Cornell University was one of over 60 campuses who agreed to participate in the National Study of Student Hazing — a landmark research initiative that builds on nearly two decades of national scholarship on hazing culture and its impact across college campuses. Led by the Hazing Prevention Research Lab at the University of Maine, this study represents the first comprehensive national update since the original Hazing in View: College Students at Risk research conducted in 2007–2008.

Cornell has been closely engaged with the national hazing research and prevention community since the earliest days of this work and has contributed to the evolution of research-informed, public-health–oriented approaches to hazing prevention. Our participation in the current national study continues that long-standing commitment.

Why this study matters

National research has consistently shown that hazing remains widespread across higher education, affecting students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations. Hazing behaviors often involve alcohol misuse, humiliation, isolation, and sleep deprivation — practices that pose serious risks to student health, safety, and well-being.

By participating in the National Study of Student Hazing, Cornell contributed to a robust, cross-institutional dataset that will help campuses nationwide better understand hazing patterns, risk factors, and protective strategies. Findings from this study will support evidence-based prevention, inform policy and practice, and strengthen institutional efforts to foster safer, more inclusive student group cultures.

Our history of hazing assessment & national engagement

Cornell’s participation in the National Study of Student Hazing builds on a strong history of campus-based assessment and national collaboration, including:

• Early National Engagement
  Cornell Health has been actively involved in national conversations and research efforts related to hazing since the original Hazing in View era, maintaining close ties with leading researchers and contributing to the development of prevention-focused frameworks that emphasize student health, safety, and culture change.
• Hazing Prevention Consortium & Student MASCOT Survey
  During the Hazing Prevention Consortium (2013–2016), Cornell began administering a "MASCOT survey" (Membership Activities in Student Clubs, Organizations, and Teams) to assess students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to hazing. The survey was administered in Spring 2013, Spring 2015, and Spring 2018.
• Integration with Campus Climate Assessment
  Hazing-related social norms questions were included in several instances of Cornell's PULSE surveys (Perceptions of Undergraduate Life and Student Experience), now called the CUE (Cornell Undergraduate Experiences) situating hazing within broader assessments of student experience and well-being.
• Refined Sampling & Stand-Alone Administration
  In Spring 2018, Cornell administered the MASCOT hazing survey as a standalone instrument using a stratified random sample of undergraduate students, strengthening the rigor and usefulness of campus-specific data.
• Sustained Commitment Despite Disruption
  Planned survey administrations in Spring 2020, Spring 2022, and Spring 2024 were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cornell’s participation in the Spring 2026 National Study reflects a renewed opportunity to resume systematic assessment while aligning local insights with national research.

Purpose & looking ahead

Cornell’s participation in the Spring 2026 National Study supports its ongoing assessment of student knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to hazing, as well as evaluation of the impact of Cornell’s Hazing Prevention Model over time. By contributing to this national effort, Cornell strengthens its ability to benchmark campus trends, assess prevention strategies, and advance approaches that promote student well-being, accountability, and belonging.

Frequently-Asked Questions

Who was surveyed at Cornell? 
A: 25% of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students were surveyed on Cornell's Ithaca campus. 

Q: When was survey be administered?
A: Each campus participating in the National Study selected their own three-week survey window during the Spring Semester. At Cornell, the survey ran mid-February through mid-March.

Q: Who else is contributing?
A. A wide range of public and private institutions are included, reflecting liberal arts colleges, HBCUs, and community colleges, R1 and R2 (research) institutions. There is also a wide range of geographic representation across the United States

Q: Why does the National Study of Student Hazing include graduate and professional students?
A: Hazing is not limited to undergraduate groups, teams, and organizations. Graduate and professional students also participate in teams, cohorts, research groups, athletic programs, and student organizations in which power dynamics and initiation practices exist. Historically, these populations have been underrepresented in national hazing research.
Including graduate and professional students in the 2026 National Study provides a more accurate picture of hazing across today’s higher education landscape. This broader approach helps institutions better understand risk and protective factors, strengthen prevention and support strategies, and ensure efforts to promote safety, belonging, and well-being reach the entire campus community.

Q: What will Cornell learn from the study?
A: In Fall 2026, the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives will receive a confidential, campus-specific report summarizing aggregated findings from Cornell participants, along with benchmark comparisons to national and peer-institution data where available. Data will describe patterns related to hazing knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and group contexts, without identifying individual students or organizations. These findings will help us assess trends over time, inform prevention and education efforts, and evaluate campus policies and practices related to student safety, well-being, and belonging.