The Curriculum

The Novak Institute for Hazing Prevention is a signature program offered by HazingPrevention.Org (HPO). Consistent with the HPO mission and vision, the institute is designed to emphasize prevention strategies that are intended to decrease risk and harm associated with hazing by seeing the real problem, as well as identifying contributing risk and reduction factors. The Novak Institute utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to engage participants in identifying the complexity of the hazing phenomenon. HPO’s commitment is to provide an institute that is interdisciplinary, limited in size to provide a high quality learning environment, and facilitated by the national experts who serve as our faculty. The interdisciplinary nature of this experience makes it worthwhile. Imagine; inter/national fraternal executives, campus as well as community police officials, fraternity and sorority professionals, student conduct administrators, researchers, advisors, consultants, lawyers, senior student affairs professionals and STUDENTS coming together to advance the prevention of hazing!

For the past four years we have brought together dynamic groups of students and professionals and provided them the opportunity to have hope that we can change cultures and that we have the capacity to prevent hazing. To this end, the Institute focuses on prevention of hazing as opposed to response. The curriculum is based on the Higher Education Center’s violence prevention framework, which includes (1) a set of principles and (2) a systematic (aka strategic) planning process. The Center’s framework is informed by a public health approach. The strategic planning process includes starting with a clear definition of the problem and its contributing factors (aka risk and protective factors), articulating what needs to change, looking at research about what works to make that change, creating effective programs and policies that carry out those change goals, etc.

The Novak Institute is a highly focused learning experience for people concerned about preventing hazing. The curriculum of the Novak Institute has been intentionally designed to facilitate individual learning for the purpose of community change. The institute utilizes multiple learning strategies:

• Featured presentations
• Small group discussion
• Curricular pathways based on your role and orientation in the community
• Small group breakout sessions on current topics

Institute Schedule

The Institute curriculum is continuous and participants should expect a full day in the learning community that typically begins at 8 a.m., and ends after 9 p.m. Participants should arrive to Lexington no later than 1:30 p.m., June 5, to check in before the Institute’s formal opening at 3 p.m. A welcome reception will follow on day one of the Institute.

Since full participation is expected in all Institute sessions, participants should note the following schedule with meal breaks built in:

Day 1: Wednesday, June 5 
Institute check-in begins at 10 a.m.

Day 2: Thursday, June 6 
Begin at 8 a.m., and work until no later than 9 p.m.

Day 3: Friday, June 7 
Begin at 8 a.m., and work until no later than 9 p.m.

Day 4: Saturday, June 8 
Begin at 9 a.m., and conclude the Institute by noon.