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Tucker Hipps Transparency

The Medical University of South Carolina has over 90 recognized student organizations and interest groups at both the university-wide and college level. These organizations serve a variety of purposes and all have regulations including being recognized through a formal process, having a faculty advisor, and abiding by all university policy and applicable state and federal law.

A complete list of MUSC student organizations and university regulation and practice.

In accordance with the newly adopted Tucker Hipps Transparency Act, beginning with the 2016–2017 academic year all public institutions of higher education in South Carolina, excluding technical colleges, shall provide a public report of actual findings of violations of the institution's Conduct of Student Organizations formally/currently affiliated with the institution.

Included in this report are violations of the Conduct of Student Organizations for offenses involving: alcohol, drugs, sexual assault, physical assault, and hazing.

This report must contain: name of the organization, when the organization was charged with misconduct, the dates on which the citation was issued or the event occurred, the date the investigation was initiated, a general description of the incident, the charges, findings and sanctions placed on the organization, and the date on which matter was resolved.

Below are the reporting results of incidents involving MUSC student organizations since 2012.

Reporting Results

Organization: Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity - Iota Chapter

Incident Date: October 3, 2023

Date Investigation Initiated: October 4, 2023

Charge Date: October 10, 2023

Description of Incident:

The investigation revealed that members from the IOTA chapter of Kappa Psi recently engaged in “hazing” activities as defined by SC law. Specifically, members engaged in activities meant to shame, insult, demean, and humiliate subordinates. Further, it was found that although not all members participated, some members witnessed the hazing activities and failed to report it as required by policy and SC law.

Charge and Finding:

The organization was charged with and found responsible for violating the university’s Student Organization Conduct Policy which prohibits “hazing” as defined by SC Law (SC Code Ann. § 16-3-510 – 540).

Sanction:

The organization was de-chartered for a minimum of 10 years, effective January 18, 2024.

Cased Resolved: January 18, 2024

Notes: No incidents were reported in 2022–2023

Notes: No incidents were reported in 2021–2022

Organization: Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity - Iota Chapter

Incident Date: 03/27/2021

Date Charged: 04/30/2021

Date of Investigation: 04/30/2021

Incident/Violation:

  • Violation of the university’s social activities policies (including violating the alcohol service policy)
  • Violation of the university’s COVID directives
  • Violation of the university’s professionalism and standards of conduct for student organization

Summary of Incident:

  • Several members of the organization reported violations of university policies that occurred at a Kappa Psi event to their advisors. Violations included members not following the university’s COVID directives at said event.
  • Photo evidence was provided.

Sanctions Imposed:

  • Professional conduct probation for one year
  • Chapter prohibited from hosting off-campus social events for 1 year. All meetings (executive committee, pledge class, chapter, etc.) must also occur on campus. The chapter may participate in service events off-campus.
  • The chapter advisor, the chapter president, and the social chair must attend the first Student Activities Committee (SAC) meeting of the fall semester where pertinent student policies for student organizations will be discussed.
  • The chapter president must attend the monthly SAC meetings. The chapter advisor is strongly urged to attend the monthly SAC meetings. The chapter president and advisor are responsible for knowing all pertinent policies for registered student organizations and must relay this information back to chapter members. The president must report all planned activities (professional, fund-raising, social, community service) at the monthly SAC meetings. The president (or their designee) must contact the Student Services Coordinator to make her aware of all scheduled activities and ensure that they are placed on the college calendar.
  • In the future (following probationary year), the chapter president, advisor and social chair must attend the annual meeting hosted by the Student Programs & Student Diversity Office where the university’s alcohol policies are discussed in detail.

Notes: No incidents were reported in 2019–2020

Notes: No incidents were reported in 2018–2019

Notes: No incidents were reported in 2017–2018

Notes: No incidents were reported in 2016–2017

Notes: No incidents were reported in 2015–2016

Notes: No incidents were reported in 2014–2015

Notes: No incidents were reported in 2013–2014

Notes: No incidents were reported in 2012–2013

Please contact the MUSC staff member below to obtain additional information related to findings, sanctions, and organizational sanction completion that is not protected under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C 1232g. The institution is required to provide this additional information pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.

Sarah Johnson
Assistant Director, Student Life and Engagement
johnsons1@musc.edu