                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 23.1-819)

For the purposes of this article, unless the context requires a different
meaning:

&#8220;Bullying&#8221; means the same as that term is defined in § 22.1-276.01.

&#8220;Hazing&#8221; means the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-56.

&#8220;Institution&#8221; or &#8220;institution of higher education&#8221; means
any nonprofit private institution of higher education and any public institution
of higher education as defined in § 23.1-100.

&#8220;Local organization&#8221; means a group that is not chartered or
recognized by an institution or a national organization but is composed of
members who are students at such institution and the institution is aware of the
local organization&#8217;s existence or becomes aware of its existence after a
hazing incident is reported to the institution.

&#8220;New member&#8221; means an individual who has been offered an invitation
for membership in a student organization with new members but has not yet been
initiated and is not recognized as a full member of the organization.

&#8220;New member event&#8221; means an official event or gathering hosted by a
student organization with new members prior to new members of such organization
being initiated into the organization to which all new members and members of
the student organization hosting the event are invited or are instructed to
attend.

&#8220;Potential new member&#8221; means an individual who has expressed
interest in joining a student organization with new members by signing up to go
through a recruitment process for such organization or organizations.

&#8220;Student organization recognized by an institution of higher
education&#8221; means any group or organization on campus, including varsity
intercollegiate and club athletic teams, recognized by an institution of higher
education.

&#8220;Student organization with new members&#8221; means a student organization
officially recognized by an institution of higher education structured in such a
way that upon invitation for membership, individuals do not automatically become
members of such organization and have a period of time between invitation for
membership and being initiated into membership. &#8220;Student organization with
new members&#8221; does not include any varsity intercollegiate or club athletic
team.

HISTORY: 2022, cc. 693, 694; 2024, c. 405.