appeals procedure does not hear or sanction individual club members. Individual club members who are matriculated Harvard University students and have violated University Policies and/or Student Standards of Conduct will be referred for disciplinary action to the appropriate university office.

Individual Conduct Discipline

Club Sport organizations should create and outline their own code of conduct and disciplinary policies in addition to the CSO and University Code of Conduct.

Team Conduct Discipline

Club sport organizations found in group violation of CSO policies may be subject to disciplinary action. Club organizations may be reprimanded after failure to meet the guidelines and regulations set forth by the CSO.

Violations

The following activities/conduct will not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary sanctions against a club including, but not limited to, financial penalties, probation, suspension, or expulsion from Harvard’s club sports program. Disciplinary infractions are categorized as either Minor Infractions or Major Infractions. The CSO will review and determine what violations are considered minor or major infractions. The CSO will also determine violation penalties as seen fit.

Minor Infractions

The disciplinary process for minor infractions is designed to prevent procedural violations and ensure club organizations stay in good standing with the Club Sports Office.

Examples of minor infractions include but are not limited to:

• Failure to submit or update forms and documentation such as:
  • Contact information for new club officers
  • Organization Re-registration
  • Club Constitution
  • End of Semester Reports

• Unexcused absences
  • Club Sports Officer Trainings
  • Meetings with the CSO
  • Disciplinary Meetings

Minor infraction penalties

The CSO will review the infraction and determine a penalty accordingly.

• Minimum penalty: written warning
• Maximum penalty: 2-week suspension of club activities

Major Infractions

The disciplinary process for major infractions is designed to protect the integrity and operation of club sports at Harvard and in the greater community.

Examples of major infractions include but are not limited to:

• Unauthorized use of Department of Harvard Athletics & Recreation facilities
• Violation of Club Sports Alcohol and Drug Policy
• Unauthorized use of university marks and logos for club activities and swag
• Repeated disregard for club sport policy and procedures
• Repeated minor infractions
• Misconduct, including, but not limited to:
  • Membership Identification – allowing ineligible individuals to participate in club activities
  • Falsification of information
  • Misuse of Department of Harvard Athletics & Recreation facilities and equipment
  • Club initiation / hazing
  • Theft and/or property damage

Major Infraction Penalties

The CSO will review the infraction and determine a penalty accordingly.

• Immediate activity suspension by CSO
  • The CSO will then further evaluate the infraction to determine the severity of the penalty. The official penalty will be given within one week of initial suspension.

• Suspension
  • Minimum: 1 week
  • Maximum: 5 weeks
• Probation: 1 additional semester
• Expulsion: loss of recognition as a club sport and Harvard student organization
• Financial restrictions
  • Limited access to department funding opportunities

Notice of Action

Once an infraction has been identified, the club’s officers, as listed on SOCO, will receive a letter in the form of an email from the CSO, informing the club of the infraction.

Disciplinary Meeting

The Disciplinary Board will be comprised of and facilitated by Club Sport Office (CSO) representatives. The meeting must be attended by the currently elected officers of the club.

The meeting will address the charged infraction. The Disciplinary Board will discuss the club’s violation of Club Sports policies and/or procedures. The club officers will be given an opportunity to respond. The Disciplinary Board may request additional information and re-convene the meeting at a later time to give the club’s officers time to comply with the request.

Once the meeting is concluded, the Disciplinary Board will give a recommendation for disciplinary action to the Reade and Elizabeth Griffith Director of Club Sports, Intramurals and Recreational Activity. The club’s officers will be notified in writing via email of an approved disciplinary action within two business days of the conclusion of the disciplinary meeting.

Appeals Process

Once the club officers have been notified of the decision of the Disciplinary Board, they are entitled to request an appeal. After 7 calendar days of written notification, the decision of the Disciplinary Board is final. Written request for an appeal must be submitted within 7 calendar days. A club remains in suspension during the appeals process.

The club officers must submit a written request via email to the Reade and Elizabeth Griffith Director of Club Sports, Intramurals and Recreational Activity stating:

• Charged Infraction
• Action Taken by Disciplinary Board
• Grounds for the Appeal, which may include:
  • New information not available at the disciplinary meeting
  • Procedural disputes that may change or affect the outcome of the decision
  • Severity of Sanction

Appeals Meeting

The Appeals Board will be comprised will be comprised of and facilitated by Club Sport Office (CSO) representatives. The meeting must be attended by the currently elected officers of the club.

The meeting will address the grounds for the appeal. The Appeals Board will discuss the club’s violation of Club Sports policies and/or procedures. The club officers will be given an opportunity to respond and introduce new information, discuss a procedural dispute, or explain how a severe sanction would cause a club undue hardship.

Once the meeting is concluded, the Appeals Board will render a decision to uphold, reject or modify the decision of the Disciplinary Board. Clubs should bear in mind that appealing a disciplinary decision is not without peril. The Appeals Board decision may be more severe than the original decision. The club’s officers will be notified in writing via email of the Appeals Board’s action within two business days of the conclusion of the appeals meeting.

Final Appeal

A condition of recognition as a Club Sport is agreement by the recognized club to be bound by decisions rendered during the Club Sports disciplinary process, all recognized clubs accept that the Decisions of the Appeals Board are final.

A recognized club which attempts to pursue further appeal, either within the Club Sports administrative structure or elsewhere, will be considered in violation of their recognition agreement and will be suspended. Once the club has served the term of its discipline as defined by the disciplinary process, the club would have to reapply for recognition as a Club Sport. As with all new applications for recognition, the club would have to serve two full semesters of temporary status without access to a Club Sports budget allocation.