Since Fall 2024, the Office of Student Accountability & Restorative Practices (OSARP) coordinates the Organizational Accountability Process on behalf of James Madison University for recognized student organizations and student groups, as they are defined in the JMU Student Handbook. All recognized student organizations, which include fraternities and sororities, are accountable to the Standard of Conduct & Policies in the JMU Student Handbook, including but not limited to Alcohol, Hazing, Endangerment, Noncompliance, and Disruptive Conduct policies. If you believe an organization has violated any of the policies in the JMU Student Handbook, we encourage you to fill out the organizational reporting form on OSARP’s website.

When a report is received that alleges a fraternity or sorority has violated a university policy in the JMU Student Handbook, those allegations are typically addressed through an OSARP process. The FSL Office will facilitate accountability for FSL organizations regarding social event policy, procedures, and administration. However, OSARP and FSL work closely for the success for all recognized student organizations, so exceptions of this processare possible.

The FSL Office has created the following categories of event or administrative policies to help streamline Social Event Accountability for all FSL Organizations. For any one of the three different categories, the first step will be to meet with the Associate Director of Student Life for Fraternity and Sorority Life. The three types are:

• Social Event Violations (Policy Violations that do not rise to the level of OSARP)
  • Go through the FSL Accountability Process.
    
    • This process is structured as a tier system. The more an organization breaks policy, the more severe the assigned outcomes become.
• Social Event Administration Violations (Event Registration or Blackout Date Violations)
  • While these do not break FSL Social Event Policies, they do break administrative policies that the FSL office has put in place to make sure events are safe and well-run. 
  • In order for an event to be properly registered, it must be submitted to the BeInvolved form which can be found here.
    Additionally, the event, if necessary, must follow all Harrisonburg City Ordinances and processes for a Mass Gathering Event and complete the city permit. 
• Noise Violations
  • Per Harrisonburg City, Mass Gatherings may have over 100 people (as long as it doesn't break structural Fire Codes) and use noise amplifying equipment BEFORE 10PM every night of the week.
  • If the event is properly registered, the organization MAY receive one warning from either JMU Police Department or Harrisonburg Police Department. That is not a guarantee.
  • If after the first warning, or the noise is egregious enough, the event may be shut down by police officers and attendees will be asked to disperse. This may also lead to an officer issuing a summons for a noise violation.
• All organizations will be contacted after any event with alcohol for education and coaching. The FSL Office will operate on a case-by-case basis and look at every incident on its own merits to decide if any punitive or educational outcomes are required.

If you believe an organization has broken any of the above policies, we encourage you to fill out the Social Event Reporting Form which can be found here.