Supporting a safe, welcoming, and respectful community at MIT

Dear members of the MIT community,

As part of MIT’s commitment to building an inclusive and safe environment in which our community can thrive, we write to inform you about activities the Institute will undertake to prevent harassment, sexual misconduct, and discrimination. Below, we outline upcoming training and community surveys and provide information about existing policies and resources. 

Upcoming Mandatory Harassment Prevention Training

During the fall 2023 semester, the Institute will launch its latest cycle of mandatory harassment prevention training for faculty, staff, and graduate students in their third year or beyond. In response to recommendations from the Committee on Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response (CSMPR), this online training focuses on promoting an inclusive MIT community and on preventing harassment. To find out when your office, group, or unit's training will occur, please visit the training initiative website. Each group will receive further instructions via email about course offerings and deadlines for completion. 

Community Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Surveys

During the 2023-24 academic year, the Institute will invite students and employees to participate in a sexual harassment and misconduct survey. 

MIT previously surveyed students on these issues in 2014 and 2019. This will mark the first time the Institute is surveying staff and faculty on sexual harassment and misconduct. MIT made a commitment to seek employee feedback on these matters in response to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) 2018 report on the sexual harassment of women.

The student and employee surveys will be confidential and voluntary. They will provide critical data about our community climate as well as student and employee experiences so we can evaluate and strengthen existing policies, services, and prevention programs. 

Institute anti-discrimination and harassment policies

Preventing harassment is everyone’s responsibility, regardless of role. Understanding the Institute’s anti-discrimination and harassment policies, including how the Institute responds to reports of student, faculty, or staff misconduct, is a critical part of fulfilling that responsibility. These policies and procedures aim to foster an environment where everyone is treated with respect and compassion and where every member of the community feels empowered to report incidents of discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.

Resources and services

If you believe that the Institute’s anti-discrimination or harassment policies have been violated, MIT’s Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response Office can help with reporting, support resources, and resolution pathways.

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Thank you for your attention to these critical efforts as we build a more welcoming and respectful community together. 

Sincerely,

Ramona Allen, Vice President for Human Resources

Cynthia Barnhart, Provost

Melissa Nobles, Chancellor

Glen Shor, Executive Vice President and Treasurer