Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment Grievance Procedures

(revised: 5/28/19) 

Harvard University has adopted a Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment Policy (“University Policy”), which applies to all Harvard students, faculty, staff, Harvard appointees, and third parties.  The University also has adopted Procedures for Handling Complaints Involving Students Pursuant to the Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment Policy (“University Student Procedures”), which govern allegations of sexual and gender-based harassment involving Harvard students, including all students at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (“HSPH”), and Procedures for Handling Complaints Against Harvard Staff Members Pursuant to the Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment Policy (“University Procedures”), which, as set forth below, HSPH has adopted to govern allegations of sexual and gender-based harassment involving all HSPH employees.  Members of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (“HUCTW”) also are covered by the sexual harassment policies agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement and described in the HUCTW Personnel Manual. For HUCTW members those policies take precedence over the policies governing other members of the University community.

It is the goal of HSPH to refer all cases involving allegations of sexual or gender-based harassment against HSPH faculty, staff and appointees (except as noted below) to Harvard University’s Office for Sexual and Gender‑Based Dispute Resolution (“ODR”) for investigation in accordance with the University Procedures and/or the procedures set forth in the HUCTW Personnel Manual.  However, if ODR does not have the capacity to handle a particular claim involving a HSPH faculty or staff member or appointee, then HSPH itself will conduct the investigation, also in accordance with the University Procedures and, if applicable, the procedures set forth in the HUCTW Personnel Manual.  In certain cases involving faculty members, it may be appropriate for the HSPH Dean to modify these procedures, including in light of the Procedures for Discipline of Officers involving grave misconduct or neglect of duty arising under the Third Statute of the University.  In such cases, all parties will be notified of the procedures that will be followed.

To the extent any existing HSPH policies and procedures interfere with compliance with these Procedures, application of such policies and procedures shall be suspended and these Procedures shall govern.

Complaints Against HSPH Appointees Who are Not Employed by HSPH But Instead are Employed by or Associated with a Separate Institution and/or Whose Primary Appointments are at Other Harvard Schools

If the subject of a complaint (the “Respondent”) has an HSPH  appointment but is not employed by HSPH and instead is employed by or associated with a separate institution (including but not limited to an institution affiliated with HSPH), and/or has a primary appointment at another Harvard School, and the alleged conduct took place outside HSPH, then these Procedures ordinarily will not apply and HSPH or ODR will refer the matter to the relevant institution or Harvard School for investigation under any procedures of the institution or other Harvard School that may be applicable.  However, where the alleged conduct either took place at HSPH or could create a hostile environment at HSPH, or in other limited circumstances to be individually determined by HSPH, HSPH may conduct joint proceedings with the other institution or other Harvard School.

In all cases, HSPH may, at any point after a complaint has been raised, take temporary or permanent action with respect to the Respondent’s appointment status at HSPH.

If the Respondent held an HSPH appointment at the time of the alleged incident giving rise to the complaint, but no longer holds such an appointment, then the HSPH Dean shall determine whether and in what manner the complaint should be handled.

Resources 

Local Title IX Coordinators: 

For Potential Complaints Against a Student:
Robin Glover, Associate Dean of Student Services, rglover@hsph.harvard.edu (617)-432-4703

For Potential Complaints Against a Staff Member:
Linda Picard, Senior Director of Human Resources, lpicard@hsph.harvard.edu (617)432-2719

 For Potential Complaints Against a Faculty Member, Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Fellow, or other academic appointee:
Jennifer Ivers, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, ivers@hsph.harvard.edu (617)432-1381

Harvard University Title IX Officer:

Nicole Merhill, Title IX Officer
Title IX Office
Smith Campus Center, Suite 901
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: (617) 496-2470
Email: nicole_merhill@harvard.edu
Website: http://titleix.harvard.edu/

William McCants, Director of the Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR)
ODR
Smith Campus Center, Suite 901
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: (617) 495-3786
Email: odr@harvard.edu
Website: http://odr.harvard.edu/

Other University Resources:

Office of Sexual Assault Prevention & Response
HUHS Counseling and Mental Health Services
Bureau of Study Counsel
Harvard University Health Services
Harvard Chaplains
Harvard University Police Department
Employee Assistance Program

Outside Agencies:

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)