Since Fall 2024, all organization accountability flows through the Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices. However, the FSL Office has joint jurisdiction surrounding some topics, specifically surrounding social event policy, procedures, and administration.

While it is not an "always" answer, a common way JMU has moved organizational accountability cases is that hazing; alcohol violations of JMU policy, local, state, or federal law; non-compliance; or anything that violates the Student Handbook would be adjudicated by OSARP. Whereas all social event policy violations will be adjudicated by the FSL Office. However, both OSARP and FSL operate on a case-by-case basis and exceptions are always made.

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 educational and punitive outcomes become.
• Social Event Administration Violations (Event Registration or Blackout Date Violations)
  • While these do not blantly 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 on the "Form" page in the section above. Additionally, the event, if necessary, must follow all Harrisonburg City Ordinances and processes for a Mass Gathering Event and complete the city permit. 
  • Lastly, there will be specific dates, to be set by the FSL Office at the beginning of each semester, that an organization will not be allowed to host an event with alcohol. These dates will be known as blackout dates. These dates will be as limited as possible, but will be scheduled so as not to conflict with JMU, Student Life, and FSL strategic priorities.
  • If an event does not follow these guidelines:
    • If the event happens before Fall Bid Celebration, loss of Bid Celebration privileges
      • The organization will still be allowed to provide bids to new members, but they won't be able to participate in bid celebration events for that council. This includes Panhellenic's Bid Day or IFC Chapter's Bid March.
      • If the organization does participate in Bid Celebration, it will be referred to OSARP as a non-compliant case.
    • If after Fall Bid Celebration, 2 week loss of social event privileges.
      • If that 2 week violation is broken, it will be referred to OSARP as a non-compliant case.
    • If before Spring Bid Celebration, loss of Bid Celebration privileges
      • If broken, it will be referred to OSARP as a non-compliant case.
    • If after Spring Bid Celebration, 2 week loss of social event privileges.
      • If that 2 week violation is broken, it will be referred to OSARP as a non-compliant case.
• Noise Violations
  • Per Harrisonburg City Ordinaces, 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 or Harrisonburg Police Department. That is a courtousy, not a guarantee.
    • If after the first warning, or the noise is egregious enough, the event will be attended to by police officers and be asked to disperse. 
  • If the organization receives a noise violation, the chapter will lose one week of social privileges. During that time, the organization must meet with JMU FSL to discuss strategies for avoiding further noise violations.
  • If the organization receives a second noise voilation, the chapter will be referred to OSARP as a non-compliant case.

If an organization is referred and found responsible for non-compliance, that record will appear on the OSARP Organizational Records page for a period of 10 years. 

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 on the "Forms" page above.