Policy Against Bullying and Hazing

Applicability
The policy against bullying and hazing applies to students and employees, and the reporting  obligations about suspected or actual bullying or hazing apply to all employees (full-time and  part-time), interns, and volunteers. The policy also applies to the following when they are at  Prep-sponsored events or on Prep premises: alumni; employees or agents of partner schools,  organizations, or vendors; and independent contractors. 
 
Definitions 
Bullying occurs when a student is subjected to repeated unwelcome behavior, often because of  an imbalance of power. Students are subjected to bullying when they are repeatedly the target  of negative verbal or physical actions by one or more students or employees. Bullying also  includes cyber bullying, which is the sending or posting of harmful or cruel text or images via  the internet, cell phones, chat rooms, email, instant messaging, or any other means of digital  communication.  

Hazing means any activity that humiliates, degrades, or risks emotional, psychological, and/or  physical harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate. Hazing sometimes occurs  as part of an initiation, or as a prerequisite to membership, into any organized group.  

Student means any current student participant in either Prep or PREP 9, regardless of age. For the  avoidance of doubt, this meansstudents in the Preparatory Component, post-placement students,  and undergraduate students.  

Policy Statement & Procedure 
Bullying and hazing are prohibited. Any employee who learns or suspects that bullying or hazing  of or by students should take appropriate steps to intervene, to the extent that they can do so  without danger or peril to themselves or others, and shall report such information to their  Component Director or the Executive Director as soon as possible. 

Retaliation is Prohibited  
Prep will not allow any form of retaliation against individuals who raise concerns related to this  policy.
 
Retaliation is any form of intimidation, reprisal, bullying, or harassment directed against an  employee, student, or third party who reports bullying or hazing, provides information during an  investigation of a report of bullying or hazing, witnesses or has reliable information about any  such incident or behavior, or otherwise assists in the enforcement of this policy. 

Questions
Questions or concerns about this policy should be directed to the Executive Director.