Campus Safety and Community Standards Overview

Learn more about University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) campus procedures through the Student Conduct and Student Handbook.

Learn more about the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report that has been prepared in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (informally known as the Clery Act). This report includes information for the Rochester campus of the University of Minnesota. This report is published annually by the University and made available to all current and prospective students, staff and faculty.

The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) is committed to having an environment free of gender-based violence. Gender-based violence includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, threats, coercion, and economic or educational deprivation and encompasses sexual assault, dating violence, intimate partner violence and stalking.

Anti-Hazing at the University of Minnesota Rochester

The University of Minnesota is committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment. Hazing, in any form, is strictly prohibited by university policy and law.

What is Hazing?

As defined in the University of Minnesota Board of Regents policy: Student Conduct Code, hazing means:

“Any behavior or activity that endangers the health or safety of an individual (including, without limitation, an act intended to cause personal degradation or humiliation), for the purpose of initiation in, admission to, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student group or University athletic team, regardless of the individual’s willingness to participate.”

This policy applies to both individual students and student groups, as defined by university policy.

• Student: Student shall mean any person taking courses at the University or enrolled in a University academic program; any person who has taken courses or enrolled in a University academic program within the past three terms (including summer) and who has not withdrawn, transferred, or graduated; any individual who has registered for classes or has been approved for readmission to the University; any person participating as a student in University activities, even if prior to the start of classes; any person previously enrolled within the last three terms (including summer) and who has a continuing relationship with the University through active participation in student groups or University-sponsored activities; any person on an official leave of absence with an intent to return; any person who withdraws, transfers, or graduates after an alleged violation of the Student Conduct Code and before the allegation is resolved; and any already graduated person when the conduct at issue implicates the validity of the person’s earned University degree.
  
  
• Student Group: Student group shall mean any group of students that is or has been registered as a University student group under applicable University policies or procedures.

University Policy and Response

Hazing allegations are addressed through procedures outlined in the Administrative Policy: Resolving Alleged Student Conduct Code Violations. These procedures apply to both individuals and student groups and are designed to ensure fairness, accountability, and education in the student conduct process.

For more information on student conduct expectations, visit the Student Conduct Code.

Minnesota Statute 135A.155 – Hazing Policy for Postsecondary Institutions

The University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents Policy: Student Conduct Code and the Administrative Policy: Resolving Alleged Student Conduct Code Violations, taken together, meet the expectations outlined in Minnesota Statute 135A.155 – Hazing Policy for Postsecondary Institutions. These policies provide a clear definition of hazing, outline procedures for reporting and responding to incidents, and establish disciplinary processes for both individuals and student organizations. They are publicly accessible through university websites and shared with students through appropriate communication channels. 

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), enacted on December 23, 2024, amends the Clery Act

 to prioritize the prevention of and transparency about hazing incidents at colleges and universities. The University of Minnesota summarizes findings concerning any established or recognized student organization found to violate Subd. 14 Hazing of Board of Regents policy: Student Conduct Code.

The Campus Hazing Transparency Report includes details for each incident involving a student organization where the institution determined that hazing occurred. For each of these incidents, the report provides:

• The name of the student organization involved in the hazing violation.

• A general summary of what happened, including:
  • Whether alcohol or drugs were involved,
  • What the institution concluded, and
  • Any outcomes the institution imposed on the organization (if applicable).
• Key dates related to the incident:
• When the hazing was alleged to have happened,
• When the institution began investigating,
• When the investigation concluded with a finding of hazing, and
• When the organization was officially notified of that finding.

Importantly, the report does not include any personally identifiable information.

The first Campus Hazing Transparency Report will be released by December of 2025 and will include data from July 1, 2025 through the date of release.  After that, the Campus Hazing Transparency Report will be released twice a year, at the conclusion of fall and spring semesters.

Hazing prevention

Students

Prevention and education efforts for students are built around online, research-based tools as well as real-time, in-depth, dynamic workshops for groups upon request or recommendation. Students included in prevention efforts include student group leaders, student group new members, and others.  

The University of Minnesota has adopted “Hazing Prevention: It’s Everyone’s Responsibility™ (Hazing Prevention 101™ Online Program),” created as a partnership between Preventzone and AliveTek. Students and student leaders in groups across our campuses complete the introductory program and may complete additional topic specific follow up modules.

Staff, Faculty & Families 

As supporters of students and student involvement, staff, faculty and family members may be the first to learn about hazing behaviors and have a duty to understand what to expect, how to intervene, and how to report these concerns.

• Student group advisors who are employed by the University may access the Hazing Prevention online tools.
• Staff and faculty who are required to complete Campus Security Authority Training will complete a segment including hazing identification and reporting.
• A recorded webinar focusing on understanding hazing, how to report concerns, and expectations to report follow- up steps is available for all staff, faculty, and family members.

Report Concerns

Report Hazing – Rochester Campus

To report hazing on the Rochester campus, you may:

• Submit an online report.
  
  
• Contact Heidi Anderson-Isaacson, Vice Chancellor for Student Life 
  Email: [email protected]

Anonymous Reporting (UReport)

To make a report anonymously, visit UReport.

• UReports are received by the University’s Office of Institutional Compliance.
  
  
• Reports that include allegations of hazing are routinely referred to the Office for Community Standards for review and follow-up.

Police

For immediate concerns or criminal activity, contact Rochester Police Department - 911. Non-emergency: 507-328-6800  

UMR’s Missing Student Policy outlines the steps the university takes to respond swiftly and appropriately when a student residing in on-campus housing is believed to be missing. The policy includes procedures for reporting, contact protocols and coordination with law enforcement to ensure student safety and timely communication.

Learn more about the University of Minnesota Safety Plan [PDF] for enhancing the campus community’s culture, policies and practices to foster a safer climate on and near campus.

Each night, a member of the Resident Assistant (RA) staff performs building rounds in each residence hall. RA staff can be reached at on-call phone number for the respective residence hall for urgent concerns or emergencies from 8 p.m. - 8 a.m. Resident Assistants have direct access to professional UMR staff in the event of an emergency.

A member of the Student Security Monitor team performs rounds within the non-residential portion of the building maintaining a presence in 318 Commons, University Square and the Student Life Center. SSMs are available to report any emergency or concern and are able to contact building and emergency personnel.

Residential Life Front Desks & Desk Assistants (DAs)

Residential hall front desks are staffed during evenings and weekends to assist residents with mail, package pick-up, and serve as a reporting location for security concerns. Desk Assistants staff the front desks and also monitor incoming and outgoing traffic.

All apartment and residential room doors in the residence halls have locking mechanisms. The front door of each residential unit is always locked and can only be accessed via the access credential  given to the roommates of the apartment/room.

Access to any of the residential floors in any residential facility is limited to tenants and employees of the building. Security cameras are strategically positioned to view all entrance and exit points as well as critical interior points of the residence halls.

The Rochester Skyway and Pedestrian Subway System is connected to 318 Commons,University Square and the Student Life Center. These skyways and subways allow for comfortable, well-lit, direct access to other University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) facilities and downtown locales.

Students are automatically enrolled in SAFE-U notifications. These rapid notifications in emergency situations will be sent to faculty, staff and students via the following channels: text, phone and/or email, depending on individual preferences. All contact methods may be updated or changed within MyU. SAFE-U emergency notifications are issued upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation that poses an ongoing threat to campus. They inform the campus community of action steps that will help preserve safety.

Parents, partners, or others interested in receiving SAFE-U Alerts may download the Everbridge app from their device’s app store (iOS or Android.) Those without a University of Minnesota Internet ID should use the keyword UMRSAFEU to subscribe to alerts in the app.

The University of Minnesota offers the Rave Guardian app as part of its campus safety initiative. The free smartphone app provides students, faculty and staff with access to virtual escorts and other safety tools.

Users create a profile using their University email address. To request a virtual escort, students select a Guardian, enter their destination and estimated travel time, and start a timer. Friends and family can be added as Guardians to monitor the trip.

Once the student arrives, they deactivate the timer. If time expires before arrival, the selected Guardian is alerted.

UMR partners with systemwide safety teams and the City of Rochester. The app supplements existing campus safety resources.